Bombay Diocese adopts new Roman Missal

November 29, 2011: The new Roman Missal was introduced by some churches in Bombay diocese in India on Sunday. Delhi, however, missed its date with the new missal as the print is yet to be ready and would be introduced only in the new year. The new changes in the English language service were made to remain faithful to the original Latin missal.
The main changes include modifications in The Gloria, responses to the priest’s prayers and changes in all the Eucharistic prayers.
“It was quite a sight to see regular parishioners refer to pamphlets to read out their prayers during the service. We were provided details in advance, but a few fumbled in between,” said Judith Monteiro at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar, Mumbai.
Monteiro was one of the 500,000 Catholics in the city who celebrated the new English translation of the Roman Missal on Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent.
The Roman Missal, originally promulgated in 1570 by St Pius V, was last altered in 1975.
At the Immaculate Conception Church in Borivli, parishioners felt the addition of the new prayers made the service seem longer.
“There are perceptible changes in the overall prayer service, making it seem longer. It will take time for me to get accustomed to the new format,” said 21 year old Jyotsna Pinto.
This year, the Archdiocese of Bombay is celebrating the Year of the Living Liturgy, wherein a special mass will be soon introduced in the name of revered Catholic saints of the world including Saint Gonsalo Garcia, who was the first Indian to attain sainthood.
“The new translation is an attempt to capture in English the theological clarity and depth of the meanings found in the Latin text. The salient features of the New Revised Roman Missal will help us launch a living liturgy, which Cardinal Oswald Gracias has declared the goal of the liturgical year,” said Father Anthony Fernandes, director of the Diocesan Youth Centre.