Ministry & Liturgy
magazine was created with integrated ministries in mind. For more than
36 years, ML has been an independent, thought-provoking source of ideas
and solutions for all ministers working in an ever-evolving church.
If you are looking for solid, practical ways to connect your ministries,
you need this resource.
In addition to features and
regular columns on topics of interest to the entire parish team — rites,
music, faith formation, Scripture, art and architecture, hospitality, and
many others — you will find valuable tools and inspiration in every issue.
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here to find out how to subscribe.
Click on a cover to link to its table of contents.
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
On Marriage Three ML issues focus on
the sacrament of marriage and suggest specific ways various ministries
can be supportive. There are nine feature articles plus several columns
in these three special issues. Use them in ministry formation. For information
or to order go to http://www.rpinet.com/products/MLwed.html
May 2009
June/July 2009
Below
you will find tables of contents of recent issues.
June – July 2009 Volume 36 Number 5
The tumult and the strife
ON THE COVER:
"In this issue, we focus
on music ministry and where it leads us" (Inside ML, page 2).
From
Inside
ML: Each year when we craft the music-focus issue of ML, I use liturgical
music as something of a thematic guide. This year, I struggled with the
choice of what piece of music could fulfill that role, challenge and inspire
our writers, and build connections within the issue. Ultimately I settled
on “How Can I Keep from Singing?” This song has always seemed to pose a
question in affirmation, a nearly rhetorical question in the face of God’s
goodness. Today, though, I see friends and colleagues in ministry, my brothers
and sisters in Christ, whose song has been nearly silenced. They have indeed
been kept from singing, the song in their hearts crushed, at times by a
clerical whim. (More)
FEATURES
Unspeakable Hope Virgil C. Funk Transcending the rational
Let's Get the Passion
Back! Reclaiming Our Vocation As Ministers of Music David Haas Music ministry in
perspective
His Eye Is on the Sparrow Ada Simpson Heaven help us
My Life Flows on in Endless
Song … With a Little Help from My Friends Fred Moleck Singing in good company
From
Inside
ML: Music, ritual, and environment all require imagination to visualize
how these elements are interwoven to form liturgy that is seamless. That
imagination doesn’t happen by accident. In every discipline, it takes study,
experience, time, and a good bit of humility to achieve the level of competency
that fosters an imagination informed by sound theological reason rather
than personal taste or opinion. Although we may be knowledgeable about
the various fields of liturgy, rarely are we experts in more than one area.
I am a musician and I have worked with music ministry for most of my life.
I have a vision of how music and liturgy are (or should be) one. I teach,
write, and preach passionately about that unity. But when it comes time
to prepare liturgy, I call the best pastoral musician I know. While my
skill at selecting and crafting just the right music might be adequate
on occasion, God’s people deserve better than adequate at every liturgy.
My best talent, my strongest gifts, simply lie elsewhere. The same holds
true for environment. Building, renovating, and even reorganizing space
is the job of an expert. We have liturgical design consultants for a reason,
so before you start rolling your baptismal font around the church to see
where you like it best, pick up the phone and call a consultant. She’ll
put your font in the right place — and permanently remove the wheels. (More)
FEATURES
The Cathedral of Christ the
Light (part 1): An Invitation Leo Keegan Call to the future
Living stones: A renovation
of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Richardson, Texas Jane Landry Sustaining the worship
experience
The Cathedral of Christ
the Light (part 2): Light and the Christian Story Leo Keegan Mysteries of light
And you are the branches:
An artist's vision in glass Dana Boussard Reflections of nature
ON THE COVER:
Bell tower at sunset,
Caldwell Dominican Motherhouse,
Caldwell, N.J.
From
Inside
ML: Conversion moments are what compel us to move forward. Sometimes
they cause us to stumble on; other times they mark our path with clarity.
Whatever form these experiences take, if we fail to share them in some
way, they diminish in meaning. The grace that comes from an encounter with
Christ is surely a source of great personal joy for us, but our call is
to use the strength, or voice, or vision, or presence that grace grants
for the greater good of the community of believers. Making that transition
from internal conversion experience to community experience is a challenge
for everyone, from the catechumen to those who have spent a lifetime of
service in ministry. This is a constant, never-ending cycle of revelation,
discovery, and offering of self. Like St. Paul, we travel on and beyond
the road to Damascus. When we are open to making those connections between
what has been revealed to us in faith and what we are called to be for
one another, the scales are dropped from our eyes and discernment becomes
clear. That we are to act is certain; how we are to act in today’s church
of tension is not as certain. (More)
FEATURES
The Order of Mass: Orderly
transitions? Paul Turner Connecting liturgy
and Scripture
So holy a mystery: Marriage
and faith formation Mary Ann Paulukonis Marriage as Christian
icon
In the company of their
friends: Making your parish marriage-friendly Kathy and Steve Beirne Becoming a marriage-sensitive
church
Conversion experience
to community experience Todd Flowerday Damascus and beyond
ON THE COVER:
Wedding rings symbolize
married life, which "has a unique nature and value as vocation" (Inside
ML, page 4). This issue focuses on the sacrament of marriage and ministry
from a variety of perspectives.
From
Inside
ML: When we talk about vocations, the first image that pops into our
collective mind is rarely that of married life. We have been conditioned
to elevate the ordained and religious life as being “true” vocations; everything
else is secondary or subordinate. We revere the celibacy to which few are
called over the chastity to which we are all called regardless of our way
of life. In all of this we risk reducing married life to a means of producing
more of the faithful, more priests, more religious. In reality, married
life has a unique nature and value as vocation. As the foundational family
unit, it is at the root of community life in which “all members of the
family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way
‘by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness
of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity’ (Lumen Gentium 10).
Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and ‘a school for human
enrichment’ (Gaudium et Spes 52 §1). Here one learns endurance
and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous — even repeated — forgiveness,
and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1657). In short, marriage is the
first example of Christian living. (More)
FEATURES
Since it is your intention:
Parish hospitality toward engaged couples Linda Moses Making first contact
Give them strength: Parish
support for hurting couples Patricia Crane Ennis Early and careful
intervention
As they begin to live
this sacrament Kathy and Steve Beirne Nurturing the sense
of God's presence in marriage
Forever and ever: How
marriage affects your ministry Don and Chris Paglia Marriage as the domestic
church
Christ abundantly blesses
this love: Celebrating the rite of marriage well Mary Ann Paulukonis Marriage as act of
worship
From
Inside
ML: Welcome to ML’s Year 36. This year we join the universal church
in celebrating the year of Paul, as ML continues the journey of deliberate
discipleship. Emboldened by the certainty of new life in Christ, and assured
of the validity of our ministry by baptism, we are called now to walk with
Paul in the unity of the Holy Spirit. ML will explore the gifts we have
been given, and reflecting on St. Paul’s charism, will work “to equip the
holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”
(Eph 4:12). Throughout the year, we will consider ways to be more visible
signs of Christ in the world and how to sustain our Christian communities.
We will reflect on conversion experiences and how the Holy Spirit calls
us to be courageous witnesses in an increasingly secular world. We will
look for inspired ways to bring the gospel to life in our society. Together,
we will move beyond divisions to focus on a unified discipleship committed
to service in Christ. (More)
FEATURES
Triduum: powerful words for
today Patricia A. Parachini Core beliefs of Christian
faith
The sounds of the paschal
Triduum Michael R. Prendergast Echoes of the paschal
mystery
Images of Triduum: prayer,
practice, and promise Mary Patricia Storms Drenched in symbols
The eagle has landed William C. Graham Signs of the times
