Liturgical committee

[awalt]

What exactly does a liturgical committee do at a parish? I have some ideas but I have never seen/read about it.

Thanks!

 

[SMHW]

awalt:

What exactly does a liturgical committee do at a parish? I have some ideas but I have never seen/read about it.

Thanks!

Well, the answer is going to differ from parish to parish but here are some some people/activities/duties that Liturgical committees might be concerned about:

altar servers
church decorations
EMHCs
Readers
Sacristans
Ushers and Greeters
Wedding coordinators
Music
prayer groups
Eucharistic adoration
Special liturgies: (particularly Christmas, Easter, Confirmation)

A lot of liturgical committe business is about coordinating the different sub-groups in a parish so that each knows what the other expects of it. Liturgical committees often spend a lot of time planning the Easter Vigil and other out-of-the-ordinary Liturgies where it may not be obvious to the various participants what is supposed to happen when.

As a for instance, the Easter Vigil is pretty long. But some of the readings are optional. The liturgy committee probably gets together with the RCIA team to figure out how long the baptisms will take, and from there figures how much time and ceremony it is reasonable to spend on any given part of the service. From there they can figure how many readers, altar servers, ushers, and EMHCs might be needed. The Music director can figure out how what responses and special songs the choir and accompanists must learn.

 

[rwoehmke]

This subject was treated in this forum about two years ago. Run a search for the posts of “Hudsonite” and you will turn it up.

 

[awalt]

This answered my question and confirmed my suspicions (the part about subcommittee coordination). Thanks!

 

[John_Lilburne]

The need for preparing the Mass is discussed in the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

“111. Among all who are involved with regard to the rites, pastoral aspects, and music there should be harmony and diligence in the effective preparation of each liturgical celebration in accord with the Missal and other liturgical books. This should take place under the direction of the rector of the church and after the consultation with the faithful about things that directly pertain to them. The priest who presides at the celebration, however, always retains the right of arranging those things that are his own responsibility. [Footnote 90: Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 22.]”

 

[Vox_Borealis]

In my limited experience, “liturgical committee” generally refers to a group of parishoners–often including the organist and at least one former nun–who convince the overworked pastor to introduce “exciting changes” to the mass.

 

[buffalo]

Vox Borealis:

In my limited experience, “liturgical committee” generally refers to a group of parishoners–often including the organist and at least one former nun–who convince the overworked pastor to introduce “exciting changes” to the mass.

I am amazed how the Mass survived all these years without Liturgical committees. :banghead:

What you say is very true.

 

[muledog]

Vox Borealis:

In my limited experience, “liturgical committee” generally refers to a group of parishoners–often including the organist and at least one former nun–who convince the overworked pastor to introduce “exciting changes” to the mass.

So true! A nearby pastor cleaned out the liturgy committee upon his arrival, and replaced everyone with people who only agree with his “progressive” views toward liturgy.

 

[Timidity]

Vox Borealis:

In my limited experience, “liturgical committee” generally refers to a group of parishoners–often including the organist and at least one former nun–who convince the overworked pastor to introduce “exciting changes” to the mass.

And in MY experience, the liturgical committee is the group that sat down with the pastor and the new GIRM to make sure everything was being done correctly, and to implement the changes required.