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December 2009 - February 2010   Vol. 37, No. 1

From the Executive Director

Msgr. John Burton and I presented the annual FDLC report to the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship at its meeting on Sunday, November 15.  Msgr. Burton and I are grateful to Bishop Serratelli and the BCDW staff for their hospitality while we were in Baltimore.  We also extend our thanks to the (arch)dioceses that responded to the request for information regarding the status of worship offices and commissions.  A brief report of the survey follows.  A more comprehensive report will be submitted to your FDLC regional representative during the January meeting of the FDLC Board of Directors.

Status of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions & Worship Offices 

Currently 117 dioceses (66% of the 178 Latin rite dioceses) report having a Liturgical Commission. 144 dioceses (80% of the 178 Latin rite dioceses) report having an Office for Worship. It is worth noting that 94% of dioceses have a Liturgical Commission and/or a Worship Office (or 168 total); while 98 dioceses (55%) report having both a commission and an office.

Staffing of Worship Offices continues to vary greatly.  According to the survey results, 73 of the 144 dioceses with Worship Offices have full-time Directors (contracted to work 35+ hours per week) and 69 are staffed with part-time Directors (hours varying between 10-34 hours per week).  Since the 2008 survey, 6 fewer (arch)dioceses report having staff other than the Director and in total 17 diocesan worship staff positions have been eliminated.

Roman Missal Resource Materials

The November BCDW meeting agenda included a thorough discussion of materials available for the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, in particular that which will be produced by the USCCB, the FDLC and the Leeds Group. 

USCCB: The Committee took a look at the BCDW Roman Missal website, which is being regularly updated.  We encourage all (arch)diocesan Worship Offices to include a link to this site (www.usccb.org/romanmissal) on their web page. The USCCB soon will be publishing a Parish Implementation Guide, similar to one that was published for the Jubilee Year.  The guide presents a process for a parish to use in creating an implementation plan.  It also offers a listing of possible resources, including those developed by the FDLC, for parishes to use in their implementation plan.  In addition, the USCCB will be publishing the four papers commissioned by the FDLC with a forward by Bishop Serratelli.  The bound volume will benefit from the wider distribution that the USCCB Publishing Department can offer.

FDLC: Using the Powerpoint presentation used on the final day of the Plymouth National Meeting, Msgr. Burton informed the Committee of the work done by the FDLC to assist (arch)dioceses in the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. Check the FDLC website (http://www.fdlc.org/Roman_Missal.htm) for more information on the resources. 

In order of availability:

§         Region VII Workshop Manuals & Appendices:  The Federation is grateful to the members of Region VII who have created a series of seven manuals for workshops and have offered to these the FDLC at the 2009 National Meeting. The manuals contain templates, procedures, processes, sample schedules to assist in developing workshops for priests, parish life coordinators, deacons, liturgy coordinators and parish staff, seminarians, and laypeople. The kit also includes appendices — resources for the presenter(s) and hand-outs.  The cost of these materials is $200 FDLC Members and $275 for non-Members  The manuals are currently available, while the appendices will be available upon receipt of copyright permissions.

§         BCDW/FDLC Workshops: The first of 22 workshops, Welcoming the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal: Deepen, Nurture, Celebrate is scheduled April 15-16, 2010 in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The listing of all 22 sites and dates can be found on the FDLC website. 

Developed by the BCDW and FDLC in consultation with NOCERCC and NPM, these workshops are designed to train the trainers in preparation for the implementation of the Missal. Note that in Session 5 a representative from FDLC will briefly present the material resources available from the USCCB and the FDLC.

Day 1
2:00	Prayer, Introductions, Overview
2:30	Session 1   Where we are and how we got here
3:30	Break
3:45	Session 2   Overview of the Revised Roman Missal
5:30	Vespers
	Free Evening
Day 2
8:00	Eucharist and Breakfast
9:20	Recap and Overview
9:40	Session 3   Ars Celebrandi
	Chants of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal
10:45	Break
11:00	Session 4  Understanding and Leading Change
12:00	Lunch
1:00	Session 5  Roman Missal Implementation
3:00	Dismissal

 

§         The FDLC is partnering with FAITH Catholic, a publishing house of the Diocese of Lansing, in producing the Roman Missal formation materials that will be available for purchase in March of 2010.

