ACU CENTRE FOR LITURGY Newsletter Issue 9, November 2020

FROM THE DIRECTOR IN THIS ISSUE: While the COVID-19 pandemic has seen In this newsletter, preaching educator Liturgy spotlight: many endure a months-long enforced fast Sr Janet Schlichting OP describes the Preaching as an from in-person liturgical celebrations, essential boundaries within which imaginative act a wider-than-usual range of televised creativity can flourish in homily-writing and online liturgies has been available and Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ shares Sharing good practice: for viewing and virtual participation. practical insights gained over almost The varying quality of these liturgies has thirty years of preaching to highlight how Advice for good preaching spotlighted some excellent liturgical praxis to make the Word of God central to the and some areas in need of further work. homilist’s life and relevant to the lives and News and recent events The homily is one of the most-commented- cultures of those to whom he preaches. upon areas of the liturgy and one where Venite audite! UPCOMING: the wisdom of experienced practitioners Professor Clare V. Online public lecture series: and educator-coaches can provide valuable Johnson Rev Msgr Kevin W. Irwin, insights and strategies for improvement. Director, ACU Professor of Liturgical Studies Those professionals who practise the art Centre for Liturgy and Sacramental Theology at and craft of preaching must consistently Professor of The Catholic University of review and refresh their approach to Liturgical Studies America and author of Pope this aspect of liturgical service because & Sacramental Francis and the Liturgy will the homily is, “necessary for nurturing Theology, Faculty speak as part of the ACU Centre the Christian life” (GIRM #65) and the of Theology & for Liturgy’s new online public homilist’s task is “to proclaim how God’s Philosophy lecture series in May 2021. word is being fulfilled here and now” Watch for further details in the (Homiletic Directory, 2014, #6). new year.

New Liturgy Unit at ACU: FROM OUR BOARD OF ADVISORS Dr Jason McFarland, Lecturer in Liturgical Studies and Good preaching is like gold: it bears conferences (e.g., the USCCB’s Fulfilled in Sacramental Theology at ACU, the weight of God’s comforting and Your Hearing) and local and international will teach the new intensive challenging presence as it enlightens our scholars such as , Brendan face-to-face postgraduate unit hearts and lives. Staff at the Centre are Byrne SJ, Richard Leonard SJ, Michelle Ritual Studies (May 1-2 and very willing to provide professional in- Connolly RSJ, Michael Casey OCSO, 22-23, 2021) at ACU’s Strathfield service training for those blessed with the Mary Catherine Hilkert OP and Walter campus. Register as part of your responsibility of preaching God’s word, a Burghardt SJ. Master’s Degree or Graduate central component of the Church’s mission. Like any great art form (including Certificate. Contact ftp.pg@acu. One way is via formation in the parish music, painting and sport), preaching edu.au for more information. context. Already, staff have been invited requires regular practice, feedback and by willing members of the clergy to discernment, for it is good practice that Please email us for more visit parishes with a view to providing makes permanent! information, or to register to preachers with constructive feedback on hear about upcoming events. Dr Paul Taylor, the liturgy, including the homily. For there MA Liturgy (UND), is certainly wisdom in the saying that “to MMus, PhD see and hear ourselves as others do” can be (ACU) is Executive one of the greatest of teachers! Secretary of the The Centre can also recommend Australian Catholic Endorsed by the Australian printed and web-based commentaries Bishops Conference Catholic Bishops Conference and reflections from the Holy See (e.g., and of the National the Homiletic Directory), episcopal Liturgical Council.

ACU Centre for Liturgy – November 2020 | 01 NEWS AND RECENT EVENTS

Over 300 join online public help us to maintain our Christian and parishes celebrating Children’s lecture identities when we cannot gather Liturgy of the Word. Collaborating together, noted what the pandemic with authors from the USA, Professor On October 12, 2020 the ACU has taught us so far, and considered Clare V. Johnson has prepared this Centre for Liturgy presented an what liturgical celebration and text for use with students in years online public lecture to over 300 pastoral care might look like going 5-8 in conjunction with the Year of people from around the world. forward. A recording of this very well- Grace Calendar for 2021. Exploring Liturgist and public health expert received public lecture is available the Gospel for Sundays, solemnities, Sr Prof Julia Upton RSM of St. on YouTube: www.youtube.com/ feasts and holydays (according to the John’s University, New York spoke on watch?v=3mRqQil_DFs. Australian Lectionary and liturgical ‘Liturgy, Prayer, Pastoral Care and calendar) through proclamation, Pandemics’, exploring the impact Celebrating the Lectionary reflection and engaging classroom of COVID-19 on the provision of Year B activities, this attractive book will help pastoral care for the sick and dying, young people to link each Gospel text Celebrating the Lectionary Year B and how Christians can continue to with their Catholic faith and everyday (Garratt Publishing, 2020) is the express faith without gathering in lives. For more information see: second volume of a rich resource person. Prof Upton reflected on the www.garrattpublishing.com.au. importance of domestic rituals that of Lectionary-based catechesis designed especially for use in schools

