RCIA Network Conference June 2017

Who do you say that I am? – Images of Christ in the New Testament.
A Conference for RCIA teams and all who engage with scripture in liturgy and catechesis.
Tues 6th – Thurs 8th June 2017, High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Herts. Main Speaker: Ian Boxall.
Don’t miss this chance to hear Ian Boxall, to deepen your knowledge and understanding of scripture and to reflect on your response to ‘Who do you say that I am?’
Still some places available. Last chance to get early bird fee for the conference – save £40!
More information at the RCIA Network’s site.

RCIA – Celebrating the Scrutinies

On the Rites page, you can find RCIA resources for Lent, including texts for celebrating the Scrutinies (on the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent) with the Elect – those journeying towards Baptism.

Here is a brief history of the scrutinies from Team RCIA, and an article by Paul Turner.

Christian Unity Week – Pope Francis celebrates Vespers

Today, at the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis will preside at Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.
The Sistine Chapel Choir will be joined by the choir of Westminster Abbey.
You can follow the live feed at 4.25pm (or watch it later), and there is also a lovely interview on Vatican Radio with the Dean of Westminster, Dr John Hall, and Mark Spyropoulos, the only full time English singer with the Sistine Chapel choir (who was at school at Worth).
The collaboration of the two choirs grows out of recent years of deepening Anglican-Catholic relations, in particular following Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to London in September 2010.

Dates for Musicians 2017

Here are details of dates and venues for the Rite of Election, Chrism Mass and other diocesan liturgies and events during the coming year.
All are welcome to join the diocesan choir!
As last year, there will be an opportunity to gather on the morning of the Chrism Mass rehearsal (Saturday 1st April) to look at repertoire, including music for the Easter season, Psalms and Communion chants.
Please make a note of the day organised by the Society of St Gregory at St Dunstan’s, Woking, on Saturday 13th May, and the Pentecost Vigil Mass with New Catholics at Arundel Cathedral on Saturday 3rd June.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the months ahead.

Prayer of the Faithful Guidelines

“In the Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in a certain way to the word of God which they have welcomed in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all. It is fitting that such a prayer be included … so that petitions will be offered for the holy Church, for civil authorities, for those weighed down by various needs, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world.”
(General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 69)

Bishop Richard has just issued revised guidelines for the Prayer of the Faithful to assist those who prepare and read the Prayer of the Faithful, and to help foster liturgical formation and promote good practice.

Further information is available on the Liturgy Office site.

Bible Sunday – Second Sunday of Advent

On the second Sunday of Advent (4th December 2016) parishes in England and Wales are invited to celebrate Catholic Bible Sunday. This year’s theme is ‘Welcome One Another’, taken from Romans 15:7.
Catholic Bible Sunday provides an opportunity for everyone to give thanks for the gift of the Bible, and also invites a deepening engagement with the Scriptures.
A downloadable booklet has been provided for Catholic Bible Sunday with homily notes, reflections for Advent and Christmas, Children’s Liturgy ideas, social action challenges, prayers and more. Further information on the Bishops’ Conference site.

Celebrating Advent and preparing for Christmas

We wish you every blessing during this joyful season of stillness, waiting and expectation.
Have a look at the Seasons page of this site for links to resources for Advent and Christmas liturgies.

CAFOD’s interactive online Advent calendar has a reflection and prayer for every day of the season to help us reflect on issues of global justice as we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

The place of Silence in the Liturgy

The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace.

These words of St Teresa of Calcutta are a reminder of the importance of silence. The Liturgy Committee of the Department for Christian Life and Worship has produced a document The Place of Silence, which explores how silence is an integral part of any liturgical action. It looks, in particular, at the celebration of Mass and how silence is expected in different ways.
The Liturgy Office site also has other resources about silence in the liturgy.

Instruction on Cremation and Burial of Ashes

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has released an Instruction on Cremation and the Burial of Ashes. The document, Ad resurgendum ad Christo (“To rise with Christ”), reiterates Church teaching about death and resurrection, in particular the preference for burial, but allowing the practice of cremation.

In England and Wales the majority of funerals lead to cremation – and the figures suggest that this is the pattern for Catholics too. The concern of the Instruction is the need for the cremated remains to be ‘laid to rest’. In England and Wales this will usually mean burial. The Instruction notes that it is not part of Catholic tradition or practice for ashes to be scattered, nor to be preserved in jewellery or mementos.

The Department for Christian Life and Worship previously issued guidance on the Burial of Ashes in 2008 and also placed the liturgical texts for the interment of ashes on the Liturgy Office website. (This page on the Liturgy Office site also gives other information about funerals liturgies.)

Liturgical Calendar 2017

The new liturgical year began on the First Sunday of Advent.
The Calendar notes on the Liturgy Office website provide information about feasts and seasons and the Cycle of Prayer intentions. The monthly pages for the liturgical year 2017 are now available. As well as the web pages there is a downloadable calendar which can be printed to A6 size and inserted in breviaries or missals.

Further details from the Liturgy Office site.