Here are a few words for the some-times-underappreciated people in the pews, the assembly. Congratulations! Your favorite time slot for liturgy has just been designated as the new parish youth Mass! What’s that? You’re just finding this out as the presider and ministers are walking down the aisle for the entrance procession? Yes, the gathering song is indeed louder and livelier. That young lector is reading with great enthusiasm. And, yes, all those informally-dressed teenagers really are extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.

Hopefully, the parish youth ministers and liturgy committee have taken great care to publicize and inform the parishioners about any impending changeover to a more youth-oriented liturgy. Having said that, there will always be people whodid not hear the news, or who have not attended that particular Mass for a long time. What will they find at this new youth Mass?

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