Inside ML

Liturgical Arts Adventure

I do, however, get the urge for an emotional roller-coaster ride about this time of year. The celebration of the Triduum has enough highs and lows to send my heart to my throat and stomach to my knees. Every year I try to make it a little bigger, a little riskier.

Last summer ML called together a group of people who feel the same way so we could participate in ML’s first Liturgical Arts Adventure. We took elements of the Triduum and broke them apart into their separate art forms. The group split up to work onthe various arts involved in building the Triduum. With the guidance of a few leaders trained in the liturgical arts, we all took off on our liturgical adventure, learning more about how liturgies are constructed, how the various arts support one another in the liturgy, and how liturgy really can be the work of the people. Our adventure culminated in an Easter Vigil celebration on the last night that was one of the most moving liturgies I’ve ever been a part of.

So of course we’re going to do it again. This year’s Liturgical Arts Adventure will be held in San Diego on July 11–15, 1999. If you love the Triduum as much as I do, here’s your chance to take a risk and celebrate it the way you’ve always wanted to.

I’d like to especially invite catechists and religious educators to participate. While you may not see yourself as the person who builds the liturgies in your parish, one of the liturgical arts is catechesis for and about the liturgy. By participating in this adventure, you’ll learn new skills for breaking open the meaning of the rites for your parishioners.

I hope to see you in San Diego. For more information, see the next page.

Liturgical Catechesis Conference

This conference is more timely than ever with the recent release of the General Directory for Catechesis. The General Directory for Catechesis, as many of you know, says that the baptismal catechesis used in the catechumenate should serve as a model and inspiration for all forms of catechesis. ML’s Liturgical Catechesis Conference uses the principles of the General Directory for Catechesis to help liturgists and catechists work together to discover exactly what liturgical catechesis can look like in a parish. The conference, which is co-sponsored by the Worship Center in St. Paul, Minn., will be a blend of input, hands-on tasks, and retreat experiences.

Think about bringing your entire liturgical and catechetical teams, and learn how to put the vision of the General Directory for Catechesis into practice in your community.

The dates are August 1–4, 1999.

Musical liturgy

My heartfelt thanks go out to Diana Kaulback, who had been authoring “Musical Liturgy” and who has done a splendid job. Diana will continue to contribute to ML with occasional articles. Look for her piece on wedding celebrations in next month’s issue.

Speaking of the Planning Guide, I’d like to hear from you about your experience with it. Do you read all three sections (“Liturgical Spirituality,” “Shaping the Ritual,” and“Musical Liturgy”) each month? Do you rely on any one of the sections more than the others? Do you have suggestions for improvements? Send your comments to me at ML, 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112-5876. Ore-mail me at MdrnLitrgy@aol.com.

Liturgical Lil

ML

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