A Foundational Course for Pastoral, Liturgical, and Music Ministers

COURSE CATALOG

In-person and Virtual Training Opportunities

Liturgy Training Publications, in partnership with the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM), introduces a new series of virtual training courses: The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy (ECL). These courses will offer instruction and formation in the fundamentals of Catholic liturgy and the essential liturgical documents for music directors, liturgy committee members, and those new to parish staffs.

Liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life, yet too often parish staff members or volunteers who do not possess a fundamental knowledge of liturgy are assigned to provide leadership for the community’s worship. Sending these ministers to study liturgy at a college or university may be financially burdensome, impossible due to work or family commitments, or simply more than the person or parish is willing to commit to. While many diocesan worship offices provide liturgical training, the availability of such training varies greatly from region to region. The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy will impart a basic working knowledge of the Church’s liturgy to individuals who wish to further their knowledge and advance their leadership skills for parish worship.

It will be offered in person at the annual NPM convention with additional virtual sessions throughout the year. Each track will include expert presentations on the history and theology of liturgy with a chance to engage in discussion with others in the course.

To learn more about The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy, please contact LTP’s Training and Events team.Phone: 773-579-4900, ext. 3536 • E-mail: training@LTP.org • Website: www.TEOCL.org

• Music directors, especially those who are new, have recently acquired other liturgical responsibilities, or are unfamiliar with Catholic liturgy

• Cantors, accompanists, choir members• Liturgy directors and worship committee members• Sacristans• RCIA coordinators and catechists• Parish staff members, including parish secretaries, youth ministers, catechetical

leaders, business managers• Campus ministers, Catholic school teachers and principals, religion teachers, and

those who coordinate liturgies for schools and religious education programs• Those in lay ministry or diaconal formation programs

Contact Us

Photos © John Zich

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What is The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy (ECL)?

Who is ECL for?

Certain times of the liturgical year lend themselves to training and formation better than others. ECL sessions are scheduled outside the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter as far as possible. Recognizing that there is no time of day, week, or year that is ideal for everyone, we present a tentative schedule of course offerings.

Course Minimum: A minimum of 20 participants must be registered two weeks prior to the first class for the course to be presented.Hosting ECL in Your Diocese: If you are interested in hosting an in-person track of ECL in English or Spanish, please contact us at training@LTP.org.

See www.TEOCL.org for an updated list of course offerings.

TRACK ONE TRACK TWO TRACK THREE

The Basics of Liturgy Sacramental Rites and Other Parish Liturgies

Liturgy, Life, and Discipleship

Summer 2018IN PERSON

NPM Convention

Fall 2018VIRTUAL

Starting: September 10, 2018

Winter 2019VIRTUAL

Starting:January 24, 2019

Summer 2019IN PERSON

NPM Convention

Fall 2019VIRTUAL(early fall)

VIRTUAL (late Fall)

Winter 2020 VIRTUAL

Summer 2020IN PERSON

NPM Convention

The price of an ECL course is $150 per track. There will be required texts for each track, which will cost approximately $25 to $35 per track, and each course will include free downloadable course material. To register for an ECL track, please visit www.TEOCL.org.

All dates are tentative

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Schedule

Cost and Registration

Session 1. Fundamentals of Christian LiturgyAt the very core of the Christian life is the celebration of the liturgy, the sacred rites that have been entrusted to the Church and her ministers throughout the centuries. Parish leaders have the responsibility of seeing that the liturgy is celebrated in a way that allows God’s people to participate fully, actively, and consciously, leading them to a deeper understanding of the Paschal Mystery. This session will explore the meaning of Catholic. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the liturgy and its key elements.

Session 2. Introduction to the Mass I: Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word

The celebration of the Eucharist, or Mass, is the “source and summit” of everything we do as Christians (Lumen gentium, 11). Our life flows from the Mass, and our life and work flow back into the Mass. This session will provide a definition for Mass, give a brief historical sketch of its development, and explore the Introductory Rites and the Liturgy of the Word. Participants will gain an appreciation of the specific elements of these two components of the Mass that will enable them to plan and prepare the liturgy with a deeper understanding of why and how to do it.

