January 21, 2009

700 attend Southwest Liturgical Conference study week in Denver

By John Gleason

The 47th annual Southwest Liturgical Conference study week drew 700 people to the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver Jan. 14-17. The archdiocese’s Office of Liturgy played host to the event, which featured lectures, workshops, fellowship and several keynote speakers. 

The conference is designed to rouse the people of God to a full and active participation in liturgical celebrations.

One of the keynote speakers, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, spoke about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the importance of celebrating the great gift that is to us.

“As families, we are in the practice of keeping memories alive,” Bishop Perry told the audience. “The narratives of grandparents and ancestors; their joys and accomplishments.  It tells us where we are from.”

The Church goes a step further.

“We have a lot to remember and holy Church works hard to keep centuries of tradition from getting lost,” he said.  “Each celebration of the sacraments celebrates the mystery of our faith, that we are reminded that we are called to be witnesses and given the grace to do so. Jesus says, ‘Remember me, do not forget me.’ He says, ‘Do this in memory of me.’  Our understanding is that the Eucharist is more than an opportunity to keep tabs on the past; it makes the past the present.”

Deacon Vince Rogalski of St. Peter Parish in Gunnison heard the words of Bishop Perry and told the Denver Catholic Register that the topic was well worth stating.

“Sometimes we get into bad habits, we forget what we’re really supposed to be doing,” he said.  “That’s why it’s important to come to these kinds of conferences, to hear what people like the bishop have to say.  It refreshes us and challenges us to do a better job.”

Msgr. James Moroney is rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester, Mass., and a member of Vox Clara, (Clear Voice), the committee on English translation of liturgical texts.  He spoke on the new edition of the Roman Missal and what opportunities the new translations would provide congregations.

“Today, we understand more about translation and how deeply and beautifully these prayers express their love since the earliest days of the Church,” he told the audience.  “More than 80 percent of the opening prayers date from before the 11th century.  That means the same prayers prayed by Augustine. So we translate them fully and poetically in order to have access to these wonderful prayers.”

The new missal isn’t about teaching people to say new prayers or when to get up at the right time or sing at the right moment, the monsignor added.  It’s about how the Eucharist is celebrated, he emphasized.

During an afternoon workshop on appropriate music for liturgical celebration, Fabian Yanez, former director of Liturgy and Music for Light of the World Parish in Littleton, now music consultant for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, discussed the four judgments, or criteria, that should be observed when selecting liturgical music, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“In the theological judgment, we ask if the composition expresses our worship according to Catholic belief,” Yanez said.  “I look to the four pillars of the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’: creed, sacraments, morality and prayer.  If it doesn’t fit these, it doesn’t belong.”

In the liturgical judgment, the question is if the work meets textural requirements for the particular rite; does it convey the meaning faithful to the teachings of the Church?

A pastoral judgment takes into consideration the community that gathers to celebrate.  Does the selection promote sanctification to the assembly and draw them closer to the holy mystery being celebrated?

“Finally, the musical judgment asks if the composition has the qualities to bear the weight of the mystery in the liturgy,” Yanez said. “Something that is expressive of our faith.”

On Jan. 16, a Mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.  The Mass was concelebrated by Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley, Pueblo Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya, D.D., Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, and Tulsa Bishop Edward J. Slattery.

During his homily, Archbishop Chaput drew laughter when he suggested that the theme of the conference, “Pinnacle, Pulpit and Pew,” was selected for its alliteration.

“But the words ‘pulpit’ and ‘pew’ actually derive from the same word that means ‘raised platform,’” the prelate told the audience.  “We are meant to be raised up so that people can see us; it’s our responsibility to live a Christian life, to be raised up so that people can see Jesus.”

In reflecting on the Mass reading from the Gospel of Mark, the archbishop compared the leper who is made whole by Jesus to what we must do in our own lives.

“The leper revealed his wounds to Jesus and asked to be made clean,” he said.  “Once declared clean, he was allowed to return to the community and attend temple to worship.  What we need to do is reveal our own wounds to Jesus and ask the same thing; we should start everyday by wanting to be requalified as Christians.”

The conference continued through the weekend and included a Saturday evening banquet where three people were presented with the conferences’ Faithful Servant Award, presented for service in liturgical ministry.  This year’s winners are Sister Genevieve Glen, O.S.B., Betsy Bumgarner and Maxine Kaiser.

Benedictine Sister Genevieve Glen is from the Abbey of Walburga in Virginia Dale. She holds masters’ degrees in theology and spirituality.  She taught liturgical theology at the Notre Dame Center for Pastoral Liturgy.  Since her arrival to the abbey in 1990, Sister Glen keeps busy giving retreats and workshops. She teaches in the abbey’s formation program and works as a freelance writer and editor. Since 1998 she has served as editor for Daily Offices for Magnificat magazine.

Betsy Bumgarner is originally from Albuquerque, N.M.  She holds an undergraduate theology degree from the University of Albuquerque, a master’s in theology and liturgy from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis and for 32 years she’s ministered in the areas of liturgy and R.C.I.A.  She served in liturgy ministry at Christ on the Mountain Church in Lakewood and was director of liturgy at Holy Trinity Parish in Westminster. Most recently she served as director of liturgy and R.C.I.A. for St. Mary Cathedral in Colorado Springs.

Maxine Kaiser is a Minnesota native who spent 32 years working for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the last 12 as director of the Office of Liturgy.  She earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministries from St. Mary’s University in Winonna.  Although now retired, Kaiser continues to serve the Church. 

The 2010 Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week is scheduled to be held in Houston, Texas, next January. Conference board member Bobbie Schauffelle of Colorado Springs said it’s an event no one should miss.

“These workshops are top notch,” she told the Register.  “It’s a shot in the arm for every Catholic whether you’re a member of pew-land or actively involved on the staff.  Everyone should plan on coming.”