THE VATICAN has allowed parishes in South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland that have started using Vatican-approved Mass translations to continue to do so, after the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference said it mistakenly gave them the go-ahead.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments “has accepted the explanation” by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, conference president, “regarding the early implementation of the new translation”, said a statement issued by Fr Vincent Brennan, general secretary of the bishops’ conference and a member of the Society of African Missions.
“The Congregation has agreed that the implementation continue, along with continued catechesis explaining the changes,” the statement said, noting that “this catechesis should include preparation of music for singing the new texts”.