As our parishes continue to Seek the Lord and Proclaim His Gospel, I feel that we have reached the time to start developing liturgy committees for both parishes.  My original thought was to have one committee for both parishes but as I grow in knowledge of each parish, I feel God asking me to create two separate committees.

My hope is that these two committees will help each parish celebrate liturgy in ways that uplifts people’s spirits and encourages people full, active, and conscious participation and at the same time will come together and support each other and appreciate the work God is doing within our communities.

The Scripture Scholar N. T. Wright puts forth the idea: “Good Christian liturgy is friendship in action, love taking thought, the covenant relationship between God and his people not simply discovered and celebrated like the sudden meeting of friends, exciting and worthwhile though that is, but thought through and relished, planned and prepared -- an ultimately better way for the relationship to grow and at the same time a way of demonstrating what the relationship is all about.”

If you are interested in becoming a part of the Liturgy Committee, please:

1. Read and prayerfully reflect on this article from America Magazine

The following are some key things that I hope you will keep in mind and pray with as you discern whether or not God is calling to be a part of the liturgy committee.

1. Parish leaders should understand that because liturgy is at the heart of all parish life, the liturgy committee and its work need to be among the highest priorities.
2. The parish liturgy committee should understand that its primary responsibility is not to prepare liturgical ceremonies. Rather, the committee should focus on the full range of the parish's liturgical life. This includes budgeting, long range and short-range planning, establishing parish liturgy policy, developing job descriptions for liturgical ministers, evaluating liturgies and continuing the formation and education in liturgy for committee members and the assembly.
3.  Liturgy is a work of art, and therefore should be prepared by artists. (This means that we will discuss things like the quality of music but not pick out individual songs. We will leave that to our talented musicians.
4. Effective leadership is vital and members of the committee should believe that evaluations matter.  Remember that Chrisitan leadership is about service, not about 'getting my way' - and that we cannot manage what we do not measure. 
5. Committee members should be willing to hold one another accountable and have the courage to face difficult issues with respect and honesty.
6. The committee and the pastor need to be clear about who makes final decisions. The Liturgy committee at our two parishes will be advisory only.
7. Liturgy committee members should honor, respect and continue to grow in their understanding of theological, historical, spiritual, pastoral and juridical principles of liturgy.
8. The liturgy committee must know, love and respect the assembly.
9. A liturgical committee should center its primary attention on doing the basics exceptionally well, Sunday after Sunday the fundamental actions of gathering, welcoming, proclaiming the Word and celebrating the Eucharist.  In addition, liturgy committee members should enter fully into the liturgical life of the parish
10. Because of #8 & #9, I will be expecting members of the Liturgy Committee to attend and participate in our Covenant Night program on the Third Sunday of the Month.

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” - St. Maximilian Kolbe. 

What a great blessing it is that we get to encounter our Lord in this most intimate and sacred way!!!  Please consider helping us celebrate the Sacred Mysteries better by joining our new liturgy committees.

Thank you and God bless,

Fr. Tom Pastorius