Liturgy & Worship

News from the Office of Worship

***COVID-19 UPDATES***: For up-to-date information about the Diocese of Burlington’s response to the outbreak of COVID-19, including restrictions and adjustments mandated for liturgical celebrations, please click here.

Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most holy Eucharist. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

St. Joseph’s Day Celebration at the Cathedral: The Cathedral of Saint Joseph, in partnership with the World Apostolate of Fatima – Our Lady’s Blue Army – is hosting an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary for Vocations, and Mass on March 19 beginning at 5:30 pm. The traveling Virgin Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at our Cathedral from March 7-21. During this mission, we pray in a special way for the priests and seminarians of our diocese as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Protector of the Church. Please see this flyer for more details; you are encouraged to post the flyer in your churches as well.

5:30 – 6:30 pm: Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; Confessions

6:30 pm: Rosary

7:00 pm: Mass for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph

Lector Training 2.0: As a follow-up to the Lector Training that was offered throughout the diocese last year, the Worship Office offers Lector Training 2.0. This skills-based training is offered at individual churches and cover issues such as pacing, vocal energy (volume), tone, inflection, body posture, and microphone use. The material in this session is meant to build on the previous training session which focused preparing the readings for proclamation. Churches that wish to schedule this follow-up session are urged to contact Josh Perry in the Office of Worship.

A Cause for Sainthood – Burlington’s First Bishop: In collaboration with the Diocesan Archivist, Kathleen Messier, a presentation titled A Cause for Sainthood – Burlington’s First Bishop is being offered to parishes this fall. The presentation includes:
– The path to sainthood – Who? Why? What? How? When? Exploring the process of canonization in the Catholic Church
– A biographical sketch of Burlington’s first Bishop, +Louis de Goësbriand
– A curated display of artifacts belonging to or used by Bishop de Goësbriand
– Comments, questions, and answers
Parishes interested in hearing more or scheduling this presentation should contact the Archives at archives@vermontcatholic.org.

Chrism Mass: The Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 11:00 am at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. Join Bishop Coyne and the priests of the Diocese of Burlington for the annual Mass at which the priests will renew the promises they made at their ordination and the holy oils used throughout the year in the sacramental life of the Church will be blessed.

*NEW THIS YEAR* Park at St. Anthony’s Church in Burlington and take a shuttle van to the Cathedral. Shuttles will run from 9:30 am – 10:45 am, and again following the Mass until 2:00 pm.

Parish representatives (priests or lay persons designated by their pastors) may pick up the holy oils for their church(es) following the Chrism Mass in the lower chapel.

A reception follows in the church hall.

Diocesan Liturgical Policies and Guidelines

The Diocesan Office of Worship and the Diocesan Worship Commission have been charged with working to update various diocesan policies and guidelines concerning liturgy, including guidelines for liturgical ministers, music, the celebration of matrimony and funerals, art and environment and Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. As these policies are approved, they will be posted here.

Liturgical Guidelines for the Diocese of Burlington

• Sacramental Guidelines
• Diocesan Liturgical Calendar
• Diocesan Guidelines for Music in the Liturgy
• Diocesan Guidelines for the Celebration of Marriage
• Diocesan Guidelines for the Celebration of Funerals
• Diocesan Guidelines for Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
• Diocesan Guidelines for Art and Environment in Worship
• Diocesan Guidelines for Confirmation – 2020
• Preparing Parish Masses with the Bishop as Celebrant

Liturgical Ministry Guidelines for the Diocese of Burlington

• Diocesan Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Diocesan Guidelines for Lectors
• Diocesan Guidelines for Altar Servers

Forms

• Planning Sheet for the Celebration of Mass with the Bishop
• Rite of Election Registration Form and Information for 2020
• Adult Confirmation Registration Form
• Order Form 
  • Prayer for the Return of a Non-Practicing Catholic Pew/Holy Cards
  • Bishop deGoesbriand Holy Card
  • A Guide to the Celebration of Mass for Visitors and Guests Worship Aid Booklet

Online Resources

Liturgical Catechesis & Formation

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was the first formal document issued by the Second Vatican Council. The document lays out the vision the council had for the reform of the liturgy which is still being realized today. 

General Instruction of the Roman Missal: This detailed document contains the directives for how to celebrate the Mass. 

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship: The Bishop’s Committee on Divine Worship is the national committee of bishops responsible for all things having to do with the liturgy in the United States and assists the bishops, both collectively and individually, in liturgical matters. They also have a helpful and extensive Prayer and Worship Page that links to many articles on the Mass and other liturgical celebrations of the Catholic Church.

Resources for Lectors: The preparation that occurs in the week prior to one proclaiming the Word of God at Mass is an essential part of the Lector ministry and is as important as the proclamation itself. Throughout 2018, regional workshops on Preparing, Praying with, and Practicing the readings have taken place throughout the diocese. A video of this two hour workshop is available; email Josh Perry for instructions on how to access the video. A list of additional Lector Resources are also available to download.

Funeral Resources: During the month of November, the Church traditionally remembers in a special way those who have died. This is an opportune time to learn more about the Funeral Liturgy the Church offers to the faithful when they die. The articles below provide some initial background on these liturgies. Please contact the Office of Worship or your local pastor if you have particular questions.

A Personal Reflection on the Funeral Mass

November as a Month of Remembering

The Funeral Rites: Three Stages of Prayer

Symbols in the Funeral Mass

Gathering in the Presence of the Body – A model prayer service when the family first gathers before a wake or funeral service.

Order of Visiting a Cemetery – A model prayer service that can be used when visiting a grave.

Various Prayers for the Month of November

Liturgical Music and Musicians

Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship is a document that provides guidance for the use of music in the liturgy. The document was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops in 2007 and is a helpful resource for clergy and liturgical musicians, especially those responsible for coordinating the music at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. A study guide, published by the National Pastoral Musicians group, is also available.

Liturgical Art and Environment

Built of Living Stones, published by the United States bishops in 2000, is a guide that helps parishes plan for the building and renovation of a church. Also included in the document are guidelines and reflections on the use and place of sacred art in worship as well as preparing the church environment for the different liturgical seasons.