National Centre for Liturgy

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16th May, 2010

7 November 2009

Conferring of degrees and diploma in liturgy
At the conferral ceremony of the Pontifical University of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on 

7 November, six students of the Centre were conferred with the degree of Masters in Theology, 

specialising in liturgy by the chancellor, Cardinal Seán Brady:
-Eoin Doyle, Dundrum, Dublin
-Fr Christopher Fitzgerald, Cork
-Roisín O’Callaghan, Glenties, Co. Donegal
-Benneth Osuagwu, Aba, Nigeria and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth
-Fr Mathew Philip, priest of the Mar Thoma Church, Kerala, India and Dublin
-Aileen Smyth, Swords, Co. Dublin
               
The Diploma in Pastoral Liturgy was conferred on:       
-Sr Rita Peter, Franciscan Sister of St Aloysius, Benediktbeuern, Germany

14 September 2009

Course begins its thirtieth year

The Centre welcomed thirteen new students on 14 September 2009. One student joins five students in the second year of the MTh specialisation in liturgy. Three students are registered for the Diploma in Pastoral Liturgy, five for the first year MTh programme and four are auditing or taking the course in a part-time way.

9 September 2009

Death of Dr Raymond Topley

Dr Raymond Topley, a member of the Centre’s panel of lecturers since 1986, died 9 September 2009. He retired as head of the Department of religious Studies at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra at the end of August, due to ill-health. He was a pioneer in the work of liturgical catechesis on sacramental preparation and the formation of baptism teams.

May he rest in peace.

10 July 2009

40^th Annual Church Music Summer School.

The first Summer School of the Irish Church Music Association was held in July 1970, making this year the 40th annual Summer School. It took place Monday 6 to Friday 10 July 2009, with the theme, ‘As we wait in joyful hope,’ expressed something of that journey over the past forty years. The Summer School was officially opened by Cardinal Seán Brady (see pp 00-00). Over 250 people took part.

Kevin O’Carroll, Waterford conductor and choral director, son of the composer and founder-member, the late Fintan O’Carroll, was the guest director. The week included the usual tutorials: Liam Lawton (parish music), Mary Amond O’Brien (schools), Máire Ní Dhuibhir (Irish in the liturgy), Kevin O’Carroll (choral direction), Eoin Tierney, Regina Deacy and David Connolly (organ), Sarah Waldron (cantor training) and Colin Mawby (composition). Colin also directed the special choir.

Each day was marked by the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist. Each evening had its special feature. On Tuesday, after Evensong in St Mary’s Church conducted by Archdeacon Edgar Swann, outgoing chairperson of the Dublin and Glendalough Church Music Committee, there was a Christmas Carol Night, an opportunity to sing and reflect apart from the festive season itself. Dublin based choir Faoimlaoi gave a marvellous presentation of music composed in the Irish tradition by its director Ronan McDonagh on Wednesday evening in the College Chapel. Finally on the Thursday evening, Kevin Carroll conducted a performance of the Fauré Requiem.

25 May 2009

End of Year at National Centre for Liturgy

The end of the academic year at the National Centre for Liturgy was marked in the customary way on 25 May 2009 with the celebration of Evening Prayer, Recital and Reception.

A full St Mary’s Oratory celebrated Evening Prayer, beginning with the Charles Wesley Ascension hymn, ‘Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise,’ followed by psalmody, Ps 97,with antiphon and psalm tone composed by Moira Bergin, Ps 137, Fintan O’Carroll, with antiphon by John O’Keeffe, Phil 2: 6-11 by Paul Kenny. Referring to the reading, 2 Tim 1:6-11, read in Irish, Fr Patrick Jones, who presided, said,

Through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus among us, his death is our ransom from death, his resurrection is our rising to life. In his ascension, in his leaving, he is still present. What was in Christ has passed into the mysteries, the worship that is gifted to us.

Rekindle the gift of worship with the spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

We rely on the power of God. We, a humbled and humble people, do not rely on our own power.

In our worship, to use the words of Pope Paul VI, promulgating the Liturgy Constitution of Vatican II, the charter that has guided our work, we place God first, we restate our first duty: to worship God, and our first school of spirituality: the liturgy

Guard the good treasure of liturgy, and do so with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The intercessions were spoken in Hausa, Swahili, Malayalam, Burmese and Ibo, languages of the students.

After Evening Prayer, Fr Jones thanked the students, their friends and families, the guests who attended and the lecturers for the year.

