PARISH LITURGY ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 1 12/9/14 PARISH LITURGY ASSESSMENT Parish Name Date City Committee This parish liturgy assessment is for parish leaders, liturgical ministers, faith formation leaders, and liturgy committee members. It is designed to help parish planners identify areas of strength on which to build, to identify areas of needed growth and, consequently, develop new goals and objectives. The assessment statements are adopted from various Church documents. 1. Code of Canon Law (CCL) 2. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (CSL) 3. General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 4. Appendix to the General Instruction for Dioceses of the United States (GIRM) 5. Lectionary for the Mass: Introduction 6. General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar (GNLY) 7. Directory for Masses with Children (DMC) 8. Music in Catholic Worship (MCW) 9. Liturgical Music Today (LMT) 10. Environment and Art in Catholic Worship (EACW) 11. Archdiocesan Policies and Procedures on Sacraments, Liturgy, Spiritual Growth CATEGORIES A. PLANNING AND PREPARING B. ENVIRONMENT FOR WORSHIP C. GUIDELINES FOR LITURGICAL MINISTRIES D. MINISTRY OF THE ASSEMBLY E. USHERS/MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY F. SERVERS G. MUSIC MINISTERS H. ENHANCING GOD S PRESENCE IN THE WORD I. ENHANCING GOD S PRESENCE IN THE EUCHARIST J. GENERAL GUIDELINES RATING SYSTEM Before each statement, write the number (below) that best reflects your parish experience. Total the column at the end. To determine the average rating, divide the total by the number of statements in each section. 1. Never - poor 2. Sometimes - low, needs help 3. Frequently - fair 4. Almost always - very good 5. Always excellent

2 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 2 12/9/14 A. PLANNING AND PREPARING The parish has a Liturgy Committee that prepares liturgical celebrations and rites. The parish has a liturgy coordinator. The Liturgy Committee gives adequate time and attention to prepare parish Sunday liturgies and special liturgies such as Holy Days, the Triduum, Reconciliation, parish feast day, morning, and evening prayer. The presider participates in the planning of Sunday and Holy Day liturgies. Musicians, in collaboration with the presider and other liturgy planners, choose music appropriate to the readings, the liturgical seasons, and the singing ability of the assembly. An attempt is made to meet the needs of children, youth, and persons with disabilities. There are regular opportunities for continuing education for members of the Liturgy Committee. Liturgy Committee members are encouraged by parish leaders to attend deanery and archdiocesan workshops and the parish financially supports their attendance. The Liturgy Committee uses the Introductions to the Lectionary and the Roman Missal (General Instruction on the Roman Missal GIRM) for on-going education at each meeting. TOTAL RATING Planning and Preparing B. ENVIRONMENT FOR WORSHIP The church building is uncluttered, inside and out, and radiates a sense of peace, beauty, and dignity. There is quality and appropriate use of art, plants, color, and symbols. The church has a gathering space where people can gather before and after liturgies. The seating/sanctuary arrangement in our church fosters a genuine sense of a community gathered in prayer, not a separation of presider and liturgical ministers from the people. The church has a permanent baptismal font placed where it can be seen and used by all and is designed to allow for baptism by immersion of infants. The holy oils are displayed within the worship space. The sound system allows the assembly to hear the proclamations and participate in the celebration and is not too loud and overbearing. Assistive listening devices are available. The church and all areas of the worship space are accessible to persons with disabilities.

3 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 3 12/9/ The altar looks like a table and is an appropriate size for the sanctuary and the ambo is a worthy table of the Word. The song leader s podium is clearly minor in relationship to the ambo. There is room for processions and various rites in baptism, funeral liturgies, weddings and initiation rites (RCIA). The parish uses a well-designed processional cross for the liturgy. Vestments are beautiful in color and design, simple, and yet fitting for the sacred. Vestments and altar linens are kept clean and wrinkle free. The vessels used during liturgies are beautiful in design and artistry. TOTAL RATINGS - Environment AVERAGE RATING C. GUIDELINES FOR LITURGICAL MINISTRIES 5. All ministries are viewed as serving and empowering the assembly s worship. Parish leaders make frequent invitation to the assembly for new liturgical ministers. Liturgical ministers are baptized Catholic men, women, boys, and girls. Since the church is a community of believers, young and old, of all races and nationalities, fill ministerial roles for Sunday liturgy. Liturgical ministers are encouraged to continue learning about the liturgy, the Bible, the sacraments, and Catholic spirituality through local and archdiocesan in-services as well as personal prayer and study. The liturgical ministers are scheduled well in advance so that each person clearly knows the date and time for which they are responsible. There are always enough liturgical ministries at every service. All liturgical ministers are attentive, they visibly listen to the readings, and they take part in prayers, song, and gestures. TOTAL RATING Guidelines for Liturgical Ministers

