NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LITURGY
WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LITURGY
St Patrick's College, Maynooth, 26 March 2012
In the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the first document of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the establishment of an institute of pastoral liturgy was recommended. The late Mgr Seán Swayne (1933-1996), a priest of the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, studied liturgy at the Institut Supérieur de Liturgie in Paris in the years immediately after the Council and returned in 1968 to teach at Carlow College. In May 1973 he was appointed as the Bishops’ first national secretary for liturgy. This he saw as an opportunity to establish an institute of pastoral liturgy, which would house the secretariat and also be an outreach into parishes and communities. He sought a place of prayer, study, reflection and welcome. The secretariat was based at Mount St Anne’s, near Portarlington in 1973 and a one year course in liturgy was established the following year as well as providing shorter courses and days on aspects of the renewed liturgy. The Centre moved to Carlow College in 1978 and to its third and present home at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in August 1996. The National Centre for Liturgy houses the Secretariat for Liturgy and its agencies. It continues the work of Liturgical Formation through its Courses.
SOME IMAGES OF HISTORY
STAFF OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LIURGY
Rev. Patrick Jones
Patrick Jones is a priest of the diocese of Dublin , ordained 1968. A native of Greystones, Co. Wicklow, he studied philosophy at UCD (BA), theology at Clonliffe College ( STB (Ang)). After working in the parish of Castledermot, Co. Kildare, he studied liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Sant’ Anselmo, Rome (STLitL). Was parish chaplain in Marino, Dublin , lecturer in liturgy at Clonliffe College (1978-92) and Mater Dei Institute of Education (1980-89). Assistant director of the National Centre for Liturgy (1987-92) and director since 1992. National Secretary for Liturgy, member of the Council for Liturgy and the Advisory Committees on Church Music and Sacred Art and Architecture.
Sr Moira Bergin
Moira Bergin has been a staff member of the National Centre for Liturgy since 1993. A native of Camross, Co. Laois, she is a Sister of Mercy, joining the community in Borris-in-Ossory and now in Maynooth. She studied piano at the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM), theology and music at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth (BATh) and education and church music at NUIM (HDipEd, DipArts (Church Music). She received MTh in liturgy from the Pontifical University at Maynooth in 2003. Member of the Council for Liturgy and the Advisory Committee on Church Music, Irish Episcopal Conference. Council member of the Irish Church Music Association.
Rev. Liam Tracey
Liam Tracey is an ordained presbyter of the Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites). He did undergraduate studies in philosophy and theology in Dublin and Rome ( STB , DipMar,DipPastoral Theol) and studied liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Sant’ Anselmo, obtaining a Doctorate (SLD) in 1998. Has taught and lectured in many parts of Ireland and Australia, Ghana , Italy, UK and USA . Liam is a member of the Council for Liturgy, Irish Bishops’ Conference. Professor of Liturgy at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth since 2002. Appointed Director of Post-Graduate Studies at the Pontifical University at Maynooth in 2009. Review editor of the Irish Theological Quarterly.
LITURGICAL FORMATION
The programme of liturgical formation is carried out by the staff with the assistance of a panel of visiting lecturers, drawn from teachers of liturgy in other colleges and institutes and teachers of related subjects.
Our website aims at offering:
- Information on the National Centre for Liturgy and its programmes of formation in liturgy.
- Information on the activities of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Liturgy and its agencies and the National Secretariat for Liturgy
- News on liturgical happenings.
- Pastoral help on liturgy matters including links with other websites.
telephone: 01-7083478
email us at: liturgy@spcm.ie
