Focus on the Liturgy

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss the new Year of Grace that begins with the first Sunday of Advent. They break open the theology and spirituality of Advent, exploring the liturgies, the prayers and readings of this great season. They also discuss some of the key symbols of Advent: the Advent wreath, novenas and other devotions, and even Advent hymns.

On November 13th, 3 new auxiliary bishops will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago: Frs. Kevin Birmingham, Jeffery Grob and Robart Lombardo CFR. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss and explore the theology of the Office of Bishop and unpack the richness and symbolic profundity of the Order of Ordination of a Bishop.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) pick up their periodic series of looking at various parts of the Mass. In this broadcast they explore the first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist - the preparatory rites. From the presentation of the gifts and the preparation of the altar, through the preparatory prayers and the prayers over the gifts, they discuss and unpack the actions and the texts of the ritual, uncovering a rich and profound theology and spirituality.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) return to a periodic look at a particular part of the Church’s liturgy. Here they spend the hour exploring the Liturgy of the Word. They look at the theology and spirituality of the Liturgy of Word, its role, its purpose and the image of it being a “dialogue between God and his people” (Saint John Paul II).

During these times we are worshiping and celebrating liturgy in ways we never had before. We have smaller assemblies, we keep distance, we disinfect, and we don’t sing. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) take a look at these health protocols and discuss some of the spiritual connections that we might be able to make. How can we still be present to one another when we have to keep distance? What implications are there for our understanding of the Body of Christ when the liturgical assembly is smaller? These are the questions that Timothy and Todd discuss in this broadcast.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, cohosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) talk with Sr. Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS about her book, “How Deep the Mystery, Meditating on the Words of the Mass,” which is published by Liturgy Training Publications of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Timothy and Todd talk with Sr. Joyce about using various texts from the Roman Missal as a source of prayer as a way to develop one’s understanding of the Mass, and as a way of developing a spirituality around the prayers of the Mass.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss the last days of the Easter Season. They explore the theology and spirituality of the great Solemnities of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost and how these celebrations complete the whole of the Easter Season. They unpack the liturgical texts and the readings to plumb the richness of these holy days.

Broadcasted during the Second Week of the Glorious Season of Easter, this edition of Focus on the Liturgy centers on the theology and spirituality of the season. Co-hosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson talk about the Triduum in the time of Covid-19 and how, even under a stay-at-home order, Catholics can touch into the rich profundity of this Season of New Life.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss how we can maintain a prayer life and a liturgical life during the shelter-in-place period we are all experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss prayer resources, techniques to use to help us feel connected to one another and the greater Church, and they talk specifically about the liturgies of Holy Week.

Airing on Ash Wednesday, this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy explores all the aspect of the Great Season of Lent. Co-hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson discuss the theology of the season, the rites that belong to it – including the RCIA – and the spirituality that guides us during the 40 days.

Over the next 6 months of this new year, Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson will explore the 4 main parts of the Mass. In this broadcast they take a close look at the Introductory Rites, exploring how every part of these rites helps, in some way, to gather the Body of Christ for the great prayer that is the Eucharist.

Our Christmas morning program, this Focus on the Liturgy explores all the liturgical elements of the Solemnity and the season of Christmas. Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson look at the celebrations of the season (Christmas, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord) as well as the traditions and music that mark this wonderful time of the Liturgical Year.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy cohosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) explore the season of Advent. They discuss how the first two weeks of Advent do not point us to Bethlehem, or to the birth Christ, but rather to the return of Christ in Glory at the end of time. In addition, they talk of how this aspect of our faith runs throughout the great season of Advent and is an integral part of the theology and spirituality of the season.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) are joined in the studio by former co-host, Danielle Noe! They discuss the relationship between the Liturgy and Social Justice. The major themes of Catholic Social Teaching are all explored through the lens of the corporate, communal prayer of the Church.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, cohosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson talk about Mary and the Liturgy. Throughout the year there are a number of days on which the Liturgy of the Church commemorates some aspect of the Blessed Virgin Mary – events in her life (e.g., the Annunciation on March 25), or some aspect of Marian Theology (e.g., Mary, Mother of God on January 1) or an apparition of Mary (e.g., Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11). They discuss the liturgical celebration of Mary, a tradition which the Church has held from the earlies years of Christianity.

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the very first document of the Second Vatican Council, in which the Church first called for the renewal of the Liturgical Life of the Church, notes in the Liturgy, Christ is present in 4 main ways. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Hosts Timothy Johnston (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss those four ways that Christ is present: in the Liturgical Assembly, in the Word of God, in the Minister and especially in the Eucharist and Sacraments.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson discuss the theology and the spirituality that is at the heart of Ordinary Time. They discuss the season as one that directs us to and helps focus us on the role of Discipleship into which we, as Catholics, have been baptized. In addition, they discuss the “Theological Feasts” of our liturgical calendar. That is, the feasts that don’t celebrate a Saint, but rather that celebrates a theological tenant of our faith (e.g, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, Christ the King, etc.).

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson discuss the full season of Easter. Exploring the theology of the season, looking at it's structure, and breaking open the great Feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, they reflect on the power and profundity the 50 Day Feast!