Session 3. Introduction to the Mass II:

Liturgy of the Eucharist, Concluding RitesContinuing where the previous session concluded, this session will help participants understand the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites of the Mass. Particular attention will be devoted to examining the different sections of the Eucharistic Prayer.

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Track OneTHE BASICS OF LITURGY

Track One serves as an introduction to the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. Participants will gain the fundamental knowledge needed to prepare the liturgy or to serve in a liturgical or parish leadership role.

Session 4. The Liturgical YearYear after year, the Church unfolds and celebrates the “whole mystery of Christ” (Sacrosanctum concilium, 102) through the liturgy. From Advent to the last weeks of Ordinary Time, and through solemnities, feasts, and memorials, we see God’s action and presence in creation, especially our salvation in Jesus Christ. As Christ offers honor and glory to God through the prayer of his body, the Church, all time and all human activity is sanctified (Laudes canticum, 11). Participants in this session will gain a deeper understanding of the liturgical year, the difference between the temporal cycle (Sundays and seasons) and the sanctoral cycle (saints days and other observances) of the Church’s calendar, and the importance of observing the rhythm of the Church’s time in parish life.

Session 5. Liturgical Ministries

Although we have varying gifts to offer the Church, we are the one Body of Christ. “A diversity of members and functions is engaged in the building up of Christ’s body” (Lumen gentium, 7). While we all are one in Christ, there are also formal ministries that help order or direct our worship. The music director, catechists, pastor, parish secretary and countless others are all a part of the planning and execution of the liturgical life of a community. In this session, we will identify the key ministries in the life of the parish, how these ministries function, and how the ministers might collaborate to help the People of God enter into the liturgy.

Session 6. Sacraments and DevotionsThe Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy says, “The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify people, to build up the body of Christ, and, finally, to worship God” (59). Filled with rich signs and symbols, the seven sacraments invite us to enter more deeply into the sacred. They are a place where heaven meets earth, where God touches human life in a particular way. Alongside the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church is the prayer life of an individual, family, or group, shaped by different forms of prayer and devotions to particular saints or mysteries. In this session, participants will come to understand more clearly what a sacrament is and what they celebrate as well as how devotions, such as the Rosary or Eucharistic adoration, provide a rich palette for a Christian’s life of prayer and contemplation.

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Track One is scheduled to be presented in Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Fall 2019. Visit www.TEOLC.org for an updated calendar and registration information.

Session 1. Celebrating the Church’s Liturgy: Sunday Mass, the Hours, and Sacraments

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy says, “The liturgy . . . is rightly . . . an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ . . . [and] is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ” (7). By exploring the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and basic sacramentality, participants in this session will deepen their understanding of the Church’s liturgy and gain a foundational understanding of the Church’s sacramental economy.

Session 2. Holy Week and TriduumBeginning with the proclamation of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ending with Paschal Vespers on Easter Sunday, the Church contemplates and celebrates the “mysteries of salvation accomplished by Christ” (Paschale solemnitatis, 27). This session will journey through Holy Week and Triduum, highlighting their theological, liturgical, and pastoral significance. Participants will develop an appreciation for the structure, signs, and symbols of the rites of these most solemn days of the liturgical year.

Session 3. Christian Initiation of Adults:

Baptism, Confirmation, EucharistChristian initiation is the heart of parish life. When implemented and celebrated well, the process of bringing adults to faith in Christ and initiating them into his Church has the ability not only to form catechumens, but also to renew the whole Body of Christ. In this session, participants will study paragraph 75 of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to understand the vision of the process of initiation. Participants will leave this session with a basic understanding of the initiation process and its role in the life of a parish.

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Track TwoSACRAMENTAL RITES AND OTHER PARISH LITURGIES

Track Two focuses on the Paschal Mystery, sacramental rites, and other parish liturgies, for those with a general understanding of the liturgy.

Session 4. Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals

When a person is baptized, they are incorporated into the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. United with Christ, the baptized live proclaiming the Good News; when the person’s earthly life comes to its end, “the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life” (Order of Christian Funerals, 1). Using the Rite of Baptism for Children, the rites of Pastoral Care of the Sick, and the Order of Christian Funerals, this session will explore the theology of Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, and the funeral rites. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to plan and prepare these important liturgies.