LITURGY SPOTLIGHT Preaching as an imaginative act

I started my professional life as an art teacher, and early on I found that to get the best work from my students I needed to create problems for them, to limit their methods or materials or subject matter. ‘You may only tear the paper, you must use this or that medium, and only these colours…’ My principle became ‘creativity flourishes within limits’ for imagination thrives as it bumps against boundaries. This principle holds true for preaching. There are absolute givens: The Word of God, the preacher, and the congregation. There are other variables – the rite celebrated, desired length, the liturgical season—that also act as necessary limits for liturgical preaching, but I’ll discuss the three basics to be honoured in preparation for a homily graced with what I’ll call ‘inSpirited imagination’. translation, shine a new light on God’s becoming aware of the phrases that Imagination is our active capacity for presence in our lives, offer new insight stand out, or have staying power with meaning-making and operates in all areas through ‘Gospel-tinted lenses’. Good us. We let the Word walk in us, expose of human endeavour. The way it functions preaching is born of inSpirited imagining, our neediness, examine our deeper goes far beyond the idea of whimsy, or and we are always being formed and selves, allow memories and feelings and ‘It’s just your imagination’. The definition re-formed into believers, witnesses, and associations to arise. We ask for a word of from which modern considerations communities of faith. We allow the Word meaning. start is ‘seeing as’—seeing something as of God to dwell in us, so we may speak out something else. You can think of or look at of revelation infused by and carried by the We ponder our listeners. How will they something this way, or another way, and Holy Spirit. And as Augustine spoke of hear and respond to this word? What your new view provides a leap of insight, a Eucharist, ‘We become what we receive’. message do they long to hear? How do deeper or broader meaning. Imagination In our hearing and proclaiming, we grow their lives, their daily concerns, their brings newness. into the Word we preach, becoming sorrows and their fears, reverberate in Living Words of Gospel in our world. you? What common experience do you Humanity is created as Imago Dei, made share? Is there a Word for them that is to share in God’s love and to participate So: how do we imagine a homily where also a Word that has captured you? Will in God’s self-revelation to the world. The the essential boundaries – or gates, it be a word of life for them, a glimpse of preacher brings the Word of God to life by perhaps – are Word, preacher, and freedom, a call to conversion, a moment offering new ways of imagining, coming to congregation? of hope, Alleluia and Amen? In light of all fresh meaning and new namings of God you’ve pondered, what is the Living Word and ourselves. We attempt an alternative In the beginning is the Word. And then the Spirit moving you to speak? the preacher. We read, ponder, pray,

02 | ACU Centre for Liturgy – November 2020 As you prepare, your imagination foundations, and pushing beyond the Sr Janet is working to shape the Word that cherished past into God’s future. You may Schlichting, is becoming your message. Here it imagine playfully, noting with humility OP, BS Art contributes in ways unique to you and humour your own contradictions and Education, MA and your gifts. You may imagine the general bumblings of an unfinished Liturgy (UND), empathically for your community, alive humanity and God’s tenderness and DMin (Aquinas to their feelings and stories. You may mercy in continuing to pursue us. And in Institute) find yourself to the message, imagining, you listen for what resistant liturgical Janet is a wrestling with God over hard sayings and the scriptures of the day reveal as the Dominican Sister impossible-seeming tasks, allowing the meaning and dimensions of the rites we of Peace living in Akron, Ohio. She has congregation its freedom to complain, are celebrating. served on the summer faculty at Loyola or you may resist the conventional University’s (Chicago) Pastoral Institute, imagination’s interpretation of the Then you will rise, and bring Word and as Director of the Graduate Ministry message. You may imagine Spirit to voice, witnessing from and to poetically Program at Ursuline College (Cleveland), with words and images, new phraseology, a power that you know is so much more and as Assistant Professor of Homiletics a reoccurring line, a unifying metaphor. than you, a reliable offer of Newness. And, at Aquinas Institute (St Louis). You may find yourself imagining please God, somebody who needs it will hear it, or (inevitably) hear something you prophetically, called to re-examine the demands of truth and justice, and the didn’t think you said, and it will make a attitudes and actions that follow, rattling difference.

