8§38R‘New’ Mass Facing Peoplei ather Joseph D. Flynn (above) of St. Athanasius’ church, Reading, Mass., demonstrates how the Epistle is read in English at Mass “facing the people” in many U.S. Catholic churches since Nov. 29. Churches in U.S. dioceses have erected special altars facing the congregation as authorized l the new Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The constitution also provides for the use of the vernacular in some parts of the Mass. The altar shown above was designed to conform with the church’s existing main altar.