PRESS RELEASE

Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Euntes parate nobis Pascha (Le 22,8)

Pathways of liturgical formation for ordained ministers and lay faithful, Rome, 6-9 February 2024

From Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 February 2024, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments will be convened in Plenary Assembly at the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, on the theme “Euntes parate nobis Pascha (Le 22:8): pathways of liturgical formation for ordained ministers and lay faithful”.

The meeting will be attended by all the Members of the Dicastery, together with some Consultors, who will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing of liturgical formation in the Church today.

The intention is to explore the theme of liturgical formation sixty years after the promulgation of the Apostolic Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, outlining practical pathways based on the indications contained in the Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi, published in June 2022, in which Pope Francis affirms:

“The non-acceptance of the liturgical reform, as also a superficial understanding of it, distracts us from the obligation of finding responses to the question that I come back to repeating: how can we grow in our capacity to live in full the liturgical action? How do we continue to let ourselves be amazed at what happens in the celebration under our very eyes? We are in need of a serious and dynamic liturgical formation”.

The Plenary will aim not only to highlight the importance of liturgical formation, but also to provide bishops with practical suggestions to develop pastoral projects in their dioceses, with the objective of putting into practice the reflections contained in the papal document.

The meeting will open with a greeting and prologue from the prefect of the Dicastery, His Eminence Cardinal Arthur Roche, and with an introduction from the secretary, Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M.

The discussion of the members will revolve around three reports:

Liturgical formation from Sacrosanctum Concilium to Desiderio desideravi.

Mystagogues for the People of God: What liturgical formation for ordained ministers? An experience: theological formation at Mount Angel Seminary (Oregon)

The liturgy is the “primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit" (SC 14). Pathways of liturgical formation for the people of God.

The lectures will be followed by moments of reflection, prayer and discussion in the general assembly and in groups (Circuli minores).

The Plenary will also be an opportunity for communion in liturgical prayer, presided over by members of the Dicastery. The participants of the Plenary will be received in audience by the Holy Father.