Catechetical Day

Yesterday was our diocesan catechetical day.  We are in a series of formation days around the faith with our catechetical leaders and the topic yesterday was Sacraments.  I gave a presentation on preparing to celebrate Mass with children in schools and faith formation programs. 

In her book, Preparing Parish Liturgies: A Guide to Resources (Liturgical Press) Rita Thiron has a list of "Ten Basic Principals of Liturgical Preparation" that I used as a kind of summary of my talk.  They are: 

• It's all about the paschal mystery!
• Every liturgy is the function of the priestly office of Jesus Christ
• Recognize the role of the assembly
• lex orandi, lex credendi
• Always begin with the rite
• The Word is essential
• Allow the ritual to speak
• Environment affects worship
• Music is integral
• Preparation and evaluation is imperative

Among other points I tried to impress on the folks that we prepare the liturgy not plan it.  The Church has already given us the plan, we then need to prepare to celebrate the various rites. 

I also proposed planning "from the inside out.'  By this I mean starting with Sing to the Lord being intentional about planning acclamations, dialogues, etc. rather than trying to figure out what our favorite song is and how we will find a place for it.

I hope the folks took some good principals with them from the very hot room, non-airconditioned room.

We began with Mass and used one of the Michel Guimont/Delores Dufner pieces from Amen to the Body of Christ - Bread of Life, Cup of Blessing.

Diocese of Winona Harvest Mass

On August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Diocese hosts a "Harvest Mass" on one of the farms in the Diocese.  The local committee works very hard in welcoming almost 500 people to the event.  This year the Mass was near East Chain, MN. 

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Happy Feast Day!  Today we celebrate Mary's Assumption, body and soul into heaven.  In establishing this feast Pope Pius XII declared:  "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

There are many wonderful representations of this event.  It has inspired artists of every age.  One of my favorite depictions has the disciples gathered around the tomb of Mary which is filled with flowers.  Often their faces show their consternation.  Above, Mary is shown being taken up to heaven.  I love how it unites the earthly and the heavenly in Mary. 

In preparing for my homily I reflected on  Deacon Greg Kandra's reprinted homily on The Deacon's Bench.  In it he tells of a journal entry by Henri Nouwen in which a priest that he has met describes Mary's meaning for the world,  “To look at Mary is to see God’s original plan for humanity.”  Both in her life and in her Assumption Mary reveals to us what God desires for us. 

The Feast of Maximilian Kolbe

I have had, for many years, a special affinity for St. Maximilian Kolbe.  It results from having had the opportunity to be a part of the "guide choir" at his canonization.  This is the choir that sings the people's part of the Mass at large Vatican liturgies.  I don't know if this practice is still in place but it was in the 1980's when I was in seminary.

One of my profound memories of the day is the figure of the man for whom St. Maximilian Kolbe gave his life.  Here is a link to his story and a picture of the St. Maxmilian and Franciszek Gajowniczek.

http://nealobstat.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/16670/

Back again

After a rather busy year I am hoping to be more faithful in posting on the blog.  I found the last year in the Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Winona to be focused on planning for diocesan liturgies.  And as much as I enjoy it I was left with little time for other enjoyable endeavors.  Hence the silence on the blog.

Looking forward to the new year and some additional help from Fr. Patrick Arens of our diocese I am hoping to find a better balance in the tasks of the Office. I am also hoping to have some of our Liturgical Commission members do an occasional post.  I would hope for at least a weekly posting if not more often.

One of the great adventures of my summer was to study Spanish at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas.  It is an intensive, pastorally focused program that I found very effective.  While in San Antonio I had the opportunity to celebrate Sunday Mass at some of the local churches.  One weekend I travelled to Houston to visit friends and worshiped at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in The Woodlands, Texas.  It is a large, newly built church.  The music ministry, as is so often the case during the summer, consisted of a cantor and keyboard player.  People sang well and the whole community seemed quite welcoming.

The next Sunday several of us travelled to Mision Concepcion which is one of four missions that formed the early stages of what became San Antonio.  The others are Mision San Jose, Mision San Juan and the Alamo (!) which was originally a mission.  Mision Concepion was filled to capacity with a diverse crowd.  Some were local parishioners and sopme were tourists.  The music was by an ensemble that led us in bi-lingual song although the Mass was in English.  The decor is very close to the original from the 1700's when the mission was founded.  Very simple and quite beautiful. 


The next Sunday we went to San Fernando Cathedral for Mass.  This is one of the oldest cathedrals in use in the country.  The original church was begun by Portuguese immigrants and forms the front section of the church.  Later another church was built that was attached to the old church.  This later church is the primary seating area of the cathedral.  In the old section are three beautiful retablos which are the Mexican version of the high altar.  All three were quite stunning but the central one which houses the tabernacle is especially beautiful and is gilded with gold leaf.  Unfortunately it is not wanting to upload but I will see what I can do in a later post.