Suzanne O’Rourke
6 April 2011
Liturgy committee members from parishes throughout the archdiocese gathered in the middle of March 2011 for the first of three Pastoral Area Liturgy Support (PALS) retreat weekends.
This is the second time this course has been run and according to programme director Fr John Greally, the current intake includes a wealth of knowledge, experience and sensitivity for the church’s liturgy.
The weekend consisted of prayer, reflection, learning and sharing and included opportunity for some lively fellowship and informal discussion. A key element of the programme is the development of strong working relationships between parishes so that ideas and resources might be shared where possible.
‘It is important that those preparing the liturgy realise they are not alone,’ Fr John said. ‘Each will know their own parish community well and while it is not a matter of changing things, there is merit in examining each element of how we each celebrate and worship God through our liturgy.’
Apart from the three retreat weekends, course participants are required to attend a series of workshops and talks later in the year which look at a range of liturgical experiences.
The next two retreat weekends are in September and November and will again be held at the Magnificat Community’s Bethlehem Retreat Centre at Cross Creek. Apart from the themes each retreat covers, PALS participants will be looking forward to the hospitality of this peaceful rural setting.
For more information on PALS contact Archdiocesan Pastoral Services (04) 496 1777