Office of Worship

The Office of Worship:

1. Serves as a resource for pastors, parish directors and parish life coordinators, and anyone in diocesan parishes and schools who are responsible for sacramental liturgical preparation and celebrations.

2. Plans major diocesan celebrations in the Diocese of Superior.

3. Sponsors educational and formational events on liturgical topics.

4. Participates in the various commissions and committees that exist to enhance the liturgical life of the diocese. 

5. Is to be informed of liturgical developments
   that emerge from a grassroots level, as well as those called for by the Church's hierarchy. 

6. Assists with  the initiation of adults and  the diocesan celebration of the rites for the initiation of adults.

IN PROGRESS

AS OF NOVEMBER 2018

Reported to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions at their national meeting.

•  In May 2018, the Holy See approved Revised Grail Psalter and Old and New Testament Canticles. Rome circulated our revised version among other English-speaking countries, and then submitted changes suggested to our conference so that it would be more acceptable to other English speaking countries. The Bishops of the United States accepted this. This psalmody will eventually be used in the Lectionary for Mass, the Breviary--Liturgy of the Hours, etc.                                                     
• In November 2017, the Bishops approved a new translation of The Order of Baptism of Children. The translation process should go smoothly at the Holy See (confirmatio). However, the USCCB also added a new appendix (how the rite unfolds within Mass) and that part would require a recognitio, since it is not in the Latin editio typica.  (This will most likely delay the process somewhat.)                                                                                                                                                                             
• In June 2018, proper texts for celebrations of Saint John XXIII, Saint John Paul II, and Saint Mary Magdalene were sent to Rome for approval.                                                                                                              
• Still awaiting word on the English translation of the Blessing of the Oils and Consecration of Chrism.

• Still awaiting word on the Spanish Book of Blessing (Bendiciónal).

• Still awaiting word on full Mass formularies for St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

• In June 2018, the U.S. Bishops approved the first group of ICEL translations for the new translation of the Breviary--Liturgy of the Hours (Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons for the course of the year, and also the petitions). This has not yet been sent to Rome; there are still some edits to be made).

• The Committee had hoped to have the Bishops vote on the Rite of Ordination and half the hymnody for the Breviary--Liturgy of the Hours—but these items were removed from the November 2018 Bishops’ meeting agenda.  These items may be on the agenda for June 2019 or November 2019. [The English speaking world has three different translations of the Rite of Ordination -- the Holy See wants one version. ICEL’s most recent translation is little changed from what we use currently.]

• The Order of Penance (Green Book) is with the Bishops for their review. Comments are due in December 2018, and will then go back to ICEL.

• The Order (formerly “Rite”) of Christian Initiation of Adults ICEL has finished and the Committee has a final draft of the new translation (Grey Book). The Bishops have given some feedback. The USCCB office of Canonical Affairs is looking at the National Statutes on the Catechumenate (and using the comments offered at the FDLC’s 2014 Lombard meeting). A preliminary thought with regard to the statues is that maybe they can be repackaged somewhat, in a compendium or something similar.

• The Lectionary for Mass is still under ongoing revision—the goal is to have a version of the NAB that matches what is heard at Mass. The project may all be accomplished by 2025.

• Remote preparation is in place for a true United States Spanish-language Lectionary (Leccionario) The USCCB funded a translation project with other conferences, and that translation is going to be studied carefully for accuracy of Scripture translation. Completion estimate is 2025.