Recently we shared with you the Liturgy Committee’s vision for the celebration of liturgy in the parish. We continue to explore the implications of this vision statement.
When all the community participates, then the parish may truly benefit from the generous riches of our diverse cultural backgrounds and the experience of faith that spans generations.
“Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters that do not affect the faith or the good of the whole community; rather the Church respects and fosters the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. The Church considers with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact the elements in these peoples’ way of life that are not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error. Sometimes in fact the Church admits such elements into the liturgy itself, provided they are in keeping with the true and authentic spirit of the liturgy.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, article 37)
Our parish community is enriched by the presence and participation of many people from dozens of different cultural backgrounds. The multicultural nature of modern
Australia is well and truly reflected in the Wentworthville community.
This, however, presents a unique challenge not envisaged at the world of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960’s. The above statement on inculturation, or celebrating the liturgy in ways more suited to particular cultural backgrounds, was made in response to the challenge of making the liturgy more meaningful to different cultures and countries, particularly mission lands.
While this is a difficult consideration in itself, what was not an issue at the time was celebrating liturgy so that it would speak not just to one predominant cultural group, but a wide variety of cultural groups celebrating together as we do in
Australia in the 21st Century.
The challenge now for the liturgical assembly at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is to draw upon the many languages of our varied cultures to speak our common language of faith, hope and love.
Finally, this weekend sees the beginning of our annual formation workshops for Ministers of the Word and Ministers of Communion. We look forward to seeing all ministers at these vital workshops over the coming weeks.
Liturgy 