Southwest Liturgical Conference to draw hundreds to Denver for week of study

By John Gleason

The Southwest Liturgical Conference’s 47th annual study week will be held in Denver in January.  The four-day study will consist of lectures, workshops, exhibitors and celebration of the Eucharist.

Titled “Pinnacle, Pulpit and Pew: the Eucharist Celebrated, the Word Proclaimed, the Mission Lived,” the event will bring together liturgical professionals and laity to discuss and foster the liturgy as the heart of Christian life, according to Deacon Chuck Parker of the Office of Liturgy, which is sponsoring the event.

“It promotes networking and support among parish liturgists as well as to educate the clergy and faithful in the field of liturgy, devotional practices and other related topics,” he said.

“We come together to grow in our knowledge of the Church’s liturgical life.”
Father Robert Fisher, V.F., pastor of All Souls Parish in Englewood and co-chair of the event, said attendees should be excited with the overall focus of the conference.

“In past years we’ve delved into the theology dealing with the particular teaching surrounding a particular ministry,” he said.  “This year we’ll focus on the practice of what the various ministries are.  That’s something that will be helpful for anybody, whatever their ministry happens to be.”

Keynote speakers include Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Msgr. James Moroney, former executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, Mister Bill Huebsch, past president of Twenty-Third Publications, and Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Kathleen Harmon of the Liturgical Institute in Dayton, Ohio.  Breakout session topics include the Order of Christian Funerals: A Ritual of Healing; Celebrating the Year of St. Paul, and Ministry of Cantors: the Art of Sung Prayer.

Twenty-seven dioceses in seven states make up the Southwest Liturgical Conference, which aims to assist bishops in their role as chief liturgist and to embrace and practice liturgical enculturation.
The study week has grown to regularly attracting 800 participants from throughout the United States.  Father Fisher is confident that this year will attract even more.

“By the time we see all the full-time and part-time people who can come, we hope to have as many as 1,000 people attend,” he said.

The Southwest Liturgical Conference annual study week will be held Jan. 14-17, 2009, at the Sheraton Denver Hotel, 1550 Court Place in Denver. Cost of the event is $130 if registered by Dec. 1, $150 after or $45 for a single day.  For more information, contact the Office of Liturgy at 303-715-3156 or at liturgy.office@archden.org.