Recommended Mass settings for the new English texts of the Roman Missal chosen by the National Liturgical Council (NLC) have been announced. The anouncement follows a review of over 50 new mass settings which were submitted in response to the invitation of the National Liturgical Council to compose settings which could be used in the Catholic Church in Australia.

Each of the mass settings was evaluated by a panel of 3 external music reviewers, the members of the National Liturgical Music Board, as well as the members of the National Liturgical Council. It is hoped that these new mass settings, composed by Australian composers, will be enthusiastically received by local musicians, and adopted by parishes throughout Australia.

Recommended Mass Settings:

1. The Revised ICEL Chant Mass as contained in the Missal - (available from ICEL at http://www.icelweb.org/news.htm)
2. Mass of St Francis (Paul Taylor – Publisher: Archbishop's Office for Evangelisation, Archdiocese of Melbourne)
3. Mass of Our Lady, Help of Christians (Richard Connolly – Publisher: CanticaNova canticanova.com)
4. Missa Magis (Christopher Willcock – Publisher: Oregon Catholic Press www.ocp.org)
5. Mass of Christ the Redeemer (Bernard Kirkpatrick – Publisher: Oregon Catholic Press www.ocp.org)
6. Mass of Glory and Praise (Paul Mason – Publisher: Willow Connection www.willowconnection.com.au)
7. Mass Shalom (C.Smith arr. Mason – Publisher: Willow Connection www.willowconnection.com.au)

Mass Settings of New Texts to be allowed from January 1, 2011:
In order to assist the transition from the existing mass texts to the new translations, the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has given permission, through the National Liturgical Council, to allow the new musical settings of the new English texts to be used in liturgical worship commencing January 2011.

This permission extends only to musical settings. Where the texts of the Missal are recited, these will remain the current translation until the official implementation date for the new missal starting in Advent 2011.