Prof Liam Tracey introduced the recital with Dr Gerard Gillen, organist and Gavan Ring, baritone. Prof Gillen played music of composers whose anniversaries occur this year: Adolph Friedrich Hesse (200^th anniversary of his birth), George Frederick Handel (250^th anniversary of his death), Joseph Haydn (200^th anniversary of his death) and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (200^th anniversary of his birth). Gavan Ring sang ‘The People that Walked in Darkness’ (Messiah), ‘Now Heaven in fullest Glory Shines (Haydn’s Creation) and ‘It is Enough’ (Mendelssohn’s Elijah).

The evening concluded with a reception in Renehan Hall.

National Proper published

The National Proper for Ireland, that is, the prayers and readings for the Irish Calendar has been published by Irish Liturgical Publications.

The National Calendar, revised and approved in 1972, had only five observances, including one solemnity (St Patrick) and four feasts (St Brigid, St Columba (Colm Cille), All Saints of Ireland and St Columban). In 1976, a sixth observance was added with the inclusion of the feast of the newly canonised St Oliver Plunkett. 

In the work of a revision of the National Proper in the mid 1990s, a fuller calendar was proposed. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments confirmed the proposed Proper Calendar of Saints for Ireland on 1 October 1998 (Prot. 227/97/L). This revised calendar allows the celebration of Irish saints in the national calendar rather than just as diocesan celebrations. This revision of the Calendar allows for a greater Irish identity to be given to it. The National Calendar has one solemnity (St Patrick), three feasts (St Brigid, St Colm Cille, All Saints of Ireland) and memorials which commemorate diocesan patrons and others.   There are seven obligatory memorials:  St Ita, St Kevin, Bl. Irish Martyrs, St Oliver Plunkett, St Ciaran, St Malachy and St Columban.  Additions to the calendar include Saints Fursa, Gobnait, David, Aengus, Enda, Davnet, Moninne, Willibrord, Aidan of Lindisfarne and Fergal.

As a general norm, solemnities and feasts are regarded as exceptional, with full Mass prayer texts and readings. The readings are noted in the Liturgical Calendar for the first time this year. The solemnity of St Patrick has been given a three year cycle of readings. This solemnity and the four feasts also have a proper preface and solemn blessing. The obligatory memorials are given a collect, prayer over the gifts, prayer after communion as well as their own entrance and communion antiphons, Optional memorials only have an opening prayer or collect.

The National Proper for Ireland was approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Prot. N 816/07/L, 10 July 2007) and is published as an interim supplement to the Roman Missal and will be incorporated into its new edition.

6 May 2009
Becoming the Body of Christ

A major conference on RCIA will take place in Dublin, 28 June-3 July.  Fr Damian McNeice writes:

Its been nearly six years since Dublin hosted the Beginnings and Beyond conference on the RCIA. The Dublin Diocese Liturgy Resource Centre, in conjunction with the Diocesan Office for Evangelization, have organised a five day intensive conference on the RCIA process entitled Becoming the Body of Christ which will take place in All Hallows College, Gracepark Road, Dublin 9, from Sunday evening 28 June to Friday lunchtime 3 July 2009.

It will immerse participants through liturgy, inputs and reflection into the spiritual path of conversion the parish embarks upon when initiating adults into the life, prayer and mission of the local Body of Christ. Those who have been involved in the RCIA process have found it transformative of their own faith and a source of inspiration and renewal for the parish as a whole.

Participants will become familiar with the dynamics of the four periods and rituals of the RCIA. It will cover the period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate, the Rite of Acceptance, the period of the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election, the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, the Celebration of the Rites of Initiation in the context of the Easter Triduum and the Period of Mystagogy. Interest in this conference is expected from dioceses all over the country, so please book as soon as possible. Further details, costs and registration forms are available on our website: www.litmus.dublindiocese.ie

5 May 2009

ICMA 40^thsummer school

Monday, 6 July to Friday 10 July sees the annual church music summer school at Maynooth. This year will be the 40th or ruby anniversary of the summer school of the Irish Church Music Association. The Association was formed on the feast of St Cecilia, Saturday afternoon, 22 November 1969. Notice had been given that the music panel of the Commission for Liturgy (now the Advisory Committee on Church Music) had proposed a Church Music Association, offering some organisation to those in church music, providing guidance and encouragement and a forum for an exchange of ideas. The inaugural meeting took place in the Aula Maxima of UCD (Earlsforth Terrace). The late Prof. Anthony Hughes outlined the aims of the new Association A early decision was to hold an annual summer school. The first summer school took place at Maynooth, 13-17 July 1970. Two hundred and fifty people attended. The venue varied from year to year –Dalgan Park, All Hallows, Galway, Gormanston and Dungarvan in the next five years. Having a guest speaker or director became the practice in 1977, with Abe Paul Décha. It was held in Carysfort and was my first attendance. The summer school returned to Maynooth in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986 and has established itself here at Maynooth since 1988.

