Focus on the amboDear Editor, In the June-July issue of ML (24:6), Robert Habiger writes: "The altar is central to the faith assembly and should be placed accordingly." This is not correct. The ambo and the altar are central and should be placed accordingly. Both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist constitute the Mass. There cannot be one without the other to fully celebrate the Mass. During the Liturgy of the Word, the ambo could be in focus through a spotlight, and the altar focused in a similar way during the Liturgy of the Eucharist ž such as is done in St. Maryžs Church in Annapolis, Md., and at Holy Trinity Church in San Antonio, Texas. But when one enters the worship space, onežs attention should focus equally on ambo and altar, indicating that one is coming for both Word and Eucharist. Likewise, one should focus on the font at the entrance and on the assembly when assembled. I think this is a key point in theology, design, and the worship experience. Therefore, I thank you for your attention. Rev. Douglas Fater We all concelebrateDear Editor, Thank you for Paul Turner's comments on concelebration in the April edition of MODERN LITURGY (Bulletin Inserts, 24:3). It was good to see someone asking in print whether this fairly recent practice is really a good idea. I found myself wishing that his concerns about it were posed even more strongly. A few years ago, the liturgy committee of our parish in New York City was planning an installation Mass for a new pastor. The pastor, a good man who was just learning to attune himself to the spirit of our egalitarian community, proposed a Mass concelebrated by five or six brother priests. The committee was clearly uneasy with the image of those vested males standing around the altar. Finally, one of the quietest members ventured: "Father, wežll all concelebrate the Mass. I don't see why some should concelebrate more than others." The visiting priests wound up sitting in the assembly. Don Brophy —ML |