Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With Archbishop Harm's return to the Lord this morning, the ACCUS is in a period of Official Mourning.  As part of that period the regular Liturgical Calendar is suspended by order of the Presiding Archbishop, William A. Johnson, D.D. of the ACCUS.

Attached is the Official Rite for use for today's Mass of Anticipation as well as Sunday's Mass of the Day.  The Liturgical Readings will remain the same, but the Responsorial Psalm has been changed to the 23rd Psalm. The text is contained within the Rite.

For those participating in the Divine Office, you are to suspend the current liturgical cycle and begin to use the Hours of the Dead effective immediately upon reading of this communique.

It is customary to celebrate Mass each day during the Period of Mourning, for Archbishop Harms' and the repose of his Soul.  You may use the attached Rite for your Daily Mass and use the Readings of the Day that were Prescribed.  You should continue to use the 23rd Psalm however.

When final arrangements have been set you will be instructed as to where and when the Official Liturgical Rites will be conducted.  At this time the original plan was that all the Official Functions were to take place in Frederick, MD.

Additional information will be forthcoming.

May God Grant us Peace and May Archbishop Lawrence Rest in Peace,

Most Rev. William A. Johnson, D.D.
Presiding Archbishop - ACCUS