This year’s director is Kevin O’Carroll, son of composer and founder-member, Fintan O’Carroll (died 16 July 1981). The theme, ‘As we wait in joyful hope,’ expressed something of that journey over the past forty years. It is an opportunity to recapture some of the enthusiasm of the early days and continue on the journey towards the Kingdom of God where al our hopes and dreams will be fulfilled.

Kevin O’Carroll, well-known conductor and choral director from Waterford and son of the composer and founder-member, the late Fintan O’Carroll, will be guest director. Tutorials will be conducted by Liam Lawton (parish music), Mary Amond O’Brien (schools), Máire Ní Dhuibhir (Irish in the liturgy), Kevin O’Carroll (choral direction), Eoin Tierney, Regina Deacy and David Connolly (organ), Sarah Waldron (cantor training) and Colin Mawby (composition). Colin will also direct the special choir.

Dublin based choir Faoimlaoi will give a presentation of music composed in the Irish tradition by its director Ronan McDonagh on the Wednesday evening of the Summer School.

Information and booking forms are available from this year’s registrar, Tomás Kenny, ICMA Summer School, c/o National Centre for Liturgy, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare; telephone: 086 329 6702; fax 048 7134 5945; email registrar@irishchurchmusicassociation.com

4 May 2009
National Proper

 The prayers and readings for Irish saints have been published as National Proper by Irish Liturgical Publications.  These texts have been approved by the Bishops' Conference and by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

17 March 2009
St Patrick
 The full text of the Mass for the solemnity of St Patrick in English and Irish can be found under documentation.

20 February 2009
Liturgy -annual meeting
 
The Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy, its agencies and diocesan representatives usually takes place in November.  However because of various commitments by members of the Episcopal Commission, the meeting took place in February 2009.
 
 The meeting of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy, its agencies and diocesan representatives took place at Maynooth College on Friday, 20 February 2009.  In attendance were members of the Episcopal Commission, the various national agencies and representatives from nineteen dioceses: Achonry, Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Armagh, Clogher, Clonfert, Cloyne, Cork & Ross, Down & Connor, Dublin, Elphin, Ferns, Galway, Kildare & Leighlin, Killaloe, Kilmore, Limerick, Ossory, Tuam and Waterford & Lismore.
 
Others attending included Sr Anne Codd, secretary, Department of Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development, Fr Andrew McKenzie, national secretary, Scotland, Mr Martin Foster, liturgy office, London, Fr Seamus OConnell, guest speaker, Revd Maria Jansson, Revd Alan Rufli, Church of Ireland Liturgical Advisory Committee, Fr Thomas Carroll, Greek Orthodox parish, Dublin and Mr Francis Cousins, editor, Intercom.
 
Bishop Fiachra Ceallaigh chaired the meeting.  He opened the meeting with the prayer said at each session of Vatican II.   In welcoming those present, he also thanked members of commissions and the diocesan representatives for their work in the various aspects of liturgy, music, art and architecture, heritage and RCIA. 
 
The meeting remembered in prayer those who had died since the last annual meeting. Special tributes were made for Fr Seán Collins by Fr Patrick Jones and for Fr Austin Flannery by Dr Richard Hurley.
 
During the day the annual reports were presented in summary form by Fr Patrick Jones (Episcopal Commission for Liturgy/Irish Commission for Liturgy/National Secretariat for Liturgy), Sr Moira Bergin (National Centre for Liturgy), Prof. Gerard Gillen (Advisory Committee on Church Music and Schola Cantorum), Mr Toms Kenny (Irish Church Music Association), Mr Alexander White (Advisory Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture) and an Cannach Seán Terry (Coiste Comhairleach um an Liotirge i nGaeilge).  These reports in written form were placed before the meeting of the Episcopal Conference, 24-25 November 2008.
 
