Western Conference on Liturgy

In 1969, diocesan chairmen from across Canada met in Pittsburgh, PA in conjunction with the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. Prior to that time, there had been unofficial gatherings, with the Canadian network usually meeting one evening for their own needs. By 1969, London, Halifax, Sault Ste. Marie, Winnipeg, Montreal, Edmonton and Regina had excellent and active diocesan commissions.

After the establishment of the National Liturgical Office in 1969, it became clear that there were four natural divisions in the liturgical work: Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic area. The most suitable solution was to start three regional Anglophone sectors, and let local needs be the principal subject matter. Hence, the Western Liturgical Conference was formed in 1971. The purpose of the Conference was to promote and facilitate exchanges between its members, assume tasks requested by the Western Catholic Conference, be aware of the liturgical needs of the Church in Western Canada and communicate with other Liturgical offices. The group held bi-annual meetings until 1973, since then they have been held annually. The membership of the conference is three-fold: Diocesan Representatives, Members at Large, and Associate Members. The Diocesan Representatives are appointed by the Bishop and have voting power. Members at large are appointed based on their expertise for three years, but do not have voting rights. Associate Members are all other groups, persons, or businesses interested in liturgy, who are also not voting members.

Albert Lafreniere, OMI and Martin Brodner, OSB were the first leaders in the West, and Edmonton was the central meeting point, since it had ready access to the northern areas. There were several meetings held with the catechists and social action leaders, though the ideal of a common front never really caught fire.

The Atlantic region conducted liturgical study days every two years and drew crowds of heroic proportions. Since these “days” were held at different centers, the local or regional organizers had the experience of planning and conducting educational activities on a grand scale, and the result was positive in every way.

The Ontario region, led by London (Msgr. John O’Donnell) and Sault Ste. Marie (Fr. Jim Hutton) met annually in Toronto. Its several publications dealing with penance, death and funerals, and music, were of use to Canadians everywhere.

Three bishops oversaw the liturgy at this time: Michael C. O’Neill in the West, James Hayes in the Atlantic area, and Emmett Carter in Ontario. George Cardinal Flahiff in Winnipeg was a constant help, a person of vision and the soul of kindness.

All three areas eventually developed a strong scholastic arm: St. Paul’s University in Ottawa started a summer diploma program, followed shortly by Newman Theological College in Edmonton and the Atlantic School of Theology.

The Summer School in Liturgical Studies at Newman Theological College commenced in July 1971. The courses were based in theology and catechetics and had two routes: a thematic approach with each discipline responsible for one week out of the four, and a Graduate stream which offered two academic courses from the Newman Theology program. The Summer School offered courses until 2008. Due to decreased enrollment it was cancelled and did not continue in the summer of 2009.

The regional conference came up against the hard facts of Canadian ecclesiastical life: the problems of distance, language, clergy resignation, episcopal laissez-faire, and Roman mysteries. But the work kept going, never in a sensational way, but it kept going, nonetheless. Liturgy is hard work, and over the twenty-five years since their inception, the regions have contributed to the refinement of Vatican II ideals for the local church.