Press Release

NATIONAL MEETING OF LITURGISTS FOCUSES ON

Communion: Fruit of the Eucharist

One hundred and eighty-seven delegates from ninety-five dioceses gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 15-19, 2002, for the annual National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

The meeting, jointly sponsored by the Federation of Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) and the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy (BCL) focused on the theme, “Communion: Fruit of the Eucharist.”

A number of speakers and respondents helped members reflect on various aspects of the Eucharist. Nathan D. Mitchell, of the Notre Dame Center for Pastoral Liturgy, and David Fagerberg, of the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, shared insights on the meaning of sacrifice in relationship to Eucharist. Rodica Stoicoiu, of the Washington Theological Union, and Vanessa White, the Director of the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, explored aspects of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and popular eucharistic devotions and their relationship to the celebration of the Eucharist. Edward Foley, of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Linda O’Brien-Rothe, examined the idea of the fruits the Mass and communion. Tom Richstatter, of St. Meinrad’s Seminary, spoke on the liturgical issues involved in Eucharist and communion as related to catechesis.

A special forum on Seminary Liturgical Formation took place at the beginning of the meeting providing an opportunity for dialogue between FDLC members and those involved in liturgical formation in seminaries.

Furthermore, twelve special interest sessions were offered by delegates of the FDLC as a service to parish ministers from the local area on a wide range of liturgical topics on Saturday, October 19.

Position Statements Approved in Indianapolis

The following position statements were developed at Spring FDLC regional meetings and submitted to the members gathered at the national meeting for approval. Voting averages are shown in parentheses: statements must receive 1.5 to pass, with a maximum vote in favor being 3.0.

PS 2002 A (2.55)

Commentary on the GIRM 2002

It is the position of the delegates to the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that the Board of Directors of the FDLC ensure the publication of a commentary on the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, 2002, including the adaptations for the Dioceses of the United States of America. This commentary would parallel the format of the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law (Paulist Press, 2000) and would include history, context, explanation, interpretation and issues of inculturation of the various norms contained in the Institutio.

PS 2002 B (1.61)

The Communion Rite

It is the position of the delegates to the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that the Board of Directors of the FDLC in collaboration with the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy commission and publish a pastoral study guide in English and Spanish to aid in the implementation of the norms and variations of the communion rite as found in IGMR 2002 and the Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America. This study guide should help ensure that all of the elements of the communion rite work together to embody the unity inherent in Eucharistic communion itself.

PS 2002 C (1.56)

Technology Based Liturgy Certification

It is the position of the delegates to the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that the Board of Directors of the FDLC establish guidelines, develop a course of study and an educational process for Liturgy Certification for beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. The educational process should include on-line and distance learning.

PS 2002 D (2.11)

A Study of the Restored Order of Initiation

It is the position of the delegates of the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that the Sacraments Committee of the FDLC Board of Directors study the experience of the restored order of the sacraments of initiation for those baptized as infants for the theological and pastoral impact, and the effect on Eucharistic participation. The study will consist of the following actions: (1) to determine, at FDLC regional meetings in 2003, which dioceses have restored the order of the sacraments of initiation; (2) to develop a questionnaire and send it to the dioceses that have restored the order of the sacraments of initiation. This questionnaire will gather information on the experiences of these dioceses (The bishops of these dioceses would be invited to offer a reflection paper on their experiences of the restored order.); and (3) to share the returned reports with the BCL and the membership of the FDLC.

PS 2002 E (1.71)

Lectionary for Masses with Children

It is the position of the delegates to the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Directory for Masses with Children, we affirm the need for a revised Lectionary for Masses with Children. We request that the BCL include the Directory for Masses with Children in the revised Lectionary for Masses with Children.

Statements of the Body Gathered

As well as the usual opportunity to discuss and vote on position statements developed at the Spring regional meetings, an additional component of the meeting schedule this year provided a mechanism whereby issues could arise from the floor and be adopted by the membership. Members were seated at inter-regional tables for the presentations and after each major addresses and responses on the first three days Board members at each table facilitated discussion of issues of concern. Each day members of the national process subcommittee produced a daily bulletin containing the items that arose at each of the tables. These were further discussed at regional caucuses. After all the position statements had been dealt with in the business sessions members were free to raise items for discussions. Discussion on some of these items gave rise to a motion and vote by the membership. To be adopted as a statement of the body, each statement had to receive greater than 2/3 vote to pass.

Statement 1 (Vote: 89.9%)

The members of the 2002 FDLC National Meeting have an urgent and serious concern regarding the lack of Spanish translations of current legislative and pastoral documents and resources including Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States, Built of Living Stones, BCL Liturgical Calendar, and BCL Study Guides. We, as a body, urge the BCL in its publications, and publishers of pastoral liturgical resources to concurrently provide translations in Spanish.

Statement 2 (Vote: 99.2%)

It is an urgent concern of the body assembled at the 2002 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions that the upcoming consultative review of the English language translation of the Second Typical Edition of the Lectionary for Mass be conducted in a timely, expeditious and collaborative manner, so that errors and inadequacies in translation, grammar and intelligibility may be corrected as soon as possible.

Statement 3 (Vote: 74 %)

It is the position of the delegates to the 2002 national meeting of diocesan liturgical commissions that we regret the pain felt in our Church over the issue of sexual abuse by Church leaders. We offer our prayerful support for healing and reconciliation in our local churches.