Bishop John McAreavey gave a presentation on the English translation of the Missale Romanum and its completion by ICEL.  In March 2009, the Episcopal Conference will have completed its votes on the approval of all grey book or finalised drafts of the Missal.
 
Bishop Martin Drennan on ICPEL’s work on the Lectionary,  saying that progress seems to be made on the use of NRSV as the scripture translation, with a revised Grail version of the psalms.  Additional reports were given by Mr Martin Foster and Fr Andrew McKenzie on the work of the liturgy secretariats in London and Glasgow, respectively.
 
Sr Anne Codd outlined the structures of the Department of Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development.
 
Brief reports on the work of liturgy resource people and centres around the countries were given by Ms Mary Connolly (Tuam), Ms Mary Dee (Waterford and Lismore), Fr Christopher Fitzgerald (Cork), Ms Julie Kavanagh (Kildare and Leighlin), Fr Damian McNeice (Dublin), and  Fr Daniel Murphy (Cloyne).  These reports in written and extended form are included in the Spring issue of  New Liturgy as a feature, Around the Country.  Ms Rosemary Lavelle spoke of her experience of the First Communion and Confirmation parish based programmes.  Ms Giovanna Feeley gave a brief account of the funeral guidelines in place in the diocese of Meath.
 
Revd Maria Jansson gave a report on the current work of the Church of Ireland Liturgical Advisory Committee and Fr Thomas Carroll offered a brief summary of where Orthodox liturgy is celebrated in Dublin.
 
To mark the Year of St Paul, Fr Seamus O’Connell made a presentation on Paul as Pastor

8 November 2008

Conferring of degrees and diplomas in liturgy

At the conferral ceremony of the Pontifical University of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on 8 November, five students of the Centre were conferred with the degree of Masters in Theology, specialising in liturgy by the chancellor, Cardinal Seán Brady:

-Nuala Dockry, Ballymote, Co Sligo and Ballsbridge, Dublin,

-Rosemary Lavelle, Firhouse, Dublin,

-Zuzana Mihalčíková, Kilcock, Co. Kildare,

-Fiona Minogue, Clondalkin, Dublin,

-Fr Koshy Vaidyan, Indian Orthodox Church at Church of St George and St Thomas, Dublin.   

Three students who spent last year at the Centre received the Higher Diploma in Pastoral Liturgy:

-Fr Joti Bilowalu, CM,  St Vincent House of Formation, Samabula, Suva, Fiji,

-Martin Hanley, Galway, 

-Seán Lawton, Tramore, Co. Waterford.

21 October 2008

Death of Fr Austin Flannery, OP

Fr Austin Flannery, OP died 21 October 2008, aged 83.   As editor of Doctrine and Life and through Dominican Publications he introduced people to the documents of Vatican II.  He published one of the first commentaries on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and his collection Vatican II: Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations has become the standard English-language version, often cited simply as ‘Flannery.’

He had a life long interest in religious art.  He introduced the work of the Korean Dominican artist, Kim En Long to Ireland and elsewhere.  He was a member of the Advisory Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture from its establishment after Vatican II until 1984.  During this time the first national directory on church building and reordering (now in its third edition as The Place of Worship) was published.

May he rest in peace.

7 October 2008

Liturgy and Law

Professor R. Kevin Seasoltz, OSB, St John’s Abbey, Collegeville, editor of Worship magazine, gave a special lecture on ‘liturgy and law’ at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on 7 October 2008.  The lecture was sponsored by the National Centre for Liturgy.

22 September 2008

New Year at Centre begins

A gathering of people with diocesan responsibility for RCIA took place at Maynooth on Monday, 15 September. The day was organised by a working committee of the Irish Commission for Liturgy: Jane Ferguson, Julie Kavanagh, Fr Patrick Jones, Fr Danny Murphy and Sr Moira Bergin.

Death of Joseph Gelineau

 12th June, 2008

New National Commissions

At a meeting following the Episcopal Conference meeting in June 2008, the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy nominated new commissions for a term of three years.  New members are noted by *

