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Category Archives: USCCB documents
GCSPD 12-14: Baptism, part 2
Let’s continue our examination of Baptism in the Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities. First, the same considerations as with any parent or godparent: (T)he pastor is to see to it that the parents of … Continue reading
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GCSPD 9-11: Baptism, part 1
We continue our examination of Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, With paragraphs 9 through 14, the document looks at Baptism. We can read a basic definition (9) and an encouraging mention of the role … Continue reading
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GCSPD 4-8: General Principles, Part 2
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities proper begins with eight paragraphs laying out “General Principles.” While parish staffs are urged to reach out to everyone, including people outside of family living situations, (Cf. GCSPD 4) … Continue reading
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GCSPD 1-3: General Principles, Part 1
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities proper begins with eight paragraphs laying out “General Principles.” Anyone reading them would click off, “no-brainer,” and move on. They include the equal dignity of all persons and that … Continue reading
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GCSPD, Why?
The USCCB document, Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, what’s it for? Do US Catholics really need another document like this? Pastors and their staffs are pretty much the sole people determining how the sacraments … Continue reading
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Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities
The third iteration of this document, Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, was approved by the USCCB five years ago. It updated a publication from the mid-1970s that was later revised in the late 1980s. … Continue reading
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Music In The Rite of Marriage: SttL 219-224
Nine numbered sections in Sing To The Lord detail the thoughts and directives of the US bishops on liturgical music for weddings. Let’s look at the last six of these and the advice given by the US bishops. Paragraph 219 advises dioceses … Continue reading
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Music In The Rite of Marriage: SttL 216-218
Nine numbered sections in Sing To The Lord detail the thoughts and directives of the US bishops on liturgical music for weddings. As a pastoral musician I can tell you planning with engaged couples is a significant component of our service to the … Continue reading
Ministers of Liturgical Music, Directors: SttL 45-47
The last of the music ministries discussed in the US Bishops’ 2007 document Sing to the Lord: the director. This person is defined first as a collaborator: A professional director of music ministries, or music director … (works) with the bishop or … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, Instrumentalists: SttL 41-44
Early in their document, Sing to the Lord, the US bishops review the various ministerial roles within liturgical music. Writing of any instrumentalists, the bishops remind us of their purpose with regard to the song of the assembly: “lead and sustain … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Cantor: SttL 37-40
The third music ministry examined by the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord is the cantor. Thanks to my consistent experiences in getting small choirs recruited to serve at multiple Masses, I’ve only occasionally worked with cantors. Official church … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Psalmist: SttL 34-36
Paragraphs 28 through 47 of the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord reviews the various ministries within liturgical music. A few days ago, we looked at the role of the choir (SttL 28-33). Today, we consider the psalmist (34-36) as a … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Choir: SttL 28-33
Paragraphs 28 through 47 of the document Sing to the Lord reviews the various ministerial roles within liturgical music. First up is the Choir. The US bishops start off with an echo the importance given in SC 114 to the balance between … Continue reading
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The Gathered Liturgical Assembly: SttL 24-27
Section II (The Church at Prayer) treats the various components of God’s people and their liturgical and music ministers. Numbered sections 24-27 address “the Gathered Liturgical Assembly.” Commentators have noted that in the Vatican II Constitution on the Church, the council … Continue reading
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Who Prepares Music For Worship? SttL 119-121
Ten years ago, the US Bishops released a much-anticipated document on church music, Sing to the Lord (SttL). One of the topics they addressed was the preparation of music for liturgy. Who does this? It’s a question addressed in numbered sections 119 … Continue reading
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