Diocesan Liturgical Commissions - Walking Together

The notion of synodality or ‘journeying together’ has been a central theme of Pope Francis’ pontificate. To date, Francis has convoked synods on the family (2014), on youth (2018) and on the Pan-Amazon region (2019), with the next synod set for 2022 on the theme of synodality itself! The term has prompted questions and provoked some degree of confusion.

In an ecclesial context, synodality refers to the involvement and participation of all the baptised in the life and mission of the Church, each according to their particular gift and vocation, under the action of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis explained the notion of a synodal Church in an address commemorating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops in 2015. A synodal Church is a Church which listens, which realises that listening ‘is more than simply hearing’. It is a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn ... In this Church, as in an inverted pyramid, the top is located beneath the base.

In practice, synodality takes the form of a structured conversation between people from different ecclesial groups – bishops, priests, religious and laity – in order to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and discern God’s will. Synodality is not the same as a parliament; it is not a process of putting decisions to a vote. The Synod of Bishops is ultimately responsible for the Church’s corporate decision-making. Yet the synodal process demands that consultation begins at the local level and that bishops bring the ideas, concerns and contributions of their people to the synodal assembly attended by the Pope and the bishops. This draws on the notion of the sensus fidei, a spiritual instinct of faith which gives all believers a role to play in discerning the gospel and in listening to what the Spirit is saying to the Church (LG 12).

The Australian Church has recently engaged in a synodal process in preparation for the Plenary Council to be held in 2021-2022. Everyone was invited to make submissions to reveal the realities, questions, challenges and yearnings of contemporary Catholics. These were shaped into six themes for ongoing national discernment. Although it will be the bishops who make decisions regarding future directions for the Australian Church, the Plenary process of listening and dialogue at the grass roots, often revealing diverse and even contrasting perspectives, aims to facilitate decisions that reflect the voices of all the faithful in a spirit of shared responsibility and participation.

In addition to the international Synods of Bishops and the national Plenary Council process, synodality is also needed at a diocesan level. In 2018, the International Theological Commission (ITC) produced a document called Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church which emphasised that the synodal style must permeate the Church on various levels - diocesan, provincial, regional or universal. These processes operate in various domains – including the liturgy.

THE ROLE OF A DIOCESAN LITURGICAL COMMISSION

One of the key structures for encouraging synodality at the diocesan level is the diocesan liturgical commission (DLC). Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) mandated that there be a liturgical commission in each diocese or at least one commission formed between several dioceses.

… every diocese is to have a commission on the sacred liturgy under the direction of the bishop, for promoting the liturgical apostolate. Sometimes it may be expedient that several dioceses should form between them one single commission which will be able to promote the liturgy by common consultation (SC 45).

Subsequently, Inter Oecumenici (1964), an instruction on the implementation of SC, set out five pivotal roles and responsibilities of a DLC (IO 47). It is clear that each of these can only be adequately achieved if a synodal approach is adopted.

The diocesan liturgical commission, under the direction of the bishop, has these responsibilities:

a. to be fully informed on the state of pastoral-liturgical activity in the diocese.

In order to be fully informed, it is of course necessary that the DLC establish clear communication with parishes. Liaising with parish liturgy groups throughout the diocese will help to determine what support is needed and will assist the DLC to promote best liturgical practice.

b. to carry out faithfully those proposals in liturgical matters made by the competent authority and to keep informed on the studies and programs taking place elsewhere in this field.

It is the role of the DLC to keep up to date with liturgical directives of the Holy See and to ensure that this information is communicated to clergy, religious and lay people working throughout the diocese. Adequate communication among DLCs from different dioceses will facilitate the sharing of wisdom and resources, allow formation opportunities to be promoted more widely, and perhaps result in collaboration whereby a guest speaker is shared among various dioceses.

c. to suggest and promote practical programs of every kind that may contribute to the advancement of liturgical life, especially in the interest of aiding priests labouring in the Lord's vineyard.

Open communication with clergy is important, considering that the education of clergy and the provision of ongoing opportunities for liturgical formation is one purpose of a DLC. Networks should be established with the seminary and with those organising the clergy convocation or other annual events for clergy, to inform seminarians and priests about opportunities for formation in the diocese.

d. to suggest, in individual cases or even for the whole diocese, timely step-by-step measures for the work of pastoral liturgy, to appoint and to call upon people capable of helping priests in this matter as occasion arises, to propose suitable means and resources.

Being easily identifiable and contactable establishes the DLC as a central body that clergy, religious and laity can approach for advice or information. A parish may require help, for example, in setting up a liturgy committee or an RCIA group. The DLC will be able to put people in touch with the relevant experts.

e. to see to it that programs in the diocese designed to promote liturgy go forward with the cooperation and mutual help of other groups along the lines mentioned above regarding the liturgical commission of the assembly of bishops.

The DLC would also establish contact with the Diocesan Liturgy Office, the Catholic Education authorities and any other relevant bodies in the diocese.

A PROPOSED COMMUNICATION MODEL

Once a DLC is established, how does it stay informed about liturgical developments taking place at a national or even global level? Thanks to technology, this is undoubtedly easier today than it was sixty years ago. But today more than ever, the National Liturgical Council (NLC) has a key role to play.

The NLC meets several times a year to discuss key liturgical issues such as the development or revision of liturgical books for Australia, liturgical directives of the Holy See, and the pastoral-liturgical life of Australia. The NLC has an advisory role to the Bishops Commission for Liturgy (BCL).