4 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 4 12/9/14 D. MINISTRY OF THE ASSEMBLY The assembly participates fully, actively, and consciously in prayer, song, and gesture during the liturgy. Assembly members are hospitable, reach out to strangers, and make room for one another in the assembly. The assembly receive monthly instruction on the their role in the liturgy through paragraphs in the bulletin or short announcements at Mass. The assembly is attentive during Mass; they visibly listen to the readings, and they take part in prayers, song, and gestures. The presiders and other ministers are available to greet and talk with people at the church door before and after Mass. The parish plans regular opportunities to meet and socialize after Mass. The assembly leaves Mass with a sense of mission, to live according to the gospel mandate. Parish leaders provide opportunities for parishioners to discuss and assess parish worship including the homily. TOTAL RATING - Ministry of the Assembly E. USHERS/MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY Hospitality ministry is open to men, women, and youth. Ushers/ministers of hospitality welcome all and strive to create a sense of warmth and community. Ushers/ministers of hospitality have a sensitivity to the rhythm of worship and are careful not to seat people during the readings or during rituals. Ushers/ministers of hospitality take part actively in the actions of the assembly praying, singing, and gesturing. Ushers/ministers of hospitality provide considerate and gentle direction to the movement of people as needed. Ushers are trained to assist those with disabilities and those who become ill during worship. Parish leaders offer an annual spiritual renewal and study day for usher/ministers of hospitality. TOTAL RATING Ushers /Ministers of Hospitality

5 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 5 12/9/14 F. SERVERS Servers are trained thoughtfully and given an in-service on the structure of the liturgy. Their teachers show them how to do their tasks as they assist the presider during the liturgy. Servers model the activity of the assembly by praying, singing, gesturing, and maintaining a focus on what is going on at every moment. Servers are seated in the assembly instead of beside the presider s chair. Servers represent a cross section of the community as in archdiocesan policy (males, females, youths and adults). Servers are vested. Cassock and surplice are not used. Parish leaders offer an annual spiritual renewal and study day for servers. TOTAL RATING - Servers G. MUSIC MINISTERS 5. Ministers of music show evidence of solid musical skill and well-formed liturgical spirituality. The parish provides a budget for musicians, for accompaniment books, new music, music stands, extra lighting, organ/piano maintenance, and uncluttered storage areas. Liturgy planners and musicians plan the assembly s repertoire of liturgical music using repetition and set goals to learn new music each Liturgical Year. Musicians teach new music well before the liturgy. Musicians and instruments (including the organ) are in an area of the church where they can be seen clearly as part of the assembly, and function as leaders of liturgical music. The parish has attractively bound hymnals contained with quality liturgical music. Parish leaders offer an annual spiritual renewal and study day for music ministers. TOTAL RATING Music Ministers

6 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 6 12/9/14 H. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD Lectors proclaim the Scriptures with knowledge of the text and proclaim with clarity and conviction. Lectors prepare the readings well with the use of the Bible and Lector workbook. The Lectionary or the Book of the Gospels is carried in the entrance procession. The Lectionary and Book of the Gospels are handled with reverence before, during, and after the readings. Two different lectors proclaim the first and second readings. The homily draws from Scripture to proclaim the works of God with a simple and clear message for adults, youth, and children. The Prayers of the Faithful are brief and to the point, written for the needs of the Church, the world, community, and parish. Parish leaders offer an annual spiritual renewal and study day for Lectors. TOTAL RATING The Word I. THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST Eucharistic ministers are trained in the spirituality of the Eucharistic minister and instructed on the tasks of the ministry step by step. The presider uses a variety of Eucharistic Prayers throughout the year. Communion under both kinds is part of each celebration of the Eucharist. Communion bread is large enough to be seen by all and to be broken and distributed to some of the faithful. Consecrated communion bread distributed at Mass was consecrated at that Mass (versus taking previously consecrated bread from the tabernacle). Leaders schedule enough Eucharistic ministers for smooth distribution of Holy Communion and there are two cups per one bread station. Eucharistic ministers are encouraged to bring communion to the sick from the liturgy, to become involved with ministry to the sick, and to receive special training for this ministry. Parish leaders offer an annual spiritual renewal and study day for Eucharistic ministers. TOTAL RATING The Eucharist

7 Parish Liturgy Assessment Page 7 12/9/14 J. GENERAL GUIDELINES The sacraments, especially baptism, are celebrated communally with the faithful of the parish present to represent the local Church. The sacrament of the sick is celebrated seasonally at Mass or at another communal celebration. The presider leads the assembly in reflective silence after invitations to prayer, after each reading, after the homily, and after communion. The presider fosters community by his manner of leading the presidential prayers. The altar and ambo are the primary focus in the liturgy. Additional Sunday Masses are added only if needed due to inadequate space to accommodate the entire parish at one celebration. Annually, parish leaders re-access attendance and discuss the possibility of eliminating Mass times that are not well attended. The church building and grounds are cleaned and maintained twice annually. TOTAL RATING General Guidelines GOAL SETTING The assessment of parish liturgy is a prerequisite for future planning and goal setting. Three areas of greatest strength in the worshiping community Notes Three areas to grow and strengthen Notes General goals and objectives to address areas of growth Notes