Worship and Evangelization Outreach / Fr. Patrick Beidelman

Sacred liturgy federation leaders mark 50 years of faith

When the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) was formed by the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy in 1969, archdiocesan priest Father Albert Ajamie represented the Church in central and southern Indiana as part of the new organization and even served as a charter member of its board of directors.

The FDLC was formed after the first document of the Second Vatican Council was promulgated in 1963 by Pope Paul VI. This “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” called for the restoration of the Church’s liturgy in such a way that fostered the participation of all the faithful and that supported the strengthening of their liturgical piety. Ultimately, the implementation of this development of the sacred liturgy would allow for the liturgical rites of Church to be celebrated in people’s native languages throughout the world. The bishops of the United States knew they would need help training the clergy and laypeople in praying the new texts that would be approved, and the FDLC became an important advisory group in this process.

Among other things, the members of the FDLC initially worked with Church leaders in preparation for the imminent arrival of the first English-language Roman Missal. It is generally accepted now that the reception of these new liturgical texts would involve reflection and formation that would stretch far beyond those first years after the council, and would be enhanced by successive popes, theologians and other members of the faithful.

And so, 50 years later, this work continues, especially as new translations of liturgical texts are released and as we continue to grow in our understanding of and participation in that to which the Church calls us in our prayer.

Over the last 50 years, several members of the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis have supported the work of this federation, including former leaders in the Office of Worship: Fathers Steve Jarrell and Rick Ginther as well as Charlie Gardner. Since 2005, I have represented our local church as a member of the FDLC, and it has been a privilege to pray, work and study alongside many of the finest liturgical theologians in our country.

This federation accomplishes much of its work regionally with the directors of the Offices of Worship from different groups of states in the U.S. We are regularly collaborating on preparing materials for liturgical formation and for the promotion of the sacred liturgy, always striving to support our local ordinaries and to continue the work of the first participants of the FDLC. I have been blessed and inspired in my work with my colleagues in my “region,” the liturgical leaders from the dioceses in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

The FDLC celebrated its 50th anniversary on Oct. 9-11 in Chicago with 200 liturgists, speakers and guests noting the accomplishments of the organization and looking toward its future of supporting the liturgical life of the Church in the United States.

The three-day meeting focused on FDLC’s past, present and future. Attendees recalled the history of the modern liturgical movement in the 19th and 20th centuries, revisited the impact of the Second Vatican Council, and reviewed the history of the federation.

Delegates studied trends of growth, challenges and opportunities among Catholics in the U.S., reflected on how the next generations of Catholics are embracing the liturgy and how inculturation can enhance how it is celebrated.

During the gathering, the Frederick R. McManus Award, the federation’s highest honor, which recognizes significant contributions to furthering liturgical renewal in the United States, was presented to Benedictine Abbot Primate Gregory Polan of Conception Abbey in Missouri. It acknowledged his more than 20 years of scholarly work on a translation of the Psalms, entitled “Abbey Psalms and Canticles,” which are now approved for use in the liturgy.

Finally, the FDLC members committed to assist with national training utilizing the liturgical principle called the ars celebrandi (the art of proper celebration of the Sacred liturgy) which was proposed by USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship to the federation.

One thing was abundantly clear during the course of the gathering: the Church’s liturgy—ever ancient and ever new—continues to glorify God and to nourish, inspire and transform the faithful. God be praised!
 

(Father Patrick Beidelman is executive director of the archdiocesan Secretariat for Worship and Evangelization.) †