“Is this now the norm for celebrating the NO Mass?”
In my experience the norm is whatever the “presiding” padre wants to do.
Hula dancers, clowns, mariachis, armies of “Eucharistic ministers”, laymen giving sermons - anything goes.
Except of course the Traditional Latin Mass. The only Mass, which I have ever seen our Archbishop criticize, is the indult Mass authorized by one of his predecessors.
In one of last years issues of the “Catholic”Sentinel, the archbishop writes:
“ ...A number of people thanked me for making the Tridentine rite available in this archdiocese and asked that it become even more available here in western Oregon. That request unsettles me but I shall not dismiss it without prayer and reflection.
Perhaps both rites will continue to serve the needs of the church for many years to come, but challenges remain. Those who espouse the Tridentine rite must seek ways to provide a richer variety of proclamations from Sacred Scripture, particularly from the Old Testament, which are practically nonexistent in the Sunday Tridentine rite.
Furthermore, enhanced participation of the faithful both in word and song must be given serious attention...”
This is of course mild as compared to his off the record verbal comments.
You’re too polite to name names, but I’m not. John Vlazny.
I do so only because often people are confused because Oregon is split into two dioceses, each quite different.
The eastern part, the Diocese of Baker, has Bishop Vasa as its leader, one of the outstanding young bishops in the country (for orthodoxy and leadership) and one of the few to go against the USCCB and refuse to put sex ed into the religious ed programs. (He’s a protege of Bishop Bruskewitz of Nebraska, who was interviewed on EWTN for the special Monday night on the S.P.)
Archbishop Vlazny heads the Portland Archdiocese, which covers western Oregon. This was the first diocese in the country to declare bankruptcy in the abuse scandal. It also has some wonderful pastoral programs such as global warming workshops, free lawyers for illegals, and explicit, secular sex ed (’abuse prevention’) materials for children over age 5.
I had never realized this was true, until my son-in-law pointed it out this morning after we'd attended the Tridentine Mass my wife and I usually attend. I think this is one thing in which the Novus Ordo represents an improvement. When an OT passage is read, it is usually linked in some obvious way with the Gospel of the day.