Parishioners in many Sandhurst parishes can expect enhanced participation and renewed awe at Mass over the coming months as people who attended the recent Liturgical Formation Seminars and Workshops bring learnings to their parish Liturgy.
The initiative was implemented in response to the call of Sandhurst Clergy for laity to have opportunities for Liturgical Formation with Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Desiderio Desideravi in mind — “With this letter I simply want to invite the whole Church to rediscover, to safeguard, and to live the truth and power of the Christian celebration.”
Dr Paul Taylor provides us with an overview.
“Let us abandon our polemics to listen together to what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Let us safeguard our communion. Let us continue to be astonished at the beauty of the Liturgy. The Paschal Mystery has been given to us. Let us allow ourselves to be embraced by the desire that the Lord continues to have to eat His Passover with us. All this under the gaze of Mary, Mother of the Church.”
DESIDERIO DESIDERAVI 65
29 June 2022, [Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles]
Saint John Laterna, Rome
By Dr Paul Taylor
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi: On Liturgical Formation of the People of God (2022) was the focus of two recent liturgical ministry formation seminars organised by the Mission and Pastoral Life Team, under the leadership of Dr Chris Cotter, Leslie Cooper, Paul Taylor and Lyn Breen. The seminars were provided in response to a request made by the Diocesan Council of Priests earlier this year in relation to liturgical formation opportunities for parishes and schools in the Diocese.
The seminars were conducted at Our Lady’s, South Wangaratta on Saturday 14 October (over a generous lunch), and at St Brendan’s, Shepparton on the evening of Wednesday 18 October (over a welcome tea). Around 90 participants from the host and neighbouring parish communities took part in these workshops.
The keynote speaker for the seminars was Professor Clare Johnson, Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, based in Melbourne. Clare explored the content and some of the liturgical implications of Pope Francis’ writing, highlighting in particular the Holy Father’s emphasis on our formation for the liturgy, and our formation by the liturgy through careful attention to the effective use of sacramental elements that make up the ars celebrandi – words, actions, silence, holy communion and music – in ways that foster the full, conscious and active participation of the whole people of God.
Following the keynote address, participants were invited to take part in three optional workshops:
• ministers of the word (Dr Chris Cotter);
• extraordinary ministers of holy communion (Lyn Breen); or
• ministers of liturgical music (Dr Paul Taylor).
Participants were offered points of affirmation, invitation and challenge in relation to the exercise of their gifts at the service of their local communities, especially during the Sunday Mass.
Feedback from participants was appreciative and positive. Some of the comments from participants included the following:
“Silence is so important when reading the Word”;
“Ministering Holy Communion is such an honour”;
“Really enjoyed learning from each other”;
“Feel refreshed”;
“We are all on a new learning journey”;
“It’s a privilege to be in the presence of people like this”;
“This came at just the right time”.
Presenters organise and deliver these seminars and workshops out of a desire to encourage participants in their missionary vocations to be the Body of Christ in their local context, and to spread the gospel by their words and witness. The seminars also come at a time when clergy, religious and laity are endeavouring to find ways to enrich their local pastoral life, following the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future liturgical formation opportunities are being planned for delivery in Bendigo in early 2024 and other regions of the Diocese throughout the year.