SHARING GOOD PRACTICE Advice for good preaching

Don’t get stuck in a single pattern of presentation, starting every homily with ‘In the readings today my dear people’, or ‘The other day I ...’, or always beginning with a story. Try and avoid: attacking secularism for all the evils in the world and in the Church; always mentioning abortion; always quoting from the writings of the Holy Father; telling a joke every time; and giving a commentary on the football. Remember that the preacher needs to be seen to be equally challenged by the Word so replace ‘you’ and ‘you must’ with ‘we’ and ‘we might’. Invite different sorts of people to give constructive and honest feedback about our preaching. Finally, our homilies will never be judged by their style or craft as much as if we practise what we preach. Rev Dr Richard Leonard, SJ, BA (Qld), GradDipEd (Melb), MTheol (MCD), DipATFM (LFS), PhD (Melb) Richard directed Every major survey about homilies I have been listening to homilies for 57 the Office for Film reveals similar complaints that they years and formally preaching for 28 years. and Broadcasting are: too long; pitched over the heads of From my experience of listening and for the ACBC for 22 years, was an the congregation; don’t intersect with speaking here are my recommendations Honorary Fellow of ACU (2009-16), and the assembly’s daily lives; and, more and advice for good preaching. has been a visiting scholar within the recently, that the accent of the homilist School of Theatre, Film and Television On the positive side, rather than trying to is hard to comprehend. at UCLA as well as a Visiting Professor preach on three Sunday readings, choose at the Pontifical Gregorian University The General Instruction on the Roman one reading or one unifying theme. in Rome. He has served on juries at the Missal says that preaching should be a Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Warsaw, Hong Inspire both the hearts and intellects of ‘living commentary on the word (#9). Kong, Montreal, Brisbane and the faithful and prompt a concrete action Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium said International Film Festivals. Richard is to do, or think about, during the week. that a homily moves from the scriptural a regular columnist with The Tablet and texts ‘to establishing mysteries of the Preach no longer than eight minutes, or author of ten books including Preaching faith and the guiding principles of the 800 words, the time between ad breaks to the Converted. Christian life’ (#35). on commercial television.

ACU Centre for Liturgy – November 2020 | 03 Engage our expertise The Liturgy Nexus and Improve liturgical celebration in your parish Liturgy Nexus for The ACU Centre for Liturgy provides specialised training Schools and formation workshops for parish ministers and liturgical musicians on a variety of topics. Are you a post-graduate Help your teachers and religious education leaders to deepen qualified liturgist or do you work their understanding of the liturgy in a liturgy-related profession We tailor workshops and professional development sessions to (e.g., liturgical architecture, the specific needs of schools and Catholic education offices. art or music)? Consider joining Develop your skills as a presider at liturgy the Liturgy Nexus, an online Clergy can engage in our specialised professional development subscription-based closed sessions on a range of topics from presidential singing to the art network for conversation on of presiding at worship, and the craft of preaching. liturgical issues, resource sharing and problem solving. Bring our experts to you Does your work in Catholic schools involve preparing liturgies? Our academics and specialists are available to deliver keynote The Liturgy Nexus for Schools is where you can ask questions addresses, public lectures, and conference workshops tailored to and develop your expertise in preparing engaging and prayerful meet the needs of your organisation or event. liturgical celebrations for school communities. Study liturgy and sacramental theology To join the Liturgy Nexus or Liturgy Nexus for Schools, apply on You can study academic courses or undertake higher degree the ACU Centre for Liturgy website. Membership is granted to research in liturgical studies and sacramental theology through applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. The membership fee ACU’s Faculty of Theology and Philosophy. Contact us for further is $30.00 per year (not pro-rated), renewable on or before March information. 1 each year.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Support our work in rural and Communion: parish workshop low-income parishes

Serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion You can support the crucial work of the ACU Centre for Liturgy (EMHC) and bringing Communion to the sick requires faith, by making a donation through the Give Now portal on our knowledge, and commitment. This three-hour workshop website. ACU is a not-for-profit institution, and all gifts of introduces the scriptural, theological, liturgical and spiritual $2 or more to the ACU Centre for Liturgy are tax-deductible. foundations of the Eucharist, and emphasises the necessary 100 per cent of your gift will be utilised to provide essential practical components of this important part of parish liturgy. formative education in liturgy and sacraments in areas of need. To bring this workshop to your parish, go to: www.acu.edu.au/ Endowments, pledges, bequests and gifts in kind are welcome. EOI_EMHC.

Board of Advisors: Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Archbishop of Adelaide Contact us Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Bishop of Rev Prof John F Baldovin SJ, Boston College School of Theology ACU Centre for Liturgy and Ministry, USA 25A Barker Rd, Strathfield, NSW 2135 Fr Anthony Casamento csma, Vice President, ACU Phone: +61 2 9701 4751 Assoc Prof Stephen Downs, National Head of School, Theology, ACU Website: acu.edu.au/centreforliturgy Br Prof David Hall fms, Dean, LaSalle Academy for Religious Email: [email protected] Education and Faith Formation, ACU Prof Clare Johnson, Director, ACU Centre for Liturgy (ex officio) Centre for Liturgy Staff: Ms Josie Ryan, Liturgy Coordinator, Loreto Kirribili Professor Clare V. Johnson, Director Dr Paul Taylor, Executive Secretary, Bishops’ Commission for Dr Jason McFarland, Assistant Director Liturgy Ms Sharon Boyd, Professional Specialist – Liturgy Education Sr Prof Julia A Upton rsm, St John’s University, New York Ms Maryanne Hemsley, Administrative Officer Very Rev Peter Williams, Vicar General, Diocese of Parramatta

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