Agenda for Parish Liturgy Committee Meetings

The responsibilities of the Parish Liturgy Committee can be grouped into four areas: preparation, evaluation, formation and coordination. A suggested agenda that reflects these would look like this:

1. Prayer
   Committee members can take turns in the preparation and leadership of the prayer or a chosen prayer format may be used each time the committee gathers. 
2. Present/Apologies
3. Formation
   Spend 15-20 minutes discussing an article about liturgy that members have read before the meeting. (Liturgy News is an excellent source of suitable material.) Consider what ideas presented the committee will take on board in the short or long term. 
4. Minutes & Actions Arising from the Minutes
   Minutes of the past meeting are reviewed to recall decisions and plans. 
5. Evaluation
   This may be covered in the item above, but it is important for members to review liturgical celebrations held in the parish since the last meeting. What worked well that should be retained?  What needs to be revised, improved or eliminated in the future?
6. Preparation
   While sub-committees or local groups are responsible for preparing particular liturgies, the parish liturgy committee does need to make overall, big picture plans for upcoming special liturgies, feasts and seasons to offer guidance and ensure unity across the parish. 
7. Planning
   The committee is responsible for the parish’s liturgical life and long-term planning.  A long-term goal might be to improve the standard of proclamation of the scriptures at Mass over the next six months or to overhaul the parish music repertoire in the coming year.  
8. Formation
   It is the role of the parish liturgy committee to provide opportunities for spiritual and practical formation for parish liturgical ministers and the parish as a whole. Discuss what the needs are at this point of time. Options for formation include arranging guest speakers, making use of available training resource and including information about liturgy in parish bulletins and handouts
9. Other Business /Discussion Items
10. Coordination
    Determine who needs to do be informed of decisions made at the meeting and who will do this. 
11. Next Meeting
    When & where, who will lead prayer, material for committee formation. Invite committee members to suggest agenda items prior to the meeting.
12. Closing Prayer
    Bring the meeting to a close with a brief prayer of blessing.

Liturgy Committee Planning/Evaluation Items during Ordinary Time

This quieter time of the year also gives the liturgy committee an opportunity to evaluate the parish’s normal patterns of Sunday worship and to find ways of enhancing the Sunday celebrations.  A committee might review:

• the parish music repertoire – who choses, their training for this task
• liturgical space,  e.g. place for baptism, symbols
• recruitment and training of liturgical ministers
• formation of parishioners about liturgy
• celebration of funerals
• prayer of the faithful
• times of silence during Mass
• processions: entrance, communion, recessional
• RCIA rituals
• hospitality