CELEBRATION:

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CELEBRATION

• What does it mean to celebrate liturgy?

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Does we need . fireworks ??? balloons ???
rock concerts ???
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A CASE STUDY

• Holy Trinity Church, (Georgetown) Washington DC
• Next to Georgetown U., but not a university
  parish
• The 530 p.m. Sunday Mass what do they do right?

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How is Holy Trinity different from your parish?

• It is older the church dates back to 1794
• It is wealthier in a very wealthy neighborhood
• It has a large population base .. the DC Metro
  area
• It has a number of priests .. SJ

• But none of these really affect what it does
  right in liturgy.

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Their own description of the 530 Mass

• with piano, guitar, flute, other instruments,
  and choir with contemporary repertoire.  This
  Mass has a Liturgy Planning Team many young
  adults attend this Mass, but not exclusively by
  any means.
• (from the Parish Bulletin and yes they do try
  to describe their Masses)
• What works for them?

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TIME

• This Mass is at 530 p.m. on Sunday afternoons
• The time itself is clearly one that attracts a
  younger congregation
• It is attended largely by people from their 20s
  into their 40s
• Lesson in scheduling celebrations, look at our
  demographics

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WELCOME

• There is a clear welcome into the church
• You are greeted, spoken to, told where there may
  be vacant seats
• Regulars are often greeted by name, new arrivals
  are made to feel at home
• The hospitality ministers match the demographics,
  and they are not just ushers

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CROWDS

• The church is always filled, or near filled,
  including a large upstairs balcony
• This says much about the parish itself being a
  vibrant, living community
• Think of what is being said when people come into
  a half-empty church
• When a church is full, then it is time to think
  of an additional Mass

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GOOD LECTORS

• The Word of God is read carefully, reverently and
  properly
• Lectors have obviously prepared well and their
  reading is technically good
• More important, those who read clearly know and
  understand the passage they are reading and they
  read it in faith
• Periods of silence are properly observed
• The Psalm is sung clearly and reflectively

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GOOD HOMILIES

• True homilies
• Based on the readings
• Substance
• Relate to circumstances of the day
• Well prepared
• Good enough to put online every week, including
  an audio version.

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GOOD MUSIC

• Chosen for the season and the day
• Chosen for the assembly to join in
• Use a cantor to give indications to the assembly
• Have a basic steady repertoire
• Use a variety of musical talents flute guitar,
  violin, trumpet, etc.

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PROPER CELEBRATION

• No balloons or fireworks
• Nothing fancy
• They follow the rubrical norms
• Texts are well and carefully proclaimed
• The celebration is both simple and dignified

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BUILDING COMMUNITY

• Good welcoming
• Getting together afterwards coffee and donuts
• Parish picnics, social events, etc.
• Stewardship program time, talent, treasure

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OUTREACH

• Good catechetical programs for children, youth
  and adults
• Projects that focus on social justice
• Local food bank

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Where can we put our efforts today?

• Three areas
• The Word
• Music
• Reverence

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The Word of God its place in the liturgy

• In the Christian community, especially among
  those who seem to understand and believe little
  of what they practice, the preaching of the word
  is needed for the very ministering of the
  sacraments. They are precisely sacraments of
  faith, a faith which is born of and nourished by
  the word. This is especially true of the Liturgy
  of the Word in the celebration of Mass, in which
  the proclaiming of the death and resurrection of
  Christ is inseparably joined to the response of
  the people who hear, and to the very offering
  whereby Christ ratified the New Testament in his
  blood.
• Vatican II, Presbyterium Ordinis 4

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The Word of God - the Readings

• Introduction?
• Reading from faith
• Preparation in advance
• Clear and slow articulation so people can absorb
  what they hear
• Silence for reflection

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The Word of God - the Psalm

• The psalm is a scriptural text, tied in with the
  other readings
• Clearly sung people should be able to hear and
  reflect on the words
• People should be able to sing a response
• The psalm and response is a reflective time
• Use a seasonal one if needed

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The Word of God - the Homily

• An exposition of the Scriptures we have heard
• Faith content
• Clear and simple language, not theological terms
• Well prepared
• Draws from life and is related to life
• Includes all people

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The Word of God - the Intercessions

• They should be prayers to God, not telling God
  what to do
• Not drawn from missalettes
• Related to the community and the country
• Real needs
• Broad in their outlook, including the needs of
  the overlooked
• and for whom shall we now pray?

