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. Students are given the opportunity to study liturgy under its theological, historical, spiritual and pastoral aspects. The programme is structured to meet the needs of people for their continued or future work in liturgy at parish, community, diocesan or third level. It aims to provide comprehensive training in liturgy and a leadership role in pastoral work. The National Centre for Liturgy is a place of prayer, reflection, study, relaxation, hospitality and welcome. Daily worship is central to the life of the Centre.
The National Centre for Liturgy houses the Secretariat for Liturgy and its agencies. It continues the work of Liturgical Formation through its Courses. Students are given the opportunity to study liturgy under its theological, historical, spiritual and pastoral aspects. The programme is structured to meet the needs of people for their continued or future work in liturgy at parish, community, diocesan or third level. It aims to provide comprehensive training in liturgy and a leadership role in pastoral work. The National Centre for Liturgy is a place of prayer, reflection, study, relaxation, hospitality and welcome. Daily worship is central to the life of the Centre.
SOME IMAGES OF HISTORY
STAFF OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LIURGY
Rev. Danny Murphy
Danny Murphy was appointed Executive Secretary of the Council for Liturgy and Director of the National Centre for Liturgy September 2013. Fr Danny, a native of Macroom, Co. Cork was ordained in 1991. He served as curate at St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh and as Cathedral and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies before studying at St John's University, Collegeville where he completed an MA in Liturgical Studies in 2000. He has been Cloyne Diocesan Director of Liturgy and since 2004 Director of the Cloyne Commission for Liturgical Formation. He has been a member of the Council for Liturgy since 1999.
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.
RETIREMENT OF REV. PATRICK JONES, Director 1992-2013
Patrick Jones retired on 1 September, 2013 as Executive Secretary, Council for Liturgy of the Episcopal Conference and Director of the National Centre for Liturgy. (See Liturgy News 2011-2015 for more information)
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