Hands-on workshops seek to revivify liturgies

As head of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship, she intends to make that work more fulfilling through a day of reflection on liturgy titled, "Concerning the Word of Life," to be held at several locations around the Albany Diocese beginning Nov. 3.

The event was created after priests asked for some form of liturgical renewal for the people in their parishes.

Sparking renewal

"We wanted to help people become more fully engaged in the liturgy and appreciate that it's more than words," she explained. The day of reflection will include five workshops:

* "Many Homes for One Church: A Celebration of Sacred Space,"

* "From Rote to Reverence: Revitalizing Ritual,"

* "Sing Once, Pray Twice: Music as a Language of Faith,"

* "Prayer: It's More Than You Think" and

* "Don't Dismiss the Dismissal."

Presenters include several members of the diocesan Liturgical Commission: Rev. David Mickiewicz, Rev. Thomas Chevalier, Marie Bernadett, Patricia Mousaw and Linda Fadusky.

Experiencing liturgy

One workshop, for example, will walk people through a kind of prayer service -- including an opening rite, procession, Scripture readings and responses -- to help them experience different elements of liturgy.

The director noted that "what you experience, you retain far longer than what you hear or see." Since that's the case, she said, those who attend the day of reflection will do a lot of hands-on work, from designing a worship space to responding to guided meditations through drawing or writing.

In tune

Ms. Simcoe noted that the committee planning that workshop began its work before the U.S. was attacked by terrorists Sept. 11, but said the psalm was even quoted by a victim of the attack before he died.

"It points out how ingrained the word of God can be in our hearts," she stated.

Spreading out

"We really would like to make this available to the folks in the pew," she said. Those who come "would develop a better appreciate of the role you play as a minister of the liturgy, learn new ways of praying [and] develop a better appreciation for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults."

("Concerning the Word of Life" will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in five locations: on Nov. 3 at Our Lady of the Annunciation parish, Queensbury; Nov. 17 at St. Francis de Sales, Herkimer; Jan. 26 at St. Michael the Archangel, Troy; March 9 at Sacred Heart, Stamford; and April 27 at St. Mary's, Amsterdam. Registration is $5. For information, call the Office of Prayer and Worship at 453-6645.)

(10-25-01) [[In-content Ad]]