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Who We Are

The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) is a national organization composed primarily of members of diocesan liturgical commissions, worship offices and/or the equivalent diocesan liturgical structures. These diocesan liturgical personnel, appointed by their bishops, have responsibility for the promotion of the liturgical life of their dioceses. The FDLC serves as an official collaborating agent between the local churches through diocesan worship offices and liturgical commissions and the USCCB Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy. 

Our Goal

To promote the liturgy as the heart of Christian life‑especially in the parish community. As a pastoral, “locally-based,” and professional organization, the FDLC shall be committed to assist the Catholic Church in the United States of America, its hierarchy, the local churches, and the individual bishops in their responsibilities of providing positive leadership in liturgical celebration, education, and development.

Objectives of the Federation

Ø      To foster and coordinate the work of diocesan liturgy personnel.

Ø      To provide information materials which will aid diocesan liturgy personnel in carrying out educational and promotional initiatives.

Ø      To work with the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy on matters to be proposed to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Ø      To be a medium through which diocesan liturgy personnel may contribute responsibly and effectively in articulating the voice of clergy, religious, and laity in the development of liturgy.

Ø     To sponsor, together with the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy and its Secretariat, and the local host diocese, the National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

National Meeting

An important event in the life of the FDLC is its national meeting held in a different part of the United States each year. It provides an opportunity for education on a particular liturgical theme, for dialog on current pastoral issues, and is a forum for bringing together the liturgical leadership and the liturgical advocates from the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy and for establishing national and regional priorities in the area of liturgy. [Click here for information on this year's meeting and past meetings]

Structure

The governing body of the FDLC is the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is divided into several working committees—Executive, Eucharist and Liturgical Year, Sacraments, Prayer, Ministry, Liturgical Arts and Music, National Process, Publications. Officers of the Board are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Delegate East, and Delegate West. Each committee has a chairperson responsible for coordinating the work of the committee. The board meets at the annual National Meeting and for several day work sessions in January. In order to accomplish the tasks of the FDLC and its Board of Directors, the FDLC has a National Office in Washington, D.C., staffed by a full time Executive Director and support staff.

Membership

Any dues paying Diocese in the United States and its territories is eligible for membership in the FDLC. Membership entitles each Diocese to have two voting delegates at the National Meeting.

In addition, the FDLC offers associate and industry memberships. [Click here for more information]

Services

The FDLC plays a prominent role in the catechesis of sacraments, the RCIA, reconciliation and the anointing of the sick.  It provides parishes and dioceses with information, trends, needs, and other pertinent data. The Federation has always been a strong and practical voice on behalf of those working to bring about vibrant sacramental experiences in their own parishes.

ACCOMPLISMENTS

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Advocacy [click for more information]

• Roman Missal [click for more information]

  • published and revised the The Mystery of Faith, a study guide on the structural elements of the Mass;

  • published a series of bulletin inserts on the Mass;

  • participated in the consultation process through offices and commissions;

  • is keeping offices and commissions informed of progress through the FDLC Newsletter, regional meetings, and Fax’s;

  • published and mailed briefing papers to all dioceses in the US;

  • worked closely with We Believe who duplicated our briefing papers;

  • provided extensive documentation on the Pastoral Introduction

• Liturgy Offices and Commissions [click for more information]

  • The National Office tracks the number of dioceses with commissions and/or offices and reports this data regularly to the BCL.

  •   The Executive Director and Chair regularly request the BCL to encourage the bishops to maintain/establish offices of worship and commissions. As a result Chairs of the BCL have frequently urged their fellow bishops to do so during the annual meeting of the USCCB.

  • The National Office helps in staffing of offices of worship by advertising openings in the FDLC Newsletter and by maintaining resumes on file at the National Office.

  •  The Board of Directors developed a job description for the Director’s position in an Office for Worship, available from the FDLC National Office.

• Environment and Art [click for more information]

  •  Through its position statements and through the Executive Director and the Chair of the FDLC Board, the FDLC has expressed strong support for Environment and Art in Catholic Worship. As a result a member of the FDLC Board of Directors was appointed to represent the Federation in the drafting of Built of Living Stones.

  • The FDLC through its National Office has published pastoral bulletin inserts on environment and art.

• Timing of Sacraments of Initiation [click for more information]

  • With the NCCD shaped and published a joint statement on the proper liturgical time to celebrate the sacraments of initiation.

  • The Executive Director and the Chair of the FDLC Board of Directors brought the statement to the attention of the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy

•  Order of Sacraments of Initiation [click for more information]

  • Through its position statements and through the Executive Director and the Chair of the FDLC Board, the FDLC has expressed to the BCL strong support for restoring the order of the sacraments of initiation.

  • The National Office through the FDLC Newsletter has edited and published articles on the order of the sacraments of initiation.

• Liturgical Formation [click for more information]

  •  Through its position statements and through the Executive Director and the Chair of the FDLC Board, the FDLC has expressed strong support for liturgical formation of those to be ordained and those already ordained.

