Fonds ARCAE-110 - Office of Liturgy Fonds

The Liturgy Commission was first established by Archbishop Anthony Jordan in 1968 to study and promote effective liturgy throughout the archdiocese and to establish ongoing leadership in liturgy within the Archdiocese of Edmonton. From the beginning the commission included both clerical and lay members who had an interest and knowledge in liturgy. In keeping with the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, the Liturgy Commission’s mission was to promote full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations throughout the Archdiocese.

Archbishop MacNeil reaffirmed the Commission’s mandate at the time of his installation as Archbishop of Edmonton in 1973.

The commission was organized into the following committees: Executive Committee, Rites/Celebrations Committee, Archdiocese Music Committee, Art and Architecture Committee, Liturgy and Justice Committee and the Education Committee. Through its various sub-committees, the Commission was concerned with baptism, first communion, confirmation, funeral music, art, architecture, and justice with respect to liturgy.

The commission provided workshops for parishes, ran liturgy conferences, published resource materials, maintained a resource library, planned and coordinated archdiocesan liturgical celebrations, and sponsored the Summer School in Liturgical Studies in conjunction with Newman Theological College. Other events organized by the commission included an annual Chrism Mass held in the Basilica, the liturgy for the 75th Anniversary of the Province of Alberta, and the liturgy for the Papal Visit in 1984.

The following individuals held the position of Chair of the Liturgy Commission: Father Emmett Crough (1968-1973), Dr. Frank Henderson (1973-1974), Father Richard Bednar (1974-1979), Mrs. Patricia O’Brian (1979-1980), Brother Donatus Vervoort (1980-1984), Father Peter Sharpe (1984-1985), Mrs. Margaret O’Connell (1985-1989), Father Karl Raab (1990-1994), Rev. Don MacDonald (1994-1997), Rev. Leo Hofmann (1997-1999), Rev. Robert Colburn, CSSp (1999-2001), Rev. John Malazdrewich, omi (2001-2002), Rev. Paul Kavanagh (2002-2004).

In April 2004, Archbishop Collins announced that the Liturgy Commission would be known as the Office of Liturgy and Rev. Paul Kavanagh assumed the position of Director of Liturgy.

In 2013 as a result of the operational review, Archbishop Richard Smith announced that the Office of Liturgy would change its name to the Office of Divine Worship to better reflect the Vatican documents and changes implemented in the Roman Curia by Pope Francis. This did not represent a functional or reporting change. Rev. Paul Kavanagh continues as the Director.