There are two other advisory councils to the BCL, namely the National Liturgical Architecture and Art Council and the National Liturgical Music Council. The reports of these two advisory councils are tabled at NLC meetings. Consequently, the National Liturgical Council reports are a representative snapshot of current liturgical issues in Australia and, when shared with diocesan liturgical commissions, help to disseminate ideas and information to people at diocesan and parish levels.

A synodal approach to the liturgical life and mission of the Australian Church produces communication that is not only ‘top-down’ but also ‘bottom-up’. The following diagram is a proposed communication network model. Each arrow is bi-directional and signifies a two-way flow of ideas and information.

Adherence to this model would ensure that liturgical developments, announcements and insights are disseminated all the way to the grass roots and, in turn, that national liturgical bodies are informed about what is happening in parishes and dioceses around the country. The model is consistent with Pope Francis’ vision for a Church that is synodal at every level, characterised by a mutual listening in which each one has something to learn.

Since the NLC occupies a pivotal role in the network of communication between national and diocesan levels, it would be good that a report be prepared after each meeting of the NLC and sent not only to the BCL but also to each diocesan liturgical commission throughout Australia. It is further suggested that various items in this report be marked prominently with the words Feedback Requested, inviting DLCs to respond with comments or suggestions.

REVIVING DIOCESAN LITURGICAL COMMISSIONS

These open lines of communication ensure that DLCs remain informed about national liturgical issues and have an opportunity to communicate their challenges and successes to the national bodies. Such a process would give a dynamic role to diocesan liturgical commissions in receiving communications from the NLC, discussing current topics at DLC meetings and providing feedback on certain issues as requested, as well as networking with parishes and evaluating their feedback. The model therefore opens the way to revitalise diocesan liturgical commissions, giving them a real sense of purpose and active contribution to the Australian Church.

This flow of communication would also allow the NLC to be informed about what is happening in dioceses around Australia and promotes the likelihood that national initiatives will be directed to meeting the needs of dioceses across the country. A part of each NLC meeting could involve a review of feedback received from DLCs which could inform future directions, lead to agenda items for subsequent NLC meetings and promote an understanding of the current situation in Australian dioceses.

​In order for the DLCs to gain a complete picture of what is happening throughout the diocese, a similar process is recommended in the link between DLCs and parish liturgy committees, with DLCs distributing information to parishes and inviting feedback from parish liturgy committees. More frequent communication from DLCs would lead to a greater awareness of the role of the DLC, encourage liturgical dialogue at a diocesan level, and support the work of parish liturgy committees.

In Brisbane, for example, the Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy (ACL) meets five times a year. For the past three years, after each of these meetings, the ACL has sent its report to parishes and to individuals who have indicated an interest in receiving these reports, with an invitation to provide comment. Communication has included local liturgical news, formation opportunities, planned initiatives of the Archdiocesan Commission on the Liturgy and, more recently, has canvassed the experiences of parishes during the Coronavirus lockdown in regard to livestreaming and the return to Mass. Some items in the report are accompanied with a ‘feedback icon’ and a particular question is posed to stimulate discussion at parish level and comment. Feedback can be submitted by post, email, phone, or by submitting an electronic form. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to this communication, with parishes and individuals eager to share their thoughts and contribute to discussions at the archdiocesan level. These comments and suggestions from parishes and individuals have also helped to inform future initiatives of the ACL in order to meet particular needs which have been voiced from within the community.

In response to one suggestion, members from various parishes on the southside of Brisbane have formed a Liturgy Group to share ideas and support one another. It has been heartening to see that the establishment of contact between DLCs and parishes has also sparked inter-parish collaboration.

It is staggering that many dioceses in Australia are without a functioning liturgical commission and that so few of the DLCs in existence can be discovered online. The webpage of the National Liturgical Council provides a list of ‘Local Liturgical Councils, Commissions and Offices’. However, there are only seven listings and each one of these refers to a liturgy office or a generic diocesan contact. DLCs are not clearly listed on any central website, nor in the Australian Catholic directory. This makes it difficult for liturgical commissions in different dioceses to connect with one another. Inconsistency in the naming of liturgical commissions adds to the obscurity. It would be helpful for the NLC to discover which of the dioceses in Australia in fact have a functioning liturgical commission and to list these DLCs with their contact details on the NLC website. A clear section could also be set aside in the national directory to facilitate communication and collaboration between DLCs.

Given the troubling demise of diocesan liturgical commissions across Australia, it would seem timely for the Bishops Commission for Liturgy to issue a statement to local bishops offering their support and encouragement in establishing or re-establishing commissions in their dioceses.

For the Australian Church to hear the voice of the Spirit and be guided by a process of listening, dialogue and community discernment, the free flow of communication among the NLC, DLCs and parish liturgy groups is imperative. The establishment of a liturgical commission in every Australian diocese should be addressed as a matter of urgency, and would seem to be a natural proposal that ought emerge from the Plenary Council, particularly in response to the discernment paper from the ‘Inclusive, Participatory and Synodal’ group.

​As Pope Francis declared in his address to the International Theological Commission in 2018 …synodality is a style, it is walking together, and it is what the Lord expects of the Church in the third millennium.

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This article was originally published in Liturgy News ​Vol 50(3) September 2020. Reprinted with permission.