Irish Commission for Liturgy

*Sr Moira Bergin RSM, National Centre for Liturgy, Maynooth

*Fr Brendan Coffey, OSB, Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick

*Fr Peter Conaty, CSSp, Holy Ghost Provincialate, Dublin 6

*Ms Giovanna Feeley, Ashbourne, Co. Meath

Ms Jane Ferguson,  Cappaghmore, Dublin 22

*Ms Colette Furlong, Chapelizod, Dublin 20

Fr Patrick Jones, National Centre for Liturgy, Maynooth

Ms Julie Kavanagh, Springhill, Carlow

Fr Hugh Kennedy, St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast

*Ms Rosemary Lavelle, Firhouse, Dublin 24

Fr Patrick McGoldrick, Moville, Co. Donegal

*Fr Damian McNeice, Archbishop’s House, Dublin

Fr Daniel Murphy, Castlelyons, Co. Cork

Canon John Terry, Kanturk, Co. Cork

Fr Liam Tracey, OSM, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Fr Tom Whelan, CSSp, Milltown Institute, Dublin

Advisory Committee on Church Music

Prof Gerard Gillen (chairperson), Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Sr Moira Bergin, RSM (secretary), National Centre for Liturgy, Maynooth

Fr Turlough Baxter, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Ms Regina Deacy, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Fr Patrick Jones, National Centre for Liturgy, Maynooth

Fr Paul Kenny, Francis Street, Dublin 8

*Ms Bernadette Kiely,  Meelick, Co. Clare

Fr J Columba McCann, OSB, Glenstal Abbey

*Ms Deirdre Macklin, Ballinode, Co. Monaghan

Fr Pat O’Donoghue, Dublin Liturgy Office

*Dr John O’Keeffe, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Advisory Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture

Mr Alexander  White  (chairperson),  Monkstown, Cork

Fr Patrick Jones (secretary), National Centre for Liturgy, Maynooth

Mr Kevin Clancy, Ennis Road, Limerick

* Cliodhna Bhean Cussen, Bóthar Bhinn Eadán, Baile Átha Cliath 13

Mr Tom Glendon, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin

*Fr Michael Gilroy, Newman Institute, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Fr Hugh Kennedy, St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast

*Mr John Lynch, Donoughmore, Co. Cork

Mr Paul O’Daly, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Dr Jacinta Prunty, CHF, Dept. of History, NUIM 

Mr Brian Quinn, Belfast

Coiste Comhairleach um an Liotúirge i nGaeilge

An Mgr Pádraig Ó Fiannachta (cathaoirleach), An Daingean, Co. Chiarraí

An Can. Seán Terry (rúnaí), Cluain Uamhaí , Co. Chorca

*An Can. Micheál de Liostún,  Naomh Mainchin, Luimneach

*An tAth. Micheál Mac Craith, OFM, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh

An Dr Próinséas Ní Chatháin, Baile Atha Cliath, 14

*An tAth. Pádraig Ó Baoighill, Na Doirí Beaga, Co. Dún na nGall

*An Dr Tadhg Ó Dúshláine, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad

An Dr Cathal Ó Háinle, Coláiste na Trionóide, Baile Átha Cliath 2

*An tAth. Seán Ó Meachair, Ceatharlach

An Can. Tadhg Ó Moráin, Corr na Móna, Gaillimh

*An Dr Marie Whelton, Marino Institute of Education, Baile Átha Cliath 9

The Episcopal Commission expressed its gratitude to those who retired from membership:

Irish Commission for Liturgy: Sr Bríd Liston, FCJ, Fr Dermot Meehan, Fr J Columba McCann, OSB, Fr Edward McGee.

Advisory Committeee on Church Music: Mrs Nancy Long,  Sr Perpetua McNulty, RSM.

Advisory Committee on Sacred Art and Architecture: Mr Eamon Hedderman, Bríd Bean Ní Rinn, Mr George Walsh.

Coiste Comhairleach um an Liotúirge i nGaeilge: an tAth. Seán Ó Duinn, OSB, an Mgr Micheál Ó Mainín, an tAth. Edmund Ó Cuilleanáinn, an tAth. Aoidh Mac Suibhne.

Gratitude was also extended to some members who had resigned in the past year:

Irish Commission for Liturgy: Dr Margaret Daly-Denton, Fr John Keating, OCarm.

Advisory Committee on Church Music: Máire Bean Ní Dhuibhir

Remembered in prayer are two members who died recently:

Fr Seán Collins, OFM  who served on the Irish Commission for Liturgy (2005-2006) and an Coiste Comhairleach um an Liotúirge i nGaeilge (2005-2006), died on Christmas Eve 2007;

An tAthair Micheál Ó Meachair, MSC, who was a member of an Coiste Comhairleach um an Liotúirge i nGaeilge from 2002 until his sudden death on 1 November 2007.

Idir dhá láimh Chríost go raibh said.