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Hudsonite
Guest
What do you think a Liturgy Committee’s function should be?
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Fast_ed75
Guest
Basically the liturgy committee should be responsible for the selected music, scheduling the readers and EMHC ect., purchasing the supplies- NOT coming up with creative ways to celebrate the Mass: ie coming up with new lay functions to diminish the role of the priest or adding pagan/new age liturgical dancers.
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DAWNCUROLE
Guest
Just a thought, I don’t thnik it is the role of priest diminishing but the number of priest. Unfortunatley, lay people need to take on more responsibilities because there are fewer priest. the problem is the lack of training of the laity.
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RBushlow
Guest
I think the liturgical committee should scheduling the readers and Eucharistic Ministers, purchase the supplies, etc. The actual Liturgy should be performed in strict conformance with the GIRM.
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muledog
Guest
I don’t have the foggiest idea. Not because I haven’t tried to figure out the answer to your question, but because our parish is run in a dictatorial fashion, and all liturgical decisions are made solely by the pastor and his cohort - the “Director of Music.”
The liturgy committe at my parish is responsible only for making banners for the various liturgical seasons and deciding which potted plants to put in the sanctuary.
The meetings each month are closed to the public,and I was told directly that I would be removed from the church grounds if I showed up at the rectory for a meeting without authorization to be there.
When I complained to the diocesan Director of Worship, she stated that our pastor is “well-versed in liturgical matters” and that she trusts any and all decisions he makes in this regard.
In Manibus Dei,
- muledog
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cmom
Guest
As long as your pastor and director of music are acting according to GIRM , consider yourself lucky.
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kmktexas
Guest
Well I don’t know about the Director of Music but the only decision making is supposed to be done by the pastor.
Bad feelings ensue because Committees (Liturgy, Finance, Church Council etc.) erroniously think they can make decisions. The Catholic Church is not run that way, though many Protestant churches are. Committees are to relieve the pastor of tasks not responsibilty. In some cases, committees can be used to make recommendations but even that becomes problematic when the recommendations are not taken. People get their feelings hurt.
Liturgy Committees should take a coordinating role, especially in a very large parish where there may be numerous elements to schedule: flowers, music, religious ed events (RCIA or First Communion), lectors, alter servers, EMHC (and their related training). Their primary purpose should be to make sure that everything works smoothly and harmoniously. They are an administrative body, not a creative one.
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muledog
Guest
I’ve been directly involved with two separate Liturgy Committees in the past 15 years. At both parishes, the LC was a consultative body that would discuss with the pastor different aspects of the liturgy (music selection, use of EMHC, use of various Eucharistic Prayers, etc.) We always understood the fact that the pastor had the final say in celebrating Mass.
Our current pastor (who took over after our last pastor of 40 years died of cancer) has stated that the Director of Music makes all decisions on music involved in Mass, as well as the different chants to be used. That is why we now sing the Agnus Dei with multiple “tropes” and various folk songs for other chants of the Mass.
When several parishioners asked to speak with the LC and the pastor, he stated that all meetings in the future would be closed, and any questions regarding the liturgy would have to come to him personally.
Although I understand the problem of some LCs acting beyond their current mandates, I believe that they should also assist the pastor in making correct liturgical decisions.
For example, in the last parish I belonged to, our LC had regular meetings to discuss the various liturgical documents, and how they should be implemented at the parish level.
When questions arose concerning the self-communication of EMHC, we advised the pastor that this was not allowed, and showed him the appropriate legislation to back this up.
Our current pastor flagrantly violates several norms of the GIRM. There is no local accountability because he stifles anyone who questions his liturgical knowledge.
The bishop’s office is no help because our ordinary is not known for his liturgical prowess.
In Manibus Dei,
- muledog
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Gail
Guest
Muledog, I can sympathize with you. You do have an option. With the new Redemptionis Sacramentum you can write the Bishop. If you get no reponse then you have every right to write the Holy See (R.S #184.) The Holy See feels very strong about this and if they feel the abuses are worthy they will look into them themselves.
We are going through the same problems here in our parish. Our priest doesn’t want to implement the Redemptionis Sacramentum because he knows it might upset some on the Liturgy Committee’s. I am currently re-reading the Redemptionis and making my notes. I have sent my letter to our Bishop and got no backing since he doesn’t want to rush into this either so my next step is the Holy See. At least I can say I did my part of bringing it to the attention of those who need to know what is going on.
I wish you luck and give you prayers.
God Bless,
Gail
We are going through the same problems here in our parish. Our priest doesn’t want to implement the Redemptionis Sacramentum because he knows it might upset some on the Liturgy Committee’s. I am currently re-reading the Redemptionis and making my notes. I have sent my letter to our Bishop and got no backing since he doesn’t want to rush into this either so my next step is the Holy See. At least I can say I did my part of bringing it to the attention of those who need to know what is going on.
I wish you luck and give you prayers.
God Bless,
Gail
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puzzleannie
Guest
there first order of business should be tearing down those motheaten 70s style banners and burning them
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Hudsonite
Guest
I had approached our Pastor and asked if I could put some usccb Redemptionis Sacramentum flyers on the bulletin stands. He said no…so
Several parishoners decided to pass out RS on the cars at the church, I also put RS on the agenda for the LC. I was asked to resign my position and to not be on any committe in the parish because I helped put the RS flyers out,. Our associate said I couldn’t be trusted!
These flyers were approved by the USCCB, even the front cover was approved. All it was was the 30 questions and answers that are found on the USCCB web site.!
I love my Pastor and our associate so much that I want nothing more than to help them get to heaven. I fear that with all these liturgical abuses going on, the dissobedience, the half truths in thier homilies, thier neglegence of speaking of sin, they’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. My fear is that God won’t want to hear thier excuses and it’ll be too late.
Mary Queen of the clergy…Pray for us
Several parishoners decided to pass out RS on the cars at the church, I also put RS on the agenda for the LC. I was asked to resign my position and to not be on any committe in the parish because I helped put the RS flyers out,. Our associate said I couldn’t be trusted!
These flyers were approved by the USCCB, even the front cover was approved. All it was was the 30 questions and answers that are found on the USCCB web site.!
I love my Pastor and our associate so much that I want nothing more than to help them get to heaven. I fear that with all these liturgical abuses going on, the dissobedience, the half truths in thier homilies, thier neglegence of speaking of sin, they’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. My fear is that God won’t want to hear thier excuses and it’ll be too late.
Mary Queen of the clergy…Pray for us
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