In this edition:

1. Liturgy Committee Mission
2. Liturgical News - Basic Principles of Liturgy
3. Education on Eucharistic Liturgy - Put the Union in Communion
4. Development at St. Thomas Aquinas
5. Information and Event Schedule for July - August, 2008 at St. Thomas Aquinas

Liturgy Committee Mission

The mission of the liturgy team is to provide education, understanding and enrichment of liturgical prayer for the assembly, including members and guests of St. Tom's through the liturgical year. The team seeks to promote full and active participation in the liturgy.

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Liturgical News

How Firm a Foundation - Basic Principles of the Liturgy

In calling for "the reform and promotion of the sacred liturgy," in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) more than forty years ago, the Second Vatican Council identified some basic principles that should guide that reform. The bishops drew on the whole history of the liturgy as well as teachings of recent popes—particularly Pope St. Pius X and Pope Pius XII—and research undertaken during the twentieth century liturgical renewal. Here are five of those principles that provide a firm foundation for our rites and our pastoral liturgical practice today.

The Liturgy Is the Action of Christ. Liturgy does not belong to any one individual or to a local community or even just to the present members of the Church. The liturgy belongs to Christ as an exercise of his priestly office (SC, 7), that is, as an expression of Jesus Christ's total self-offering to the Father in love and fidelity. This priestly act is carried out today by Christ present in the Church. Christ acts through the Church in three ways: in the baptized members of the Church who gather for worship (and in a particular way through ordained ministers), in the proclamation of the Word (and in a particular way in the Gospel), and in the sacramental elements (uniquely in the bread and wine of the Eucharist).

The Liturgy Leads Us to Authentic Gospel Living. As our hearts and minds are transformed through the grace of God, we are called to respond to that grace and move beyond the walls of our churches into a world greatly in need of love, care, and concern. We are called to be living signs of the reign of God for the salvation of the whole world. The late Pope John Paul II made such authentic living of the Gospel a measure of the effectiveness of our liturgy. In his apostolic letter Mane Nobiscum, Domine (2004), he wrote: "By our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ . . . . This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged" (Mane, 27).

Full Participation in the Divine Plan Stems from and Leads to Full Participation in the Liturgy. The Church was established to spread the Gospel through word and action (Matthew 28:19–20). The liturgy is the "primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit" (SC, 14) which will lead to participation in the Church's mission. Therefore "full, conscious, and active participation" in the liturgy (SC, 14) is essential in order to shape people to serve as ambassadors of Christ, bring salvation to the world, and live as redeemed people. "Full" participation is both internal and external, for we are embodied spirits. If we are to be conformed to Christ, we need to "embody" the attitudes of worship, prayer, devotion, petition, celebration, sorrow, and rejoicing. We need to hear the Word and to proclaim it in spoken and sung prayer, acclamation, psalmody, and hymnody. We need to savor the Eucharistic elements and the cleansing power of water, the smooth anointing of oil, and the touch of hands invoking the Spirit, if the Spirit and the Word and the sacramental presence of Christ are to transform our spirits.

The Church Is One Body with Many Ministries. The primary liturgical role, of course, is that of the whole Body—the liturgical assembly of believers brought together by the Holy Spirit. But, like a human body, the Body of Christ needs specialized "members" who perform various ministries so that the whole Body may function properly. These special ministers include ordained members (bishops, priests, deacons) and baptized members who are appointed to a ministry. The goal of each ministry is the action of the whole Body in sharing in Christ's worship of the Father, and each ministry has both responsibilities and limits. Each individual should perform the whole of what is required by the role, but only that which is required (SC, 28), acting "with the sincere devotion and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and rightly expected . . . by God's people" (SC, 29).

Music Is an Integral Part of the Solemn Liturgy. Of all the arts, music is the one most useful to and expressive of liturgy's goals because it unites to the texts we proclaim in such a way that it adds delight to prayer, fosters oneness of spirit, and invests the rites with greater solemnity (SC, 112). Music is ubiquitous in authentic Roman (Latin) Rite liturgy, not only in the specific musical selections that the rite includes but also in every element of ritual celebration: tempo, rhythm, pitch, silence, timbre, tension and release, harmony and dissonance. Music contributes to the complex set of symbols that constitute the liturgy in a unique and irreplaceable way that enlivens the other symbolic elements. Its purpose as an integral part of the liturgy, in other words, is the same as the purpose of liturgy itself: "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful" (SC, 112).

Copyright © 2007 National Association of Pastoral Musicians. This page may be reproduced in its entirety as a bulletin insert by parish members of NPM without further reprint permission. For other uses, contact the NPM editorial office by e-mail: npmedit@npm.org.

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Education on Eucharistic Liturgy

Put the Union in Communion

At St. Tom's, we begin our Communion procession, as we do all of our processions, from the back of the worship space to the front. The intent of this action is to provide a sense that the Church is in full procession rather than individuals lining up. The first to come forward are no longer those in the front pew; rather, the people in the back pews begin the procession so that the whole room seems to be surrounded by a procession of people. Here is a Church partaking of the sacred banquet. The Body of Christ (us) coming forward to receive the Body of Christ (Guide for Sunday Mass, by Cardinal Roger Mahony, copyright 1997). The cross bearer will lead those who are seated in the middle sections of the church, up the center aisle. Hospitality ministers will guide, or candle bearers will lead those who are seated in the side sections.

