Local Chair: Lucy Zocco

Eucharist at St. Thomas Seminary

Presenters: Carole Eipers, Rita Thiron, Paul Turner

Evening with the BCL

Roman Missal Formation Project Presentation

Photos courtesy of Terri Pastura

164 delegates from 94 dioceses gathered in the Archdiocese of Hartford, October 9 – 12, 2007 for the annual National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

The meeting, jointly sponsored by the Federation of Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) and the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy (BCL), focused its three Study Mornings on Liturgy, the Privileged Place of Catechesis.

In his presentation, Rev. Paul Turner, reflected on the topic through the lens of a liturgist — pointing out how the liturgy catechizes through the building, people, texts, and rubrics.  Dr. Carole Eipers, a noted catechist, illustrated how in the “dance of discipleship” liturgy enhances catechesis, and in turn, catechesis enhances liturgy.  Each presentation was followed by directed table discussion and Q & A with the presenter.  On Friday, the Study Morning facilitator, Ms. Rita Thiron, summarized the presentations and discussion and invited the two presenters to discuss the case of infant baptism from their own ministerial vantage point.

In the course of the meeting the Federation presented its annual Frederick R. McManus Award for pastoral liturgy to Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Robert F. Taft, S.J. The FDLC also honored Rev. Msgr. James P. Moroney upon his twenty years of service to the Federation as a Board member, Board Chair, and as Associate and Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy. 

During the meeting the diocesan delegates adopted two resolutions formed during the meeting and presented to the floor by the FDLC Executive Committee.

Business sessions included the presentations of reports from the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy offered via video by its Chair, Most Reverend Donald Trautman, Bishop of Erie, and from the Federation’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Reverend Monsignor John Burton.