Prayer & Worship

The Director of Prayer and Worship works collaboratively with the Diocesan Liturgical Commission to assist the Bishop in fulfilling his role “to promote, regulate and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese.” (GIRM n 387) This is accomplished through overseeing the preparation for and execution of episcopal liturgies, developing policies and guidelines and providing statements and programs of liturgical catechesis. The director also participates in state and national organizations in support of the liturgical apostolate.

Diocesan Liturgical Commission

The Diocesan Liturgical Commission is made up of four sub-committees of volunteers who meet regularly to assist in advising the Bishop and the Director of Prayer and Worship in the development of liturgical policies, in preparing for diocesan liturgies and offering opportunities for formation.

Initiation (RCIA): Deacon Greg Mansfield

The Initiation subcommittee (or “the Committee”) is one of the subcommittees that comprise the full Diocesan Liturgical Commission. The Committee assists the Bishop (and his delegates) in his mission “to promote, regulate and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese” (cf. GIRM, n. 387). It also works alongside various national liturgical groups and bodies. Therefore, the role of the Committee includes:

• Providing skills-based liturgical formation of liturgical ministers engaged in Initiation 
• Providing forms and guidelines for, or commentaries/explanations of liturgical areas connected with the sacraments of and the process of Christian Initiation
• Assisting in the planning and execution of certain Diocesan liturgies and celebrations that focus on Initiation: most especially the Rite of Election (1st Sunday in Lent)

Music: Dr. Timothy Reno

The Music subcommittee (or “the Committee”) is one of the subcommittees that comprise the full Diocesan Liturgical Commission. The Committee assists the Bishop (and his delegates) in his mission “to promote, regulate and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese” (cf. GIRM, n. 387). It also works alongside the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM). Therefore, the role of the Committee is to:

• Provide especially the skills-based formation of pastoral ministers of music (workshops, masterclasses, resources etc.)
• Provide guidelines for the selection of appropriate music for the liturgy (the sacraments, the liturgical year, particular events etc.)
• Provide musical formation at a parish level (for example, helping parishes identify and train parish music ministers or in increasing the liturgical/musical repertoire) 
• Help plan Diocesan wide liturgies and celebrations (for example: the Chrism Mass or ordinations)

Prayer and Spirituality

The Prayer and Spirituality subcommittee (or “the Committee”) is one of the subcommittees that comprise the full Diocesan Liturgical Commission. The committee assists the Bishop (and his delegates) in his mission “to promote, regulate and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese.” (cf. GIRM, n.387). It also works alongside various national liturgical groups and bodies. Therefore, the role of the Committee includes:

• Utilizing various multi-media platforms to create and promote resources to parishes and individuals to grow spiritually.
• Using the website to provide parishes and individuals resources on the various types of spiritualties, prayer forms and retreat centers.

Rites and General Formation: Deacon Andrew Haskins

The Liturgy subcommittee (or “the Committee”) is one of the subcommittees that comprise the full Diocesan Liturgical Commission. The Committee assists the Bishop (and his delegates) in his mission “to promote, regulate and be vigilant over the liturgical life in his diocese” (cf. GIRM, n. 387). It also works alongside various national liturgical groups and bodies. Therefore, the role of the Committee is both theoretical and practical and includes:

• Providing especially the skills-based liturgical formation of liturgical ministers (for example: Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
• Providing guidelines for or commentaries/explanations of liturgical matters (such as funerals, weddings, or ad hoc liturgical changes and revisions) 
• Help plan and execute certain Diocesan liturgies and celebrations (for example: the Chrism Mass or ordinations)

 

A PRAYER FOR PEACE
BY POPE FRANCIS

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years
to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms.
How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced;
how much blood has been shed;
how many lives have been shattered;
how many hopes have been buried…
But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid!
Grant us peace, teach us peace;
guide our steps in the way of peace.
Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say:
"Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost".
Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love,
you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace;
enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister.
Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens
who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace,
our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience
and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace triumph at last,
and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war"
be banished from the heart of every man and woman.
Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands.
Renew our hearts and minds,
so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother",
and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen.