Category Archives: Liturgy

Disappointment

Posted on 7 July 2020 by

I was speaking with a liturgist colleague recently, sharing our experiences and perceptions of the return to worship. She has found the reopening with limits to be very much wanting. I shared the same. Certainly I understand intellectually the limits … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Liturgy, Parish Life | 3 Comments

Re-Closing

Posted on 6 July 2020 by

As my county looks to a delay in advancing through reopening phases, there’s not much of a liturgical difference between steps two and three. Still, we have an overall pause in progress west of the Puget Sound. Today’s parish wedding … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | 2 Comments

Liturgical Relevance

Posted on 3 July 2020 by

A brief commentary on PrayTell laments relevance, or more accurately, a particular clerical interpretation of it. I remember the associate pastor coming to our classroom in the period of 1970-72. I don’t know how school Masses were determined in terms … Continue reading →

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Mass In A New Era

Posted on 28 June 2020 by

I think I have a better notion of what the celebration of Mass was like in the mid-60s. I’ve been peeking here and there at bits of livestreaming from across the Catholic world. We’ve completed two weekends of my parish’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Parish Life | 1 Comment

Psalmist Orientation in a Time of Pandemic

Posted on 11 June 2020 by

Usually, my parish’s music ministry rehearses on Thursdays. Two sessions, noon and 7pm. In ordinary times (as well as liturgical seasons) it is a time of camaraderie, hugs, catching up, sharing life and faith, certainly. Today found us gathering for … Continue reading →

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The Armchair Liturgist: Pandemic Gloria

Posted on 30 May 2020 by

Looking to a return to Mass in public, we are getting the first guidance for parish worship from our bishops in Washington state. I dreamed last night that people in the hundreds crashed our “private” livestream recording. It was tense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Music, The Armchair Liturgist | 10 Comments

Not That Funny

Posted on 27 May 2020 by

As I have attempted to become more mature in my life, I discovered that what passes for good humor in some circles, flies like mud from a puddle in others. Some jokes are unfit for children, clergy, men, women, musicians, … Continue reading →

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The Armchair Liturgist Masks The Ministers

Posted on 24 May 2020 by

I know that the upper level liturgical muckety-mucks have weighed in against face masks for clergy. I confess our livestreaming priests don’t wear them. One, who shall go unnamed, has lost the spongy guard on the mic, leaving today’s presider … Continue reading →

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Mercy, As It Might Have Been, Or Might Yet Be

Posted on 15 May 2020 by

I found this essay on PrayTell and a reference there to an interesting bit of testimony from Pope Benedict on his predecessor. Here’s the quote: From the very beginning, John Paul II was deeply touched by the message of Faustina … Continue reading →

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Why Churches Can’t Come Back Quick: Selecting the Few

Posted on 15 May 2020 by

Maybe it’s a good problem, that many of our parishes have more people than they can handle with a set fraction of our worship spaces opening in the next stage. Whatever or whenever that might be. In his essay, David … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgy, Ministry | 3 Comments

Why Churches Can’t Come Back Quick: Ushers

Posted on 11 May 2020 by

I’m not privy to discussions among bishops and other church leaders with state and local governments. By initiating this series, I’m relying on observations and some guesswork. The observations arise from forty years in parish ministry, most of that as … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Commentary, Liturgy | 1 Comment

Survivor Guilt

Posted on 4 May 2020 by

One of my staff colleagues reported such early in Washington’s shelter-at-home order. We chatted a bit about our privilege of serving at Mass. Our opportunity to receive Communion. The pastor emeritus offers after each livestream Mass. (We’re directed not to … Continue reading →

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Big Changes Ahead, We’re Not Ready

Posted on 28 April 2020 by

In case more people than Liam are regular visitors here, it’s time for another taking stock. What’s there to write about? We are deep in pandemic time, and the gradual release may be closer than the beginning of stay-at-home. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Liturgy | 2 Comments

On Spiritual Communion

Posted on 27 April 2020 by

Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt has an excellent piece on the merits of the Act of Spiritual Communion, a prayer authored by Saint Alphonsus Liguori and used in my parish, archdiocese, and many places during this time of pandemic. I appreciated his … Continue reading →

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Survey

Posted on 25 April 2020 by

At PrayTell, I read about a news item of interest to liturgy folks, especially if they fall under the traditionalist umbrella. Apparently, the CDF (not the CDWDS) is polling the world’s bishops to assess the 2007 loosening of the celebration … Continue reading →

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