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Workshops for Clergy and Parish Leadership on G.I.R.M. To Be Held

January 30, 2004
From time to time, revisions are made to the Roman Missal, and an English translation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (G.I.R.M.) is provided by the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy as issued by the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. The last time a major revision was made to the Roman Missal was in 1975. The G.I.R.M. provides guidelines on the Mass and how it is to be celebrated; describes the role of each ministry; renders guidelines on the environment of the worship space, and other liturgical specifications.

The recent revisions and clarifications to the Roman Missal have come about because, throughout the universal church, it was found that many things called for by Vatican II were not being implemented. The new instructions help to emphasize those things which were not being done well, and also refocuses on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Bishop Patrick R. Cooney has directed that catechetical sessions be held for those with liturgical leadership roles before this new document becomes effective in the Diocese of Gaylord.

The first workshop, being held in Gaylord March 2-4, is required for all active and retired priests who currently preside at Mass, pastoral administrators, lay administrators, deacons and all another persons who have been appointed by the bishop as administrators of liturgy within their institutions. Registration materials have already been sent. This three-day conference will be an intense time for prayer, reflection, study and discussion on the G.I.R.M. and Eucharistic theology, and is to be presented by Bishop Cooney; Rev. Duane Wachowiak, director of Worship and Liturgical Formation for the diocese; and Rev. Lawrence Mick, a priest on special assignment from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

A second series of day-long workshops on the G.I.R.M. will be held beginning March 5 and run through April 2. These workshops are planned for parish leadership including Directors of Faith Formation, RCIA coordinators, those who train liturgical ministers, music directors, worship commission members, and parish staff – basically, anyone who is in a leadership role at the parish level who may receive questions about the new Instructions or Eucharist in general.

Each of these sessions will begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. They will be held in the following locations: On Friday, March 5 at the Pastoral Center, Gaylord; on Monday, March 8 at Sacred Heart Parish, Elk Rapids; on Friday, March 12 at St. Ann Parish, Cadillac; on Saturday, March 13 at Cross in the Woods Family Center, Indian River; on Saturday, March 20 at St. Pius X Parish Hall, Hale; and on Friday, April 2 at St. Mary Cafeteria, Alpena.

Oftentimes it is the parish staff that receive questions as to why things are happening in the parish. Therefore, these workshops are designed to support the parish leadership in their efforts to educate the general faithful. Staff of other Catholic institutions, such as schools and hospitals, are also encouraged to participate.

As a follow-up, catechesis to the faithful in the parishes will occur throughout the summer by various means including homilies, bulletin inserts, the diocesan website and through articles in the Catholic Weekly.

Father Wachowiak, whose office is responsible for planning the three-day conference and leadership training sessions on the G.I.R.M. stated, “This document is not just about rubrics, but about faith formation. It is meant to catechize, to help us understand our faith in the context of the liturgy, to help us understand why we do what we do when we gather for Eucharist.”

Registration forms for the leadership workshops have been mailed to the parishes. If you have questions, contact the Secretariat of Worship and Liturgical Formation at 989.732.5147, via email at jabeel@dioceseofgaylord.org or your parish office.