  • An annual Seminary Liturgical Formation Forum is held in conjunction with the National Meeting. The forum brings together in dialog seminary liturgy personnel and worship office directors.

  • In 2003, the National Office conducted a survey of bishops and diocesan worship offices regarding seminary liturgical formation. Then, NOCERCC collaborated with FDLC in conducting a similar survey of priests ordained 1993-2003. The results of the survey were shared with the BCL.

• Liturgy of the Hours [click for more information]

  •  The FDLC sponsored a National Meeting on the theme of Liturgy of the Hours

  • The FDLC encourages use of Liturgy of the Hours in parishes through a series of bulletin inserts published by the National Office.

• Full Active Participation [click for more information]

  • The National Office edited and published a series of pastoral bulletin inserts on full active conscious participation by the assembly.

  • Through position statements the Federation has advocated Communion in the Hand.

  • Through position statements the Federation has advocated Reception of Communion from the Cup.

  • Through position statements the Federation has advocated Reception of Communion from the altar rather than the tabernacle.

Children’s Lectionary — The Children’s Lectionary resulted from the passing of a position statement at the Rochester National Meeting. A sub committee established by the FDLC became an ad hoc committee of the BCL and over a period of seven years worked on and produced the Children’s Lectionary. The Executive Director of the National Office served on that committee.

The Frederick R. McManus Award — The McManus Award provides the FDLC an opportunity to recognize outstanding work in the area of pastoral liturgy and to support those who continue the cause of the reform of the liturgy.

 Studies and Fact Finding

• Ordo Missae Study — This study requested by the BCL resulted in many recommendations for the revision of the Roman Missal and in the publication of the study guide to the Mass, The Mystery of Faith which has been used by thousands to better understand and celebrate the Eucharist, revised in 2004 incorporating the norms of the 2000 General Instruction of the Roman Missal.

•  Seminary Liturgical Formation — In 2003, the FDLC surveyed diocesan bishops and worship offices regarding the liturgical formation of seminarians. FDLC then collaborated with NOCERCC in undertaking a similar survey with priests ordained 1993-2003.

• Lectionary Study — Requested in 2002 by the Secretariat on the Liturgy, the FDLC study surveyed its own membership, the Catholic Biblical Association, members of the Catholic Academny of Liturgy (CAL), and members of the Notre Dame Liturgy Listserve regarding the proclaimability and usefulness of the revised Lectionary.

Education [click for more information]

• Formation of the Assembly (English and Spanish) — As a grassroots organization with a primary focus on pastoral needs the FDLC emphasizes education of the Assembly in a majority of its publications though: [click for list]

  • Bulletin Inserts in English and in Spanish such as those published on Full, Active, Conscious participation.

  • Publications in English and in Spanish such as The Mystery of Faith

  • Liturgical Catechesis Project — a web site where the laity may find answers to their questions and where articles and resources are posted.

• Continuing education for Membership — At the same time the FDLC sees the continuing education of its members as an important part of its work. This ongoing education is accomplished through:[click for list]

  • Annual Meetings — Workshops and major presentations

  •  Regional Meetings  — In service presentations by guest speakers

  • The FDLC Newsletter  — Timely articles on issues of concern to the membership

  • National Workshops  — Workshops such as Multicultural Workshops and Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a  Priest

Publications

Publications have been a significant part of the educational role of the FDLC. Books, pamphlets, and bulletin inserts on various liturgical topics are available. The Mystery of Faith: A Study of the Structural Elements of the Order of Mass ( and its Spanish equivalent El Misterio de Fe) has been an invaluable and widely used resource on the Mass. The Federation also publishes an in-house newsletter that bonds and networks the membership, keeping it informed and updated on current liturgical policies and issues. With all its publications the FDLC has been sensitive in responding to a multi-cultural Church. [Click here to visit the FDLC Publications pages]

Web-Based Liturgical Catechesis

In May of 2004, the FDLC initiated a free web-based liturgical catechesis resource, intended for parishes and individuals. The site includes articles, documents and resources for topics such as: Planning Liturgy (Spirituality, Readings, Ministers), the Sacraments, Liturgy and Culture, Liturgy and Social Justice and the history of the Liturgical Movement. The site also has links to Roman Catholic associations and organizations supporting the liturgical renewal. [Click here to visit the FDLC Liturgical Catechesis pages] 

Visions and Dreams

As we know well, the vision and Spirit of Vatican II is not fully realized. Considerable progress has been made but we have only begun the journey toward true renewal which is the change of attitudes, understandings, and structures which will enable us to worship not merely out of a sense of obligation but from a deep-seated conviction that we really have something worth celebrating together. It is only through your courage, conviction, and dedication that quality worship will become the norm. It is only through an organization such as the FDLC that we will continue to have a "grass-roots" national voice promoting from a pastoral perspective the ritual prayer life of the Church.