Whether you enjoy gardening, car repair, cooking, technology, or any other activity, you might agree that the decisions you sometimes need to make require specific knowledge of your environment. Regardless of the activity, your choices about how to cook, care for your plants, or meet your home's technological needs won't be the same as mine, as you consider factors such as climate, resources, ingredients, and people, which influence the specifics of your decisions. The same applies to pastoral care in parishes. Each parish often reflects a microcosm of needs, priorities, and opportunities, which can differ—sometimes dramatically—from the reality and context of the next parish, even just a few blocks away.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reports that Spanish-language Masses are offered in more than 25% of all parishes across the nation[1]. Although this figure does not include or specify bilingual Masses, opportunities for interculturally enriching bilingual parish worship can support the inculturation of the Gospel.
This growth in Hispanic ministry presents opportunities for intentional bilingual encounters, primarily through the liturgy. Since liturgy naturally promotes unity and communion, through liturgy the encounter of two or more languages within the parish family's cultural diversity finds a perfect place and time. Although bilingual Masses are typically recommended for special situations due to their complexity, organizing them can provide many benefits for parish unity.
Bilingual liturgies creatively support the goal we shared in the first entry of this blog: to respond to the gift of the Holy Spirit, who calls us to make the Gospel message clear and to give glory to God. Through prayer and enthusiasm, you can help bilingual liturgical celebrations reflect what Sacrosanctum Concilium 34 describes as the “noble simplicity” of the liturgy (SC, 34)
A key element in communication for bilingual liturgies is a bilingual missal, a tool that effectively includes the Word of God, prayers, and acclamations that are vital to the liturgy, all in one convenient book. We want to share some ideas about using bilingual missals on special occasions in parishes. While many more ideas could be helpful, these suggestions can serve as a starting point or criteria for planning a bilingual liturgy in your parish.
- Identify key dates in the liturgical year: Many parishes select “key” dates from the liturgical calendar to celebrate bilingual liturgies, sharing readings, songs, and responses from both communities in the same Mass. Possible options include Easter Vigil Solemn Mass, Pentecost, the feast day of your parish's patron saint or dedication, or even a church feast such as the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Keep in mind that these are not necessarily "important" dates, as the entire liturgical year contains important dates for our faith. The goal is to intentionally select key dates that can have a positive impact on the parish community. If your parish has not yet had the opportunity to conduct bilingual liturgies, start gradually by focusing on events that could enhance the experience, such as a gathering after Mass, for example. Over time, the community will become more open to embracing another language and culture in a healthy and necessary coexistence: "Let us consider how to spur one another to love and good works" (Heb 10:24)
During my experience serving in several dioceses, I found the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe to be one of the key dates marking the beginnings of bilingual liturgy in many parishes or a date when both communities come naturally together as one. From the popular devotion and affection for Our Lady, which transcends cultures, many pastors and priests creatively promote rich bilingual liturgical opportunities in their parishes, inspired by the beautiful and profound event of the Morenita del Tepeyac and the words of the Virgin Mary in the story of the wedding at Cana, where she encourages unity and advises: "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5). In this journey of integrating cultures and languages, dates such as the Easter Vigil and Pentecost become defining moments of the parish's expression as one family, united as one body, in communion with Christ, the head of the Church.
- Language selection for the Readings: The USCCB recommends proclaiming the Gospel in the language most spoken by the majority.[2] However, it also suggests proclaiming the Gospel in two languages as an alternative. The USCCB's primary goal and purpose remain to make the readings accessible and to encourage active participation from the assembly.
A bilingual missal is very helpful in facilitating clear proclamation and ensuring that the Word of God reaches everyone in a bilingual celebration. Unidos en cristo/United in Christ, with its convenient side-by-side format and layout, allows an easy and smooth following of the readings, responses, acclamations, and antiphons, minimizing the need to duplicate parts of the Mass in both languages. It also includes the readings, responses, acclamations, antiphons, and all elements of the Mass approved by the USCCB. During the bilingual liturgy, the deacon, monitor, or announcer can easily encourage the assembly to follow the Mass in their own language.
Regarding the selection of readings, the Guide for Multicultural Celebrations, published by the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC), recommends:
One or both of the readings preceding the gospel should be proclaimed in the language spoken by the majority of those assembled. If two readings are to be proclaimed, one may be proclaimed in another language appropriate to those assembled.[3]
- Language Selection for the Eucharistic Prayer: the choice of Eucharistic prayers, which is solely the responsibility of the celebrant, will always depend on the priest's judgment and sensitivity regarding his presiding role over the assembly. As such, they have specific pastoral criteria to serve their parish community better. The FDLC document on guidelines for multicultural celebrations suggests in this regard:
To preserve the integrity of the eucharistic prayer, the chief elements of its composition should be maintained even when multiple languages spoken by those assembled are chosen for its proclamation. When such a choice is made, only one language should be used for each of its chief elements, namely: Thanksgiving; Acclamation; Epiclesis; Institution Narrative; Anamnesis; Offering; Intercessions; Final Doxology[4]
- Selection of Songs: The songs used in the bilingual liturgy, which serve as a key way for participation, will be chosen based on the needs and resources of each parish. Care will be taken to preserve the integrity and liturgical dignity of the songs, while also encouraging active involvement from the congregation. Choirs play an important role in this by helping the singing blend harmoniously and inspiring the congregation to come together in praising the Lord.
Many ideas can be proposed regarding bilingual singing, such as alternating choirs during the same service or including more than one song in a different language for Communion. The options are numerous and depend on the capacity and openness of the leadership, so that, while maintaining the dignity of the liturgy, music can serve as a vehicle and sign of inclusion and participation. Hymnals that include bilingual hymn selections are very helpful, as they promote more effective participation, especially when these selections feature popular and familiar music in both Spanish and English, which many people recognize. Additionally, some of the criteria suggested by the Guide include:
Members of multi-lingual assemblies can join the singing of short texts even if the language is foreign to them (e.g., “Lord, have mercy,” “Hosanna in the highest,” psalm antiphons, etc.) Repetitious ‘ostinato’ styles of music, like Taizé, provide a style of music which allows for the texts to become familiar and easy to sing: such a form of music can also foster a sense of unity among those assembled.”[5]
The participation of the assembly in liturgical celebrations in English and Spanish will be enhanced by using a bilingual missal that supports those who come to encounter the Lord in preparation for these Masses. The process in preparation for the liturgy, which will involve leaders open to accepting and including both languages, as well as the participation of volunteers, lectors, musicians, and servers, will become an opportunity for parish evangelization, opening the team to the Holy Spirit and His gifts to reach the community. While we may not always celebrate the Eucharist in multiple languages, we hope these ideas will inspire you to create new intentional opportunities or to enrich existing ones, fulfilling the Lord’s own request to the Father: "So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." (Jn 17:21)
[1] https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/us-bishops-hispanic-affairs-subcommittee-releases-diocesan-survey-parishes-and
[2] https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/frequently-asked-questions/guidelines-for-a-multilingual-celebration-of-mass
[3] Francis, Mark R., C.S.V. Liturgy in a Multicultural Community, American Essays in Liturgy. The Liturgical Press, MN. p. 70
[4] Idem. p.73
[5] Idem. p.72
Read more about bilingual liturgies