Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – On September 16-21, the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo will host a “Asia Liturgy Convention,” organized by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, will be held in Sri Lanka from 16th September to 21st September 2008.
His Excellency the Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary General of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments, says “the Holy Father is very keen to ensure the proper celebration of the liturgy, so that the celebration of the liturgy becomes true living out of our faith. Liturgy is the key for any church renewal. What you celebrate is what you believe and what we believe depends on how we will live.”
The Secretary, Archbishop Ranjith, further noted that the Vatican II Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium gives us the guidelines to the celebration of sacred liturgy and some misinterpretations of these guidelines have led to all kinds of abuses in the Catholic liturgy in various parts of the world. This is why the Church is hoping to place more attention on the manner of celebrating the liturgy on the different continents and is organizing several regional Conventions.
The first Liturgy Convention was held in Ghana, for the Africa Region. This is the 2nd Liturgy Convention, for Asia and will be presided by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments together with Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the Secretary General of the Congregation.
A delegation of 55 (including priests, religious, and laity) from 19 countries in Asia, in addition to the officials of the Holy See, and delegates from the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences) will participate in the Convention.
The Liturgy Convention includes talks, group discussions and workshops, presentations of the reports of the National Commissions for Sacred Liturgy, explaining the experiences, difficulties, and proposals from each Committee and forming a basis for discussion, with the hope that the Convention will become “a source of closer communication and dialogue between the Holy Father and the continents.”
Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo, is scheduled to celebrate the Opening Mass on 16th September and His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze will preside at the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration on Sunday the 21st September.
The Church in Sri Lanka will take advantage of the opportunity to call to mind, in the presence of the Asian churches and the international community, the situation of the civil conflict that plagues the nation and that is causing great suffering for the country’s civilians, launching an appeal for peace and reconciliation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/9/2008)
