US Church makes preparations for introduction of revised Roman Missal

American Catholic Bishops have announced a series of workshops to be offered around the United States in April and November to prepare priests and diocesan leaders for implementation of the revised Roman Missal, which they say includes: ' the most significant changes in the Liturgy since 1974.'

The seminars are sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Divine Worship and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. Other associates in planning include the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

Seminars will study the historical and theological context of the new Missal and look at some of the new translations to deepen understanding of their depth and richness.

They will also highlight the role of the priest celebrant in both proclaiming and singing the next texts. In addition, speakers will discuss the impact of change on both priests and laity and suggest strategies for implementation of the Missal locally.

Primary staff for each seminar will be either Msgr Anthony Sherman, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, or Father Richard Hilgartner, associate director of the Divine Worship Secretariat. Msgr Sherman holds a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of Innsbruck. Fr Hilgartner holds a licentiate degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo, Rome and is a doctoral student in liturgy at The Catholic University of America. Both are members of the North American Academy of Liturgy and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy.

A second speaker at each seminar will be either Brian Reynolds, EdD, chancellor and chief administrator of the Archdiocese of Louisville; Dolly Sokol, PhD, director of development of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe or Peter Zografos, DMin, director of campus ministry and adjunct faculty of Our Lady of the Lake University, in San Antonio.

Workshops will be offered in Cincinnati; Richmond, Virginia; Phoenix; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri; Helena, Montana; St. Paul-Minneapolis; Denver; Orange, California; Louisville; Baltimore; Milwaukee; Trenton, New Jersey; San Francisco; Oklahoma City; Boston; Seattle; Alexandria, Louisiana; Albany, New York; Honolulu; San Antonio; and Orlando.

Further details can be found at www.fdlc.org, and registration for the workshops (limited to priests and diocesan leaders) is at www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

Other initiatives include provision of a series of related articles to diocesan media outlets. The Bishops are preparing several resources, including a parish guide, which will be available soon after the final text of the Missal is approved by the Holy See.

Source: USCBC