Ministries: A to Z
Catholic Schools >
Education and Formation >
Youth and Young Adults >
Marriage and Family >
Prayer and Worship >
Office of Worship >
What is Liturgy >
Holy Days
Liturgical Commission
Liturgy Preparation Materials  >
Workshops
Resources
FAQs
Newsletter
Archdiocesan Choir
Instituted Acolytes
Calendar
Changes in the Missal
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults >
Liturgical Guidelines
Upcoming Liturgy Information
Advent Practices
Devotions
Holy Days
Lenten Guidelines
Marian Activities
Retreat Programs >
Roman Missal >
Archives for Sacramental Records
Social Justice and Life >
Our Cultures >
Safe Environment >
Additional Links
Tribunal >
Pastoral Plan >

Liturgical Commission


Mission Statement
Criteria for Diocesan Liturgical Commission Membership
Work of the Commission
Subcommittees
Membership Recruitment
Commission Chairperson / Commission Convener
Commission Recorder
Clerical Support
Liturgical Commission Positions Available

Mission Statement

The Diocesan Liturgical Commission is appointed by the Bishop and is composed of laity and clergy who have expertise in liturgy, music, art and/or pastoral practice, and who represent diverse cultures and various ministries. It seeks to promote and foster the liturgical life of the Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. The Commission enjoys a collaborative and consultative relationship with the Office of Worship, providing input, evaluation and recommendations in the planning process for program development and implementation, which is the responsibility of the Office staff..
June 2003

Criteria for Diocesan Liturgical Commission Membership

Liturgical Commission members will bring expertise in liturgy and ministry to this work. Once appointed by the bishop, members will serve a three-year term on the commission. The Liturgical Commission meets five times per year, normally the first Thursday of February, May, August, and November. Additionally, an annual planning meeting will be held in October. Attendance at three of the five annual meetings is mandatory.
Additionally, Liturgical Commission membership requires participation in at least one of the Liturgical Commission's four subcommittees: (1) Architecture, Art, and Environment; (2) Inculturation and Multiculturalism; (3) Ministry Formation and Education; (4) Liturgical Music.

The Liturgical Commission normally consists of 12 to 18 members including a chairperson, a recorder, and ex-officio membership of the director and associate director for the Office of Worship.

Work of the Commission

The work of the Liturgical Commission addresses the implementation of the reformed liturgical rites of the Church; the formation of liturgical ministers and the faithful; and the celebration of the liturgy throughout the Diocese of Galveston-Houston.

Each year, typically in May, the Liturgical Commission will discern a chairperson. The Liturgical Commission will also organize into three teams to address the mission of the Commission for the coming twelve months based upon the goals set for the year during the October meeting and through the direction of the Office of Worship.

Subcommittees

The subcommittees of the Liturgical Commission are concerned with the liturgical needs of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston as broken down into four areas. The focus of each subcommittee remains flexible in order to accomplish the work of the Liturgical Commission.
Each Subcommittee meets regularly during the weeks between the regular meetings of Liturgical Commission.Each sub-committee will discern a person to convene the meetings of the sub-committee and a person to serve as a recorder.

Architecture, Art, and Environment

This subcommittee is concerned with formation regarding the role of architecture, art and the environment in worship. Liturgical law instructs that a committee with expertise in art and architecture is to exist in order to offer consultation to the Bishop, as he requires, concerning the building and renovation of worship spaces and in questions concerning appropriate images and art in support of the celebration of the liturgy.
Inculturation and Multiculturalism

This sub-committee serves to assist with formation within the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in the area of appropriate liturgical inculturation and the needs of our multicultural faithful. Through formation, this sub-committee will assist in the task of facilitating opportunities for the faithful of the diocese to become more familiar with and experience the Incarnation of Christ through the richness of the liturgical signs, symbols and traditions of the various Christian cultures of the diocese.

Ministry Formation and Education

This subcommittee is concerned with the overall formation needs of liturgical ministers within the Diocese of Galveston-Houston which includes assistance with the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and the other revised sacramental rites. By assisting with the creation and implementation of formation programs offered through the Office of Worship, this subcommittee assists with the formation of liturgical leaders who will in turn offer appropriate liturgical formation to local parish liturgical ministers.

Music

This subcommittee is concerned with the appropriate formation of liturgical musicians within the Diocese of Galveston-Houston. Liturgical law calls for a body to offer expertise in the area of sacred liturgical music at the service of the rites of the Church. This subcommittee assists with consultations regarding appropriate music for liturgy. Through formation and consultation this subcommittee serves to encourage the use of quality music in the celebration of the liturgy.

Membership Recruitment

Membership is open to all active, practicing Roman Catholics whose residence is within the boundaries of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston and who possess expertise in liturgy and\or those areas addressed by the sub-committees of the Liturgical Commission. When a position is open on the Commission, an announcement is made in the Texas Catholic Herald as well as other means of communicating with parishes and ministers of the Diocese. Applications will be available in the Office of Worship for 60 days prior to the announced deadline for applications. Prior to official appointment, potential members selected by the Director for the Office of Worship and the Chairperson for the Liturgical Commission may be invited to participate in the activities of the Liturgical Commission, including regular meetings, for a period of six months. Following the discernment of potential members, the Director of the Office of Worship normally recommends members to the Bishop. All Liturgical Commission members are appointed by the Bishop for a period of three years which may be repeated for an additional three years.

Commission Chairperson / Commission Convener

The Commission chairperson is appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston for a term determined by the bishop, typically one to three years. The chairperson will ensure that the Commission meets regularly as required, sets the meeting agenda in consultation with the Director for the Office of Worship, ensures that the agenda will be sent to members at least two weeks prior to the next meeting, conducts all meetings or delegates this to the Director of the Office of Worship in the chairperson's absence, and ensures that minutes are sent to the members, the Director for the Secretariat for Pastoral and Educational Ministries, and the Bishop within two weeks of the meeting's conclusion.
The primary role of the Liturgical Commission chairperson is to facilitate Commission meetings keeping the members on task, identifying and calling forth the gifts of the members, offering summaries to discussions and seeking consensus. The Chairperson also serves as a liaison to the Bishop as necessary.

The Commission chairperson normally serves as the secondary liaison to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and attends at least two of the three meetings of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Liturgical Conference. These meetings are typically in January, May and October. The Office of Worship will assist with expenses required to participate in this work of representation and collaboration on the regional and national levels.

Commission Recorder

The Commission will discern a recorder to take minutes for the Commission meetings.

Clerical Support

The Office of Worship offers clerical support to the Liturgical Commission and its Sub-Committees to facilitate their work, e.g., typing and correspondence needs.