Ø       Pamphlets: Three pamphlets that can be distributed with a parish bulletin.  Why a New Translation? Pastoral explanation in Q& A format. Liturgical Participation of God’s People Using the implementation of the new Roman Missal translation as a time to re-explore the basic principles of liturgical participation. Where Do Liturgical Books Come From? The Missal that is used for Mass: where does it come from? A brief description of the process by which the Roman Missal in English comes into existence.

Ø       Pre-packaged Workshops: The two “workshops-in-box” (Workshop for Clergy, and Workshop for Parish Leaders/Liturgical Leaders) and the resources for the Assembly are nearing completion.  The virtual or “boxed” workshops consist of PowerPoint presentations, Leader Guides which provide a presenter’s script, and large and small group discussion questions, handouts and information on the bulletin inserts available, the audio CD’s and other pertinent material.

Ø       Audio CD’s: The presidential prayers presented to assist presbyters in becoming familiar with the new texts. The Order of the Mass is in production. The Propers will go into production once a recognitio is received.

Ø       Study Papers: Members will have noticed that the Study Papers are no longer available on the FDLC members website.  The USSCB will publish in one volume the FDLC study papers on the Roman Missal (with a foreword by Bishop Serratelli): Bishop Kicanas (Leadership in a Time of Change), Paul Turner (Divining the Vernacular of Liturgical Books), Mark Francis (Liturgical Participation of God’s People) and John Foster (Liturgical Implementation of the Roman Missal). Planned for April 2010.

Check the FDLC website (http://www.fdlc.org/Roman_Missal.htm) for more information on the above resources.

Leeds Group: The Committee was updated on the catechetical resource, Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ. The interactive DVD ROM and website is expected to be available in March of 2010.  As reported in previous FDLC and BCL newsletters, the Leeds Group materials cover five topics: Exploring the Mass through the Ages, Understanding the Third English Translation, Expressing the Art of Liturgy, Celebrating the Eucharist, and Living a Eucharistic Life.  The BCDW is working out the details as to how this material will be made available to (arch)dioceses and parishes in the U.S.

USCCB November Meeting 
The final ICEL gray books of third edition of the Roman Missal were approved by the bishops at the Baltimore General Assembly.  The Proper of Saints was approved with 195 yes votes, 23 no votes and 4 abstentions.  The Commons passed with 200 bishops in favor and 19 opposed. The Roman Missal Supplement garnered 203 yes votes, 15 no votes and 3 abstentions.  The U.S. Propers was approved with 199 bishops in favor, 20 opposed and 1 abstaining.  The bishops approved the U.S. Adaptation to the Roman Missal with 199 in favor, 17 opposed and 1 abstaining.

Annual Appeal
A letter of appeal has been sent to the FDLC membership.  We are grateful to those who have already responded to our petition for financial support and ask those who have not yet done so to remember your part in the liturgical apostolate when planning your year-end giving.  Donations to the Federation are tax deductible.  A report on the appeal will be given to the FDLC Board of Directors at its January Board meeting.

Thomas Merton’s Epiphany Carol  

locks feed by darkness with a noise of whispers,
    In the dry grass of pastures,
    And lull the solemn night with their weak bells.

The little towns upon the rocky hills
Look down as meek as children:
Because they have seen come this holy time.

God's glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight
Under the rafters of a barn:
Eternal Peace is sleeping in the hay,
And Wisdom's born in secret in a straw-roofed stable.

And O! Make holy music in the stars, you happy angels.
You shepherds, gather on the hill.
Look up, you timid flocks, where the three kings
Are coming through the wintry trees;

While we unnumbered children of the wicked centuries
Come after with our penances and prayers,
And lay them down in the sweet-smelling hay
Beside the wise men's golden jars.

On behalf of the National Office staff, Joe, Barb, and Dianne, I wish you every blessing in this joyful season of grace.

Lisa A. Tarker
Executive Director

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