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The Place of Music

• Great importance should therefore be attached to
  the use of singing in the celebration of the
  Mass, with due consideration for the culture of
  the people and abilities of each liturgical
  assembly. Although it is not always necessary
  (e.g., in weekday Masses) to sing all the texts
  that are of themselves meant to be sung, every
  care should be taken that singing by the
  ministers and the people is not absent in
  celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy
  days of obligation.
• In the choosing of the parts actually to be sung,
  however, preference should be given to those that
  are of greater importance and especially to those
  to be sung by the priest or the deacon or the
  lector, with the people responding, or by the
  priest and people together. (GIRM, 40)

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Getting away from the 4 hymns syndrome

• Start from the inside out
• What are the peoples parts?
• In the liturgy of the Word
• Kyrie and Gloria (these are hymns)
• Psalm and refrain
• Gospel acclamation
• In the liturgy of the Eucharist
• Acclamations for the Eucharistic prayer (Sanctus,
  memorial acclamation, Amen)
• Lamb of God (prolonged or shortened)
• The Lords prayer (if all can join in)

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What about hymns?

• There is a clear priority
• Communion hymn (a must)
• Gathering hymn
• (These can be psalms with refrains.)
• Then
• Procession with the gifts
• Concluding hymn

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Respecting roles in music

• Examine carefully what is happening
• Choir should not be a barrier to the assembly
  even a good choir
• Choirs have a proper role, but not at the expense
  of the assembly
• Cantors should be excellent
• A leader of song is usually needed

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Music for the Eucharist

• Difference between religious songs and liturgical
  music
• There is a proper place for each
• Criteria for choice
• People should be comfortable with their own
  musical parts
• Music should be chosen seasonally
• A repertoire should be built up only over time
• It should be music for the Eucharist

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A reverend celebration AWEsome

• Noble simplicity
• Not rushed
• All should join in everything (servers,
  hospitality ministers, music ministers)
• Provision for silence (before, after the
  readings, after communion)
• Dignity and beauty in everything

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Reverence for the Word of God

• Reverence for the Place of Gods Word
• Reverence for the Book of Gods Word
• Reverence in the Proclamation of Gods Word
• Reverence in the Listening to Gods Word

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Reverence for the Body and Blood of the Lord

• Do we believe Jesus Christ is really and truly
  present?
• If so, this is something beyond all telling -
  awesome
• And, if so, how do our outward actions reflect
  that awe?

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Reverence for the Body and Blood of the Lord

• What about our place of reservation?
• What about our sacred vessels?
• How do we handle the Blessed Sacrament?
• What signs of reverence do we use?

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Reverence for Goda matter of attitude

• When we celebrate the Eucharist
• Joined in communion by the Holy Spirit
• Through with and in Christ
• We enter into the presence of the Father
• Our attitude must be one not only of prayer, but
  of
• Praise
• Thanksgiving
• Adoration

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Reverence for Gods people

• That attitude of reverence must extend to the
  things that are of God
• Above all to Gods people
• Is the assembly venerated as the Body of the
  Lord?
• Are the ministers garbed to celebrate the
  Passover of the Lord?
• Is there an outreach from the Eucharist to the
  least of my brothers and sisters?

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Reverence for Gods Creation

• Just before the Holy, holy we are told that
  through us is voiced the praise of all creation
  to its God
• Is our celebration one that uses and respects the
  things of nature flowers, candles, wood, stone?
• Does our celebration encourage the broader
  respect for Gods creation?

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In short

• Is our celebration awesome ?

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We dont have to do the spectacular for
celebration, we just have to do what we do well
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Each of us in our own way can do, or outdo, what
Holy Trinity does.