By Bridget Chamberlain
The inaugural graduates of the CEOWA Certificate of Liturgy program were commissioned and blessed at a ceremony in March.
Sr Catherine Brophy from the Woodvale parish, Sheelagh Dixon from the Armadale parish and Emma Nofal from Lumen Christi College were presented with their Certificates and are eager to implement their new learning in their work in their schools and parishes.
The Certificate of Liturgy program is designed for all those engaged in liturgical planning and supervision in parishes, schools and institutions and was developed by the Catholic Education Office of WA in close liaison with the Director for Liturgy in the Archdiocese of Perth, Sr Kerry Willison RSM.
The Certificate of Liturgy program aims to foster deeper insights regarding the celebration of liturgy, to present biblical and theological foundations of the Church’s liturgical rites and to provide practical application and training in developing liturgies.
The theological, historical, spiritual, pastoral and canonical principles of liturgy are explored through a range of units.
The program consists of five two-day workshops with either a primary or secondary focus and the completion of two core theological units on prayer and liturgy.
The courses are taught by experienced facilitators drawn from throughout the Archdiocese and supported by staff from the Religious Education and Curriculum Teaching K-12 Team.
Course participants include teachers, catechists, liturgy coordinators, campus ministers and school chaplains.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton commissioned and blessed the graduates and spoke about the vital importance of liturgy to the faith formation of young people and the community in general.
“Liturgy is something that is so essential to the life of a community,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“Good liturgy has to flow out of our love for God – when we do liturgy well we go deep into our own hearts and discover God there.”
Bishop Sproxton also remarked that he hoped that this graduation ceremony would be the first of many.