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The bishops of the Second Vatican Council desired a continuation of the liturgical reforms begun under Pope Pius XII. Specifically they desired "to undertake with great care a general restoration of the liturgy itself." The changeable elements of the liturgy should be reformed in such a way "to express more clearly the holy things they signify " so that the Christian faithful "should be able to understand them with ease and take part in them fully, actively, and as a community."
A Diocesan Synod was called for and completed in 1987 which identified various issues and concerns from across the Diocese. These included the need:
- for adult education that is "attuned to the reality of the lives of those who participate in the parish or on the diocesan level, as well as those who are marginalized;"
- to evangelize the increasing number of persons migrating into the Diocese who are of non-European ancestry;
- to open our parishes to the evangelization of our churches to marginalized and alienated groups;
- for better education of the clergy and laity "to the theologies of the diaconate and of lay ministry as proclaimed by Vatican II with emerging roles open to both men and women."
- to train priests, deacons, and laity so that the liturgy is better understood by all the faithful;
- to "develop a variety of kinds and opportunities for prayer within parishes to deepen our Catholic Christian faith" including extended opportunities for varied retreats and spiritual direction."
Since the conclusion of the Diocesan Synod there has been significant progress in implementing the wishes of the Church Fathers in the Council. Many of these same issues, however, were identified in by those on the Liturgical Committee for this plan. This is due to a wide variety of changes that are affecting the Diocese.
To read the entire report please [click here.]
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