Fostering spiritual growth through sacred Liturgy, faithful participation

Herald file photo

HOUSTON — The Catholic Church places great importance on sacred Liturgy as the central act of worship, where the faithful have a personal encounter with God and participate in the mysteries of their faith.

The Office of Worship in the Archdiocese has a mission to ensure that the sacred Liturgy remains the primary source of spiritual growth, development of the Church, and encounters with Christ for all faithful.

To fulfill this mission, the Office of Worship serves as a resource center that provides ministry formation opportunities, liturgical materials and guidelines, and parish consultations that support the entire life of faith. The ministry also promotes divine worship and liturgical music in line with Church directives, assists in preparing enriching liturgical celebrations, and fosters sacred art and architecture for worship.

According to the director of the Office of Worship, Adam Brill, assisting parishes with forming their liturgical ministers encourages well-celebrated Liturgies where the faithful can experience an intimate encounter with Christ.

“The largest benefit of the Office of Worship is that we help with all the behind-the-scenes details — the ins and outs of Liturgy — to avoid any confusion caused by rubrics and options,” said Brill. “This allows the clergy of our Archdiocese, especially our episcopal leaders, to be less concerned about these details, but rather, to lead us in prayer with devotion and joy.”

Brill said the Office of Worship conducts workshops that offer comprehensive formation and continuing education opportunities to parish liturgical ministers in both English and Spanish. Additionally, dedicated support is extended to those guiding the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in their respective parishes.

Karina Herrera-Inzunza, who has been involved with the Office of Worship for close to 30 years, first attended training for choirs, lectors and other liturgical roles and remains a devoted volunteer.

“If we want to serve God and our Church, we cannot just give halfway,” said Herrera-Inzunza. “In order to give our very best to the Lord, we need to be properly trained and informed. The Office of Worship is key in instructing our liturgical ministers, which I feel is of utmost importance so every minister in every parish is properly trained.”

As one of 64 ministries supported by the Diocesan Services Fund (DSF), the Office of Worship is an important resource for pastors and parish staff in the Galveston-Houston area. Brill said giving to the annual DSF appeal presents an opportunity for every Catholic to contribute to this crucial ministry and uphold the significance of well-prepared liturgical celebrations in their parish.

“I encourage people to give to the 2023 DSF appeal so that essential ministries like the Office of Worship in the Archdiocese can thrive,” said Brill. “These Archdiocesan offices are a support for parishes, to provide insight from experiences, guidance in times of doubt, and serve as another set of hands to assist those who need it.”

Herrera-Inzunza agrees it is important for the faithful to give to the DSF to ensure parishes have proper Liturgies and ministers that can serve with humility, reverence, and in a uniform manner across the Archdiocese.

“The Office of Worship provides these important resources and guidance for all of our parishes,” said Herrera-Inzunza. “Thanks to the office, we also have such beautiful celebrations with the cardinal and our bishop.”

Brill said to support the growing needs of the faithful in the Archdiocese, the ministry would like to expand and enrich its programs and services. However, it faces challenges due to limited funding and resources.

“Our formation opportunities are limited by the manpower we currently have,” said Brill. “With increased DSF funding, we could allocate resources to further develop formation materials and expand our programs, ultimately creating a comprehensive deep liturgical curriculum to actively involve more people.”

Brill said the Office of Worship also strives to remain aware of emerging needs and changing dynamics that have prompted a shift in the ministry’s approach to serving.
“Due to the vast geographic size of our Archdiocese and multicultural demographics, we have found there is a need for more support and formation opportunities on the ground regionally rather than more centralized programs,” said Brill. “We are hoping to develop more online and hybrid programs to allow us to be present more effectively in individual communities rather than expecting them to come to us.”

To learn more about the Office of Worship and to attend a workshop or training opportunity, go to archgh.org/worship.

To donate to the DSF, go to www.archgh.org/DSF. The DSF supports each of these 64 ministries, whether direct service or education, which require this critical funding to remain in operation. Out of each gift given to DSF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to supporting these ministries.