Session 5. First Communion, Reconciliation,

Confirmation, and WeddingsFirst Communions, Confirmations, and weddings are important moments in the life of an individual Catholic and in the lives of their families and faith communities. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, celebrated for the first time or one of many times, is also personal and communal, no matter which form of the rite is used. They are all moments to see and celebrate the gift of God’s love and mercy to his people. This session looks at each of these rites and discusses the basic theology and best practices for preparing and celebrating them in the parish.

Session 6. Masses with Children, Sunday Celebrations

in the Absence of a Priest, Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration, and other parish celebrations

In this session, participants continue to explore the various liturgical practices of the Church as well as adoration, May Crowning, and the many blessings that may take place in parish life.

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Track Two is scheduled to be presented in Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Winter 2020. Visit www.TEOLC.org for an updated calendar and registration information.

Session 1. Liturgy and the Modern World“[T]he Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel” (Gaudium et spes, 4). In this introductory session, participants will explore the role of the Church’s liturgical celebrations in the context of the world we live in. What does the liturgy teach us about political, social, economic, racial, and ideological disputes? How are we to reconcile our abundant wealth, resources, and economic power with the powerlessness and impoverishment that so many people struggle to survive in?

Session 2. Liturgy and Mission: Evangelization

Christ commissioned his followers to go into the whole world and make disciples. Nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, we are sent forth from every Mass to carry out that mission. Yet, while our mission is clear, it is not always easy to fulfill. The realities of work, family, and everyday life can often distract us from the missionary aspect of our faith. Go and Make Disciples, a document by the bishops of the United States, reminds us that we need to equip our parishioners to fulfill their duty of “bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation.”

Session 3. Liturgical Catechesis and MystagogyThe Eucharistic liturgy is inherently catechetical. Mystagogical catechesis leads the faithful to a deeper understanding of and communion with the Paschal Mystery. It teaches us how to live as Christians in this world, and it forms us to live in a constant state of mission. Participants in this session will reflect on the actions, words, and songs of the Mass, inviting us to explore the familiar saying: lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi, “as we worship, so we believe, so we live.”

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Track ThreeLITURGY, LIFE, AND DISCIPLESHIP

Track Three emphasizes the celebration of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life. The topics in this track are particularly appropriate for those with a solid understanding of the liturgy.

Session 4. Liturgy and Social JusticeWe pray at every Mass for the poor and the marginalized, for peace and justice, and then are sent forth from the Lord’s Table to glorify the Lord with our lives. How? By living as we have prayed. We celebrate the liturgy not just for ourselves, but for the world. How does the liturgy call us to full, conscious, and active participation in the life of the world?

Session 5. Liturgy and the Art of CelebratingThe ars celebrandi, “the art of proper celebration,” is “the primary way to foster the participation of the People of God in the sacred rite” (Sacramentum caritatis, 38). Celebrating the liturgy properly is a skill and an art. It seeks to allow Christ to be the artist, the one who is active in the Eucharist, so that our participation becomes a sharing in his actions, his prayer, and in his offering. Directions and instructions for how Christians are to celebrate the Eucharist abound throughout Christian history, including the current edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. What do the ministers who prepare liturgies of all kinds need to know for proper, artful celebration?

Session 6. Liturgical Spirituality

The foundation of liturgical spirituality is the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. Throughout The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy, the life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ has been at the root of our exploration of the Church’s liturgy. The Church’s prayers, seasons, and rites invite us into deeper communion with Christ, forming us into his Mystical Body. In this session, participants will examine how the liturgy not only shapes the interior life, but also affects how we proclaim the Good News in our daily living.

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Track Three is scheduled to be presented in Summer 2020.Visit www.TEOLC.org for an updated calendar and registration information.Future dates will be added.

Session 1. The Principles of Initiation Ministry Initiation into the Christian community is a process of evangelization, community involvement, catechesis, and formation in the mission of Christ that culminates in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation. This session will provide an overview of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, which describes the journey that those seeking Baptism undertake within the parish community and with its guidance.

