To be – Or not to be: the Parish Liturgist is the question.

It is an increasing worry to me when I participate at Mass, that by the end of the celebration – I feel as though I haven’t really celebrated.

This is coming from someone who is a student of Theology and Liturgy and has been exposed to the underpinning theology of the Eucharist…and why we gather, what Sunday means to Catholics, the concepts and moments of anamnesis and epiclesis on so on etc.

These are wonderful things to know that have deepened my understanding of the things we do and why we do them. And while this is all great – the lived reality of Parish ‘celebration’ is sometimes in stark contrast. At times, I feel I am being too critical of what I experience at a parish level and these cautionary…perhaps even negative feelings are just a figment of my liturgically charged brain.

But then I find myself talking with 16 year olds in a classroom scenario – and I begin to hear frighteningly similar views to my own. And in the opposite age direction – people are voting with their feet. I have read somewhere very recently [although exactly where escapes me at present] that the largest group who seem to be leaving regular celebrations of Liturgy are the baby boomers [40 to 55 year olds]. So - I am not alone in the way I am thinking and feeling about the celebratory perceptions of liturgy!

What can we identify as possible causes for people’s dissatisfaction?

It is fascinating to talk to young people [and also the young at heart]…but particularly the young, that they find ‘celebrations’ of Eucharist boring. Doubly fascinating that young people I talk with have no interest in the Church, period, because of their ‘boring’ experiences of Mass. They see ‘the Church’ as Mass…and Mass as the only manifestation or expression of Church. This is a shameful tragedy which needs serious attention.

One of the first things that will be said by young people I talk with in regard to how boring the Liturgy is – is the kind of music that is played. They see it as antiquated and not speaking to their lives, their hopes or their lived realities.

They speak of tired, old priests who lack a vitality of faith – which makes it near impossible for people such as themselves sitting in the pews to be inspired and nourished in their own faith journey.

They speak of the sameness of the Liturgy, week in, week out with no adequate explanation to them as to why they say and do the things they do. They see no passion, no zeal and essentially no joy or life in what is meant to be a CELEBRATION.

So they don’t come.

There are many other reasons experts will tell us regarding the reasons for people’s lack of participation at Eucharist i.e.: increase in work demands on weekends, sport commitments, fear of long term commitment etc…and I won’t go into these now…but just say that there are a plethora of reasons for our current predicament.

So what can we do?

To the many reasons for the current crisis we find ourselves in, I would like to throw one idea into the ring as a possible suggestion forward. It is not THE panacea – but simply A way of working towards a better place than we find ourselves in at the moment.

My idea is for parishes to begin employing full time Parish Liturgists.

Let’s stop spending money on buildings and start investing in the pastoral and liturgical welfare of our people! A liturgist employed by a parish would be able to devote their full attention to the way we celebrate and make them uplifting, inspiring and life giving occasions for all who attend and partake.

Our priests aren’t getting any younger; they are stretched beyond their limits and while they try – obviously aren’t translating the celebratory nature of Eucharist as best as they could. But it’s not all up to the priest either – the laity have responsibilities too…but even in conjunction with the priests – people are sill voting with their feet!

We need to take steps NOW. We need to have vision and foresight and use that phrase so often thrown around in Diocesan consultative circles of ‘reading the signs of the times’ and act.

Ordained leadership solving this tricky issue is not where the answer lies. They are stretched enough as it already is – and according to the many young people I speak with, aren’t really doing terribly much to improve the current situation. If not here and now – where?

Do we wait and hope and pray that the conditions for ordination change…that married clergy and women can become priests who will pull us out of the rut? This will be some time coming [some would argue it will be no time coming!]…but we live in hope. Further, this is [in reality] a mid to long term hope…not an immediate short term practical real step we can take to tackle the issue.

But…even this idea has its limitations as is re-enforces this old fashioned idea that only the ordained minister has the ‘power’ to be involved in such liturgical and pastoral endeavours. No…we need to be thinking more broadly than this.

We need to start financially investing in our lay people to receive liturgical, pastoral education…significant qualifications…university standard qualifications which will empower and form them in leadership to help our faith communities to CELEBRATE. This will cost money…significant sums of money…but it won’t do any good in 15 years time to be wallowing in despair because ‘we don’t have a priest anymore and can’t celebrate Liturgy’ [I’m sure this is a reality already for many many parishes…aren’t we reading the signs so clearly in front of our faces??!! Twinning parishes, amalgamating parishes…making super parishes…is a short term solution [and in my view a misguided one] surrounding the shortage of priests…to an ultimately longer term issue of education, empowerment and lay leadership that will take us into [and sustain] the future church.

Employing parish Liturgists will be a step [one step] in the beginning of a process that will start to enhance and make relevant the way in which we celebrate Eucharist…in the way we use Liturgical Music to augment the Liturgy. Parish Liturgists would go a long way in introducing age old [and largely lost] beautiful, wonderful traditions such as the Liturgy of the Hours…which could be ‘re-packaged’ and complimented by contemporary scripturally based music.

The sad reality is – that for many – young and old alike – the first impression of ‘the Church’ in its totality is found in the way we celebrate Liturgy. Let’s make it amazing. Let’s make it relevant. Let’s make it ‘now’. Let’s reclaim the spark. Let’s start employing Liturgists in our parishes!

This debate over employed parish Liturgists has been discussed on the Online Catholics Discussion Board this week – a discussion which I have been a part of. While I am a strong supporter for the idea, others think differently and more cautiously. The following was posted by Maree:

…’I agree that a parish liturgist would be a step in the right direction but my experience has shown me that there are ever increasing obstacles which restrict how the liturgy is 'allowed' to be celebrated. Many of these obstacles are self-appointed "liturgists" on the parish liturgy committee, who, with the best of intentions, control what can and can't be done. There are also restrictions on what is and is not 'liturgically correct' from the hierarchy. I think a more collaborative approach to planning liturgy and openness to what liturgy has the potential to be is necessary before all can be active, joy filled participants in the celebration….’

And there is truth to Maree’s words here. The ‘self appointed liturgists’ who ‘control’ what can and can’t be done exist. They are out there – and they are real. Unfortunately, in my experience, most are so liturgical; there is no space for pastoral tact or vision. Indeed, my experience with one such individual caused such pain and hurt, I actually left the Church for a time. So Maree’s words of wisdom of a more collaborative approach must be listened to – and perhaps even followed.

But there is still something inside of me – suggesting we are on the brink of change – and we need to begin to get ready for it. A collaborative approach is fine – but does it really work in a sustained way if people aren’t getting paid for their efforts? It may have in the past – but people are more skilled now and less accepting of doing something for nothing - especially when they are qualified in the field of Liturgy and Theology.

People see the role of the ordained and laity and what the laity can do in a much more different way today. The laity are more theologically and liturgically trained than ever before in our history of being Church. It seems criminal to me that so many well educated people – even in this moment of our history – are not being utilised in a more pro-active way in our parishes…and being employed.

And there's that little voice inside me again, now yelling at me and saying that WE ARE READY AND THE TIME IS NOW!

Here is one little vegemite who will gladly put his hand up for the job.