New Dance Steps

Dancing with Jesus in the liturgy and through life

04/30/2025

John 3:16-21 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Now that we have begun in earnest the work of installing our new altar, I need to explain how things will flow differently at Mass. Everyone who participates in the liturgy as a priest, a deacon, an altar server, a lector, or extraordinary minister of Communion, engages in a sort of “liturgical dance”. We all knew the dance steps when our main Partner, Jesus, stood in the corner.

But now we must learn new dance steps because in two weeks Jesus will be in the front and center. In other words, our liturgical dance revolves around Jesus, just like our whole life is a dance with Jesus in the middle. And just like any good dancer, you don’t want to step on your partner’s toes.

First, let me explain where people will stand when the liturgical dance begins. As you can see already, the priests and deacons will move to your right – or stage left. That is where the priests, deacons, and one altar server will be seated from now on. Once the new altar is installed, Jesus in the tabernacle will move to the center of the sanctuary.

The statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will then be moved to the spot the tabernacle just vacated. Why? Well, because there are gold inlaid stones that symbolizes divinity, and only the Sacred Heart statue would be appropriate there. And finally, a new St. Patrick statue will stand behind the ambo (or pulpit for you Protestants), perched above the preacher.

Now that we know where everyone will stand when the dance begins, let me teach you the new dance steps. When the altar servers, deacon, and priest enter the sanctuary, they will no longer bow to the altar and turn to genuflect to the tabernacle. Rather, because Jesus will be directly ahead we will only genuflect.

Why do we genuflect? Because we are entering the royal courtroom of the King. Once we have genuflected and acknowledged Jesus’ royal presence, we will only bow before the altar whenever we cross from one side of the sanctuary to the other. We will not genuflect each time.

On Sunday Masses we will have four altar servers (hopefully) rather than the three. As before, one server will carry the cross, two will carry candles and help prepare the altar, but a fourth server will sit next to the priest and hold the Roman Missal. Do you remember how one server did that before COVID back in 2020?

It was really liturgically improper to have the Roman Missal at the altar to begin the Mass. At least I won’t get in trouble with the pope – we don’t have one! During the weekday Masses without servers, the Roman Missal will be placed on a small stand in front of the priest’s chair.

What dance steps will the lectors have to learn? Well, since the lector has already genuflected before they sat down in their pew, they have acknowledged Jesus the King. So, when the lector enters the sanctuary, he or she simply bows to the altar, goes to the ambo to read, and then bows to the altar as they leave the sanctuary.

There should always be a “noble simplicity” to the movements of the liturgy. We should avoid all excessive jumping and gyrations. Formal participants of the liturgy are not there to express personal piety, but to help the people of God to pray. We should draw people’s attention to Jesus, not to us.

What new dance steps will the extraordinary ministers of Communion have to learn? Well, they can still line up at the foot of the altar during the Lamb of God like we currently do, and wait for the priest to drink from the chalice. That sip from the chalice will be their cue to bow to the altar, and enter the sanctuary.

The EMCs will then proceed toward their left (stage right) and line up in front of the cryroom. As before, you will receive Holy Communion, help distribute Communion, and return to your places in front of the cryroom. When the priest or deacon places the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects, the EMCs bow and then return to their pews. You do not need to bow again at the foot of the altar. Noble simplicity.

My friends, it will take some time for us to master these new dance steps and we will probably step on each other’s toes as we learn together. But that is the only way to learn a new dance. You know our former pastor, Msgr. John O’Donnell, was always the first on the dance floor, and the ladies loved to dance with him. So, now with our new altar in place, come dance with me.

Praised be Jesus Christ!