Session 2. The Responsibility of All the Baptized: Conversion, Catechesis, Initiation, Reception into Full Communion

During this session, we will reflect on the periods and rites presented in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those seeking Baptism and on similar processes adapted for uncatechized Catholics and for uncatechized Christians from other denominations who wish to become Catholic. We will also explore how the Church envisions that the entire parish community, in addition to the designated initiation ministers, “must help the candidates and catechumens throughout the process of initiation” (RCIA, 9).

Session 3. The Period of the Precatechumenate and the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens

The Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate is a time for the inquirers to ask questions, to meet the community, to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to share their stories and hear others’ stories of coming to faith. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens is the first public step that the inquirers will take as they begin to discern more deeply the call to follow Christ united with his Church. At the same time, the members of the parish joyfully welcome the new catechumens into the community and promise to walk with them and model for them Christian discipleship.

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RCIA

In addition to the three tracks found in the ECL course catalog, Liturgy Training Publications has also developed a specialized track for participants to receive an overview of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. These sessions will serve as a foundation to implementing the vision of Christian initiation ministry in a parish setting.

Session 4. The Period of the CatechumenateThis session explores the second stage of the Christian initiation process, the Period of the Catechumenate. The General Directory for Catechesis describes the catechumenate as a “process of formation and a true school of faith” (19) where the catechumens are apprentices of the baptized members of the community. This session will cover the four aspects of catechumenal formation: [1] catechesis accommodated to the liturgical year, [2] the Christian way of life, [3] suitable liturgical rites, and [4] apprenticeship in the apostolic life and mission of the Church.

Session 5. The Rite of Election and the Period of Purification and Enlightenment During the Rite of Election, or Enrollment of Names, the catechumens are declared to be the “elect,” those called by God to the sacraments of initiation. This second major step takes place at the beginning of Lent and inaugurates the Period of Purification and Enlightenment, a time of intense spiritual reflection as the elect prepare to embrace the Paschal Mystery through the sacraments of initiation. This session will also cover the scrutinies, presentations of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, and the optional Rite of Sending, which occurs before the Rite of Election.

Session 6. Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation and the Period of MystagogyThis session will cover the third step in the Christian initiation process: the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. At the Easter Vigil, the elect will receive “pardon for their sins” and will be “graced with adoption as children of God” (RCIA, 206). This session will also survey the final stage of the initiation process; the Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy. It is a time for the neophytes, the newly baptized, and the entire baptized faithful to deepen their understanding of the Paschal Mystery: the life, suffering, death, and Resurrection of Christ.

The Essentials of Christian Initiation is included under LTP’s Catechumeneon initiative. To registerfor this course, and to learn about other training opportunities, visit www.Catechumeneon.org.

Liturgy Training Publications continues its commitment to training parish leaders and catechumenal ministers with its initiative, Catechumeneon. The naming of this initiative is inspired by an ancient Greek word used to describe the meeting place for catechumens; it is a place for prayer, study, and formation. LTP’s Catechumeneon is a collection of training

and print resources focused on Christian initiation and designed to assist parishes with understanding and implementing the vision of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

/kat-uh-kyew-meh-NAY-on/n: a gathering place or room for catechumenal formation and prayer

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An Introduction to the RCIA is scheduled to be presented in Winter 2019, Fall 2019, and Winter 2020. Registration will be available in October 2018.

have served in parish or diocesan settings and have been trained in adult learning methods and virtual training platforms.

will encourage participants to reflect on their experience and share their thoughts with their classmates.

Presenters are able to respond in real time to questions posed by participants.

from around the country (and world) enhance the coursework by bringing their experience and knowledge to the virtual classroom.

Your Virtual Classroom

Presenters

Discussion questions

Q & A

Attendees

The Adobe Connect platform offers an engaging interface for virtual learning. Before attending a course, participants will need to conduct a diagnostic test and download a simple add-in for the application to work properly. Online orientation sessions will be available before the first session of each course.

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To participate in a virtual course of ECL, you will need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection. During the sessions, attendees will need to be able to hear the audio through their computer (a headset, ear buds, or external computer speakers) but will not need a microphone or webcam. Participants will be expected to engage in discussion questions (via chat windows) and will be able to communicate with the presenters and classmates by typing messages using their computer keyboard.

