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 Mark Coleridge, 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.