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Triduum! is not just a liturgy planning tool — it is a fresh
approach to the formation of an entire parish. This book brings a vital
spirituality to the process with answers that are both pastoral and insightful,
and which take you through the phases of formation, preparation, and celebration.
It is filled with recommendations for expanding your volunteer base and
then training, forming, and involving them in the celebration. This book
also includes worksheets, a timeline with checklists, and an overview of
the celebration.
There is another Triduum related title from Resource Publications:
The Triduum Book.
You can order a set of both Triduum related titles at the special set price of $40, by clicking on the button below.
Table of Contents
Foreword
1. Involvement in the Triduum
2. Publicity
3. Newsletters and Mornings of Prayer
4. Being Organized
5. Whom I Need-A Checklist to Help Find the Right Volunteers
6. A Time Line of Tasks
7. Checklists for Triduum
8. Outline of Services
9. Template for Tripanel Table Display
Excerpt from Chapter 1
Take a mental look at your parish and at those who will attend Triduum. Each individual and group of individuals has their own value. It truly depends on personal circumstances.
Each parish has those who aren't involved beyond Sunday liturgy attendance. They don't read the bulletin, they don't listen to pulpit announcements, and they don't always attend church on weekends. They still consider themselves parishioners and connected, but it's a rather tenuous connection. We see them on Christmas and Easter, and sometimes in-between, or when a life event or sacrament such as a wedding, baptism, or funeral occurs. They are still part of our parish, and we are still part of their lives. The Triduum is an opportunity to invite them deeper into the mystery.
Some parishioners are superficially involved. They attend Mass most weekends, and their kids participate in religion classes or sacramental preparation. They glance over the bulletin, stay until the end of Mass, and listen to the announcements. They notice when something special or unusual happens. However, their personal obligations consistently take priority over their participation in additional parish life.
Then we have the interested folks. They normally attend Mass and may even have a regular spot to sit. They pause to visit with others in the gathering space and frequently attend coffee and donuts and other parish social events that follow the weekend liturgies. They attend Holy Day liturgies and an occasional adult ed or family-centered educational event. They probably attended at least one Holy Thursday or Good Friday service over the years. However, they do not volunteer. They do not participate in any parish ministry, and because they often make the decision to attend an event or worship service at the last minute, they can't commit to any setup or hospitality roles. But they're present, they enjoy being there, and they are open to new options and experiences.
Each parish always has a core of very involved people. They are pastoral and catechetical ministers, their children are altar servers, and they help at social events. They are tied in to the events and the people of the parish, and it's an important segment of their lives. In fact, sometimes parish events take priority over other personal events for them. Their social support system is strong in the parish, and they quickly identify themselves as being connected there. Other parishioners recognize them at the mall or in the grocery store as belonging to their church, because they often appear in public service role.
Then there are those with a strong leadership commitment to the church. This is the core volunteer group; those who take charge of an event or have a role in the planning, recruiting, and follow-through of an event. They often become part-time, or even full-time, staff people.
Resist the temptation to wonder why people are the way they are (and perhaps be a little judgmental). Instead, accept and love them the way they are.
Worship experiences are quite personal-they are guided by individual spirituality and personality. The common denominator is that we all meet God in the midst of community in a way we could never experience the Divine alone. Bucolic, natural settings are wonderful for interior reflection, but there's nothing like praying with others, each bringing their own unique experiences and interpretations while standing on the common ground of a firm belief in a loving God. The dynamics of community are powerful. New insights, different questions, even new stirrings inside the most faithful and connected parishioners emerge during liturgy in a way that could never happen alone. This dimension of community worship is highlighted during the Triduum, because these are the stories, the rituals, and the events that comprise the core of our beliefs.
The goal of this book is to help foster participation at all levels in your parish. It will help organize you, so you are ready to welcome and encourage everyone. We explore ways to create the "compelling reason to attend" that rises above the white noise of everyday life and garners their attention. We examine how to bridge the information gap that allows people to perceive Triduum as not important or valuable. Using the adult learning model of "Let me do it, and I'll understand and remember" helps you catechize not only the people involved in the doing, but also their circle of influence. More people involved in the process equals more "buzz," which equals more attendance and opens up all sorts of possibilities for experiencing God's incredible love during these three days.
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