Student Access to the ECL Website

What You’ll Need

To enhance one’s learning experience, participants registered for a virtual course have access to additional components of the www.TEOCL.org website.

Presenters will encourage participants to interact with each other throughout the week on an online discussion board.

Class Forum

Videos include interviews with notable liturgists and additional reading assignments will help participants understand various theological concepts.

Supplemental Information

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Who can benefit from participating in The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy (ECL)?ECL is designed for anyone who requires a basic understanding of Catholic liturgy. It will greatly benefit music directors, accompanists, cantors, and especially those who are new to Catholic music ministry. Additionally, those who serve as liturgy committee members, sacristans, RCIA coordinators and team members, catechists, and teachers in Catholic schools will find this course valuable to them in their ministries.

What is the structure and content of ECL?ECL will offer instruction and formation in the fundamentals of Catholic liturgy and the essential liturgical documents. Presented in three tracks, ECL sessions will cover key theological concepts, necessary historical foundations, and the practical skills needed to become a pastoral liturgist. Track One will cover the basics of liturgy. Track Two will survey the sacramental rites and other parish liturgies. Track Three will dive deeper into liturgy and its connection to life and discipleship. A Christian Initiation track will explore the periods and steps of the catechumenal process as articulated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

In what format is ECL offered?ECL will be offered virtually throughout the year and live at the annual NPM convention. The online course will be offered periodically and will consist of six ninety-minute sessions. Participants will be assigned texts to read and videos to watch between the weekly sessions. The sessions will be conducted through the interactive Adobe Connect Platform. Participants will engage in open discussion and reflection throughout the presentation and will enjoy an effective and enriching formation experience in which they learn not only from the presenter, but from one another as well. Participants in the online course will receive access to a special website where they will have access to special downloads, videos, and a class forum/ blog.

There are three tracks to ECL. Must I follow a sequential pattern of courses? Yes. The second and third track of ECL will build on the principles presented in the preceding track.

How long will ECL take to complete?By mixing in-person and virtual attendance, participants may be able to complete the three tracks of ECL within as little as a year. At the annual NPM convention, the tracks will rotate each year. If track two or three is scheduled for an annual convention, the previous track/s will be made available virtually.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Will ECL lead to an academic degree?The ECL course will impart a basic, working knowledge of the Church’s liturgy with costs and schedules accommodating to individuals who wish to further their knowledge and advance their skills in offering leadership for parish worship. No college credits are earned by participating in ECL, but the series may inspire some participants to seek further education in the field.

Will I be awarded a certificate upon completion of each individual track?NPM will award a certificate of completion for those who attend all three tracks of ECL. Upon request, LTP is able to provide a record of attendance indicating the times a participant logged in to a live session. Additionally, dioceses may choose to use the ECL training course toward their own certification programs.

What if I miss a session?All sessions will be recorded. If you miss a week or two, a link to the recording will be sent to you upon request. All links will expire one week following the final session of the track. Watching a recorded session will not appear on your record of attendance.

Why are Liturgy Training Publications (LTP) and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) collaborating on ECL?At the center of their mission, LTP and NPM are committed to ongoing liturgical formation and training. Both have sought ways to help pastoral musicians fulfill their mandate from Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship to “develop a working familiarity with the requirements of each rite through a study of the liturgical books themselves” (129). After years of research and consultation, this partnership between LTP and NPM became an evident path forward. By working in partnership with LTP, NPM can bring to its constituency a virtual training opportunity that draws from LTP’s vast pool of presenters, authors, print resources, and media components.

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New and Experienced Music Directors

Cantors and Accompanists

Liturgy Committee Members

Participants in Lay Ministry & Diaconal Formation

Parish Staff Members

...anyone who wants to learn more about the liturgy.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE RCIA

Learn more and register at www.Catechumeneon.org

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES IN ROMAN CATHOLIC LITURGY

A six-week virtual training course

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So that all may… “become thoroughly imbued with the spirit and power of the liturgy.”

—Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14

Online and In-Person training for:

ALSO AVAILABLE