Prayer and Worship Commission

Each Sunday we are invited to respond to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Our spirituality gives depth and texture to our words; it is the lived expression of the faith we profess. A living spirituality signifies a living faith, even as it witness to the presence of Jesus Christ in our midst. Such a spirituality is nourished by scriptures and the sacraments and in turn it manifests itself in prayer and service.

We often speak in the words of the Second Vatican Council, saying the liturgy is the “source and summit” of the Christian Life. Worship is central to our spiritual life as a Christian people. Through our worship we celebrate God’s continual presence among us. The challenge to every parish is to involve the gathered community in full, conscious, active participation, a challenge that requires thoughtful preparation and continual training.

1. Provide opportunities for deepening prayer life and reflection on the life of the Spirit.
2. Be sensitive to how various groups express their faith in distinctive religious devotions and practices.
3. Be conscious that your spiritual activities reflect the wealth of Catholic heritage and diverse cultures within your parish.
4. Enhance the environment to further support the flourishing for your spiritual life, both as individuals and as a faith community.
5. Speak the message of the Gospel clearly in your educational programs, liturgical services and in your gatherings as people of faith.
6. Promote spiritual renewal in your parish through movements, encounters and a variety of programs.
7. Give witness to your faith in the expression of your daily activities. Indicate areas of conversion that need to be addressed.
8. Respond in practice to the needs around you. Provide opportunities and invite all members to share their gifts and talents in service.

Liturgy:

1. Assure that Sunday worship invites all of the community to prayer and action.
2. Create a parish liturgy committee representative of the diversity of the parish, formed by liturgical documents and able to evaluate the liturgical life of your parish.
3. Provide preaching that relates to the scriptures of the Sunday and to the lives of the people living here.
4. Train liturgical ministers who represent the diversity of your parish in age, gender and ethnicity.
5. Develop liturgical space for celebrating the Eucharist in accord with liturgical guidelines.
6. Utilize the formation days and resources offered by the diocesan liturgical office.

Hospitality:

1. Encourage parishioners as the Body of Christ to follow the example of Jesus in sharing our love, our welcome, our giving.
2. Develop a hospitality ministry that organizes coffee hours after Mass each weekend or other events similar to this.
3. Provide dances and community meals.
4. Train home visitors to follow up with newly registered parishioners to welcome them, to explain ministries and activities that might enjoy and to invite them to serve in ministries that fit them.
5. Promote communication throughout the parish. This is a key part of hospitality.