About this series
For over fifty-one years, liturgical formation has been an integral part of the mission of the FDLC. From the days of mimeographed sheets to printed publications, from nationwide workshops to today’s online offerings, the Federation has served the Church of the United States with sound scholarship and trusted resources. We are delighted to announce a series of webinars which will feature expert presenters, online chats, and downloadable handouts. We know that this will be so beneficial to your parishes, schools, and formation programs, that we are offering this premiere series for FREE.
Our premiere series will focus on THE LITURGICAL BOOKS. We will examine each of the Church’s official texts — exploring its structure, contents and its rich pastoral options.
Who this series is for
Our intended audience is any student of the Liturgy — seminarians, deacon candidates, undergraduate students, parish worship commissions, musicians, youth ministers, catechists, and more! All are welcome! Since these are just 75 minutes in length, you might consider offering each webinar as a foundation for a parish staff meeting or a school faculty meeting. Make it part of a deacon formation program or a seminary elective. Add it as part of your parish adult education series or as training for your liturgical ministers.
Webinar Topics
▶️ Overview: About the Liturgical Books — In this first session, Rita Thiron, executive director of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, gives an overview of the Church’s liturgical books, a brief history of how they came to be, and the importance of universal texts.
Originally presented Oct. 21, 2020
▶️ The Process of Translation — Fr. Andrew Menke, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, explains how liturgical books are translated from the Latin originals into English and other languages for use in the United States.
Originally presented Oct. 28, 2020
▶️ The Roman Missal — Fr. Matthew Ernest of the Archdiocese of New York explains the history, development, structure, content, and pastoral options of the Roman Missal, the liturgical book used for the celebration of Mass.
Originally presented Nov. 4, 2020
▶️ The Lectionary for Mass — Fr. Paul Turner of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph explores “one of the greatest achievements of the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council,” the books we use to proclaim the Word of God at Mass.
Originally presented Nov. 10, 2020
▶️ The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — Todd Williamson of the Archdiocese of Chicago not only explores the text and the rich pastoral options it contains, but helps us better appreciate the Church’s vision of the process of Christian initiation of catechumens and the reception of those already baptized.
Originally presented Dec. 2, 2020
▶️ The Order of Baptism of Children — Rita Thiron, executive director of FDLC, explores the liturgical text itself, its important history and its rich theology. She also compares its chapters and the various pastoral circumstances which they address. Finally, she examines the new appendices for the dioceses of the United States.
Originally presented Dec. 9, 2020
▶️ The Order of Confirmation — Fr. Michael Lewis of the Diocese of El Paso reviews the rite’s place in the Roman Pontifical, the history of how the sacrament has been celebrated, the specifics of the preconciliar rite, how the ritual changed after Vatican II, the contents of the current book and pastoral strategies regarding how to use it.
Originally presented Dec. 16, 2020
▶️ Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass — Fr. John Thomas Lane, SSS of the Diocese of Cleveland examines the important praenotanda, the various chapters, and proposes best practices for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a period of Exposition. Resources will be recommended and plenty of practical handouts will enable parish catechesis.
Originally presented Jan. 6, 2021
▶️ The Rites of Ordination — Fr. Leon Strieder of the Diocese of Austin examine the content and structure of the rites for ordaining bishops, priests and deacons. He also explores the history of these rites, and their implications for ecclesiology and pastoral practice.
Originally presented Jan. 13, 2021
▶️ The Rite of Penance — Fr. Robert Kennedy of the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., reviews how the sacrament was given a revised and expanded context and liturgical shape after the Second Vatican Council. Particular attention will be given to the Introduction (Praenotanda) to the rite and the ritual shape for celebrating Penance.
Originally presented Jan. 21, 2021
▶️ Pastoral Care of the Sick — Leticia (Tish) Thornton of the Diocese of Boise explores how the Church’s Pastoral Care of the Sick is a rich resource to provide support, healing, and comfort to the sick and their families. She also highlights and explains the rich pastoral options available for ministers, both lay and ordained, when tending to the sick.
Originally presented Jan. 27, 2021
▶️ The Order of Celebrating Matrimony — Fr. Thomas Ranzino of the Diocese of Baton Rouge explores the treasures of this book, including the Introduction, which speaks eloquently about the nature of marriage, pastoral preparation for it, and the authentic celebration of the rite. He also outlines the three valid rites, the rich variety of texts and Scripture passages, and the useful appendices.
Originally presented Feb. 3, 2021
▶️ The Book of Blessings — Dr. Patricia Hughes, recently of the Diocese of Dallas, explains how this book remains an invaluable parish ritual text as well as a starting point for building the faith community. She also examines additional blessing resource texts for enacting blessing-prayer for persons, objects, and events.
Originally presented Feb. 10, 2021
▶️ The Order of Christian Funerals — Fr. John Sauer of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minn., explores how the rites of Christian burial — the Vigil and related rites, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of Committal — are stational in nature. He also outlines the rich variety of prayers and readings available for various pastoral circumstances.
Originally presented Feb. 24, 2021
▶️ The Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar — Dr. James Starke of the Diocese of Arlington examines the beautiful rituals surrounding the dedication and blessing of our places of worship. Each chapter addresses various pastoral scenarios, including the laying of a foundation stone, the dedication of a new church, the dedication of a church that has been restored and is already in use, the dedication of an altar, and various blessings of worship spaces and items used for worship.
Originally presented Mar. 3, 2021
▶️ The Liturgy of the Hours — Christopher Ferraro of the Diocese of Rockville Centre mines the riches of this ancient liturgical prayer, where Christ “continues his priestly work through the agency of his Church.” The history of the Divine Office is also unpacked, and its theology explored.
Originally presented Mar. 10, 2021