It’s Easter Week! Just days ago, the Church has celebrated the most holiest of all our Liturgies – the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Timothy Johnston and Todd Williamson break open these sacred rites and explore the theology and spirituality of them. From the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, through the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and culminating with the Easter Vigil, Timothy and Todd help the listeners to reflect back on what They’ve experience in their parishes.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston, from Liturgy Training Publications, and Todd Williamson, from the Office of Divine Worship, discuss the rites and rituals of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults that are a part of our Lenten journey. Those who are in their final weeks of preparation, before being baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ or before being received into the fullness of the Catholic Church, need our prayers and support. The rites which we celebrate during Lent help them as they move toward Initiation. Timothy and Todd explore the Rite of Election, which takes place at the Cathedral, and the Scrutiny Rites, which are celebrated at parishes all over the Archdiocese.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Timothy Johnston, from Liturgy Training Publications, and Todd Williamson, from the Office of Divine Worship, discuss the great season of Lent! They explore the theology and spirituality of the season and the journey we are called to make during the 40 days. In addition, Timothy and Todd discuss the Sunday Liturgies, the Mass texts and the readings of Lent, as well as some of the symbols, traditions and other practices of the season.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the season of Ordinary Time. In the weeks following the Christmas Season, the Liturgy of the Church presents us with a view of what discipleship and the Christian Life should look like now that we have experienced - again - the Great Mystery of the Incarnation.

This broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy aired the day after Christmas, on the Feast of St. Stephen! Co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the Christmas Season, along with Timothy Johnston (from LTP). Together they break open the theology of the Season, exploring the Nativity, Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. Along the way they discuss the rites and ritual, the symbols, music and texts of Christmas Tide.

We’re on the verge of a brand new Liturgical Year as the first Sunday of Advent approaches! In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the New Year and the season of Advent. They are joined by Timothy Johnston, also from LTP (Liturgy Training Publications) as they discuss the theology of the season, as well as its liturgies, music and symbols.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the last weeks of Ordinary Time. As the Liturgical year winds down we prepare to celebrate the great feasts of All Saints, All Souls and the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, all of which are discussed and explored in this show.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk all about the theology and spirituality of the Church building and the main appointments needed for liturgy. Among other things, they discuss the Altar and the Ambo; the tabernacle and the space for reconciliation. All of the main items that are part of our liturgical life are examined and broken open.

Pope Francis has recently appointed three Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago as Bishops of the Catholic Church! On September 17th, Frs. Ronald Hicks, Mark Bartosic and Robert Casey will be ordained Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson examine the Rite of Ordination of a Bishop. They walk through the Rite and break open the texts, the ancient gestures and the different liturgical elements of the ordination rite.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk about a number of liturgical topics! They discuss the Solemnities of this period of Ordinary Time, they talk about the second edition of the Misal Romano, the first ever approved Spanish Missal for the United States, and they report on a few recent Conferences in which ODW and LTP have been involved!

Liturgy and Justice is the topic for this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy. Co-hosts Danielle Noe (Liturgy Training Publications) and Todd Williamson (Office for Divine Worship) discuss how the liturgical life of the Church shapes and molds us to live out our Christian lives in a world that is so in need of justice, peace and charity. They discuss the actual liturgical texts (opening prayers/collects, the Eucharistic Prayers, etc.) to see how our prayers call us to lead lives of justice.

After the great 50 days of Easter, we return to Ordinary Time again! In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the feasts and the Solemnities that mark Summer Ordinary Time. This is the longest season of the Liturgical Year – six months – and it offers countless ways to experience the extraordinary presence of God in the “Ordinary”.

Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk all about the Easter Season in this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy. Recorded the fourth week of Easter, they discuss the structure of the season, the spirituality and theology of the season as well as the feasts that are celebrated throughout this 50-day celebration of Easter!

During this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss all the liturgies that are celebrated during Holy Week. They discuss the Palm Sunday Mass, the Chrism Mass and all the major liturgies of the Tridumm: The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday and the Great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the Rites that are celebrated during Lent for those who are in the parish’s process of RCIA – the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For both the unbaptized who seek full initiation, and the baptized candidates who seek to come into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church, the RCIA includes special liturgies in which God encounters them and furthers their process of conversion.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss Winter Ordinary Time and how it flows out of and continues the celebration of Epiphany at Christmas. Plus, since it’s only 2 weeks away from the date of this broadcast, Todd and Danielle discuss the great season of Lent and what it’s focus and role is!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Wendy Silhavy, from the Office for Divine Worship, sits in for regular Co-Host Danielle Noe. In this show, aired during the Octave of Christmas, Wendy and Todd discuss various elements of the wonderful season of Christmas. They talk about the symbols and Scriptures of the season, the movement of the season from the Nativity of Christ, to the celebration of Epiphany and to the conclusion of the season on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Plus, Wendy – a Liturgical Musician – discusses the theology and spirituality of some of the most well-loved hymns and carols of Christmas.

This broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy aired on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and then again on the Friday after Thanksgiving. So in this show, Co – hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson spend the first part talking about and discussing the theology of Thanksgiving, the Mass and other rites that surround it, and the whole connection that Thanksgiving has to the Eucharist. During the second half of the show, our Co-hosts discuss the Great Season of Advent that begins just a week after this show was recorded.

November is traditionally the month dedicated to praying for the dead. The month begins with the two great feasts of the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - or All Souls - on November 2. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss this tradition and take an in-depth look at these two Liturgical celebrations.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss Autumn Ordinary Time, as we mark the 25th Week of that Liturgical Season. They discuss the theology of the season as well as the readings and prayer texts we are hearing at Mass these weeks. They also received a question from a listener – asking about the “offertory rite.” Listen to the show to hear what Danielle and Todd had to say about this part of the Mass! Remember that questions or topics you’d like to hear discussed on Focus on the Liturgy can be sent to [email protected]