The update of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) in 2003 and our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ask us to make a simple bow of the head when we arrive in front of the minister who will be offering us either the Body or Blood of Christ. PLEASE WAIT to bow your head until you are in front of the minister. Every week I see many people bowing to the back of the person before them in the procession. This makes no sense. Please, step toward the Communion minister, bow to give reverence to the sacrament, make eye contact with the minister of the dish or the cup, the minister will then say, "The Body or Blood of Christ," and our response is, "Amen."

Once we receive Communion, we return to our pews but remain standing until all have received the Eucharist. This is the desire of our local bishop as well as other bishops around the country. Most of the assembly does remain standing; however, there are a number who go back to the pew and kneel down and bow their head as if to isolate themselves from the community. (If you are unable to remain standing for health reasons, by all means, please be seated but join in the song.) While I understand the need to have some private devotion time with Christ, our community prayer and reception of Communion, is not a "me and Jesus" moment. The GIRM says this in paragraph 86: "While the priest is receiving the Sacrament, the Communion chant is begun. Its purpose is to express the communicants' union in spirit by means of the unity of their voices, to show joy of heart and to highlight more clearly the 'communitarian' nature of the procession to receive Communion. The singing is continued for as long as the Sacrament is being administered to the faithful." Reception of the Eucharist is a community event. We pray for each other and we sing together as we are nourished from the same table. The Body of Christ (the Church) is in procession to receive the Body of Christ. It is our time to symbolize the words of St. Paul: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. (1 Cor 12: 12-13)" The late Joseph Cardinal Bernadine said this in his letter Guide for the Assembly: "At this table we put aside every worldly separation based on culture, class, or other differences. Baptized, we no longer admit to distinctions based on age or sex or race or wealth. This communion is why all prejudice, all racism, all sexism, all deference to wealth and power must be banished from our parishes, our homes and our lives." Our corporate worship is the time to give thanks and praise as a community. Our Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of our Christian life. All other Christian action and prayer flows from the Eucharistic celebration. We do take time in the liturgy to have moments of silence for prayer or reflection but it is a communal pause; a communal moment of silence to bring our private prayers together as a community to the God who loves us. I would like to close this article with something that Cardinal Roger Mahoney writes in his letter Guide for Sunday Mass: "Know the awesome responsibility you share for making this liturgy! Do not hide; do your private praying in the other hours of the week. Welcome one another; be at peace with one another. Sit together. Sing songs from your heart. Do not be afraid to show in your eager attention that you are hungry for God's Word when the readers read, hungry for Christ's Body and Blood when you come forward in Holy Communion. Give thanks and praise to God by your great attention in the Eucharistic Prayer. Keep your eyes open to one another and do everything you can to build up the Church, the Body of Christ." I can see how this way of thinking could be overwhelming to some, but try it; it is what the Liturgy of the Eucharist is meant to be.

Beth Berger
Liturgy Coordinator

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Development at St. Thomas Aquinas

I first experienced development like a child that learns to swim in the deep end.  When Father Dan offered me the position of Director of Development, I didn't realize how much it would involve.  It has been both challenging and rewarding working in a development program in one of the largest Catholic centers among secular universities in the United States.

As Director of Development at St. Thomas Aquinas, I have four main areas of responsibilities.  These include the annual fund in support of the operational budget, capital campaigns, overseeing all fundraising efforts in the parish for restricted funds and fundraising and community building events.

First and foremost, is the annual fund in support of the operational budget.  Approximately one in four of Purdue University's 39,000 students is Catholic.  In order to meet their spiritual needs as well as non-Catholic students and 850 resident parishioner families from all walks of life, St. Tom's has an operational budget of 1.1 million.  Of this the resident parishioners contribute approximately $500,000; Purdue students less than $20,000 and we are fortunate to receive a subsidy from the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana of $168,000.  The remainder we seek through alumni and individuals with linkage to the center.  The annual fund is always a challenge.

The second area for responsibility is capital campaigns.  It has been exciting to witness the accomplishments achieved through the facilitation of the last two campaigns which dovetailed with Fruitful Harvest.  Our community of faith generously participated in the "Hands Of St. Tom's" (HoST) and the "Are we Cooking" campaigns whose combined funds allowed for repairs to the church, elimination of debt, air cooling for the worship space and the expansion and renovation of the kitchen.

The third area of responsibility in development is to oversee all fundraising efforts of the parish for restricted funds.  It is important that as a parish we work together to strategize our fundraising effort for the good of all our mission efforts.

Last but not least, the fourth area of responsibility is coordinating with volunteers for development fund raising and community building events.  Some of these events include the annual golf outing, special dinners, the senior program, and the Fall Festival Fair.  By the way, the Fifth Annual Golf Outing and Parish Picnic are in August.  Please see the bulletin or contact me with any questions regarding these events.

It is an honor working in development at St. Tom's with the annual fund, capital campaigns, overseeing additional parish fundraising, and coordinating events. Jumping in the deep end in development at St. Tom's has been challenging, but also rewarding, because it is jumping into a whole new world of opportunity.

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Information and Event Schedule for July - August, 2008 at St. Thomas Aquinas

Ordination News!

Br. Patrick was ordained a priest on June 7, 2008 at 11:00am at the Cathedral. John Jezierski will be ordained into the permanent deaconate on September 20th at 11:00am at the Cathedral. His first Mass as a deacon will be announced at a later date.

Daily Eucharist

11:30am Monday through Friday

Weekend Eucharist

5:30pm Saturday Evening
9:00am & 11:00am on Sunday when Purdue is not in session

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