If you haven’t had a chance to email Bishop John around the issue of Liturgical Posture in the Diocese, the deadline for submissions has been extended to Easter Sunday (5 April).

Please send all submissions to [email protected] if you would like to share your thoughts.

More information can be found at https://tumanako.pndiocese.org.nz/2025/12/liturgical-posture-in-the-diocese-of-palmerston-north, or you can read the transcript of Bishop John’s video on this matter below.

“Hello everyone, and thank you for your time today and your willingness to engage with this rather complex issue before us as a diocese: liturgical posture. I’m addressing this not out of personal urgency, but because many have expressed concern that we lack a sense of unity during Mass. This particularly relates to kneeling — what the Church asks of us, what has been our diocesan practice, and what a more universal approach might look like.

Here’s the situation: in our diocese, some people kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer, while others stand. And of course, if space is limited or you’re unable to kneel, sitting is an option — though the least desirable one. So, why this variation? Historically, our diocese has favoured standing for the Eucharistic Prayer, and that is indeed correct: the proper posture for the Eucharistic Prayer is standing. However, the Church is equally clear — this is stated in paragraph 43 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal — that during the consecration, we ought to kneel. That’s crystal clear. I encourage you to read and investigate this for yourselves.

So, what should we do? One thing is certain: we should strive for a common posture that expresses unity. Our bodies matter in worship. We don’t just come, sit, and leave; our faith is lived physically. Praying with our bodies has always been part of the Catholic way, and posture is important.

Historically, if we look back to the Council of Nicaea, it suggests standing for the entire Eucharistic Prayer. But the Catholic way has never been to simply adopt past practices as the norm for today. The Church develops doctrine. While kneeling once symbolized subservience, it now signifies worship and adoration — essential attitudes when we come to Mass.

What am I asking of you? Please read about this issue, and if you’re in parish groups, even better — discuss it together. That synodal process will be helpful. Share your thoughts with me. Ultimately, I will make a determination, but only after hearing from you. Should we maintain our tradition of standing for the entire Eucharistic Prayer? Or should we adopt the practice common in other dioceses in New Zealand, Australia, and much of the Western world: kneeling for the consecration?

There’s another question: if we kneel, when do we stand? Personally, I believe we should stand for the Great Amen, which makes the timing of standing after kneeling significant.

Two further points to consider:

First, the word indult — a permission granted for certain liturgical actions not in the original instruction. One such indult allows kneeling from the “Holy, Holy” through to the Great Amen, rather than just during the consecration. We could choose to follow this or kneel for a shorter time.

Second, kneeling is deeply biblical. Jesus knelt to pray to the Father, and many fell to their knees before Him. So don’t assume standing is the only biblical posture when encountering the risen Christ — which is precisely what happens at Mass. At the consecration, Christ is present on the altar — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. What should be our bodily response to that reality?

I invite you to reflect, read, pray, and discuss this issue individually or in groups. Please share your thoughts with me through the bishop’s office here in Palmerston North, by emailing [email protected] by Sunday 5 April 2026.”