When Is The Time To Read Parish Notices?

By Fr Thomas Plastow SJ –

Question: Our parish priest insists on the announcements and parish notices being read immediately after the congregation has received Holy Communion, before the Prayer after Communion. Is this correct?

Answer: This is a common mistake which has become widespread across Southern Africa. According to the Roman Missal and our own bishops’ Pastoral Introduction to the Order of Mass, the correct procedure is as follows:

[i] the faithful receive Holy Communion while an appropriate song is sung,

[ii] after Communion all pray quietly for a while, and another song may be sung if desired,

[iii] all stand for the Prayer after Communion, bringing the liturgy of the Eucharist to a close,

[iv] then begins the Concluding Rite which may include parish notices, a second collection, and so on, before the Final Blessing.

Sadly, many parishes have come to regard the Prayer after Communion as a “concluding prayer” of the Mass. Given that many parishes spend a long time on the announcements and have several speakers coming forward at this time, they may feel the need for a “concluding prayer”.

If this is the case, perhaps one of the Solemn Blessings or Prayers over the People could be used? In this way we would maintain the shape of the liturgy of the Eucharist and avoid having someone shaking a collection basket in your face when you are trying to make an act of thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion!

Asked and answered in the September 2022 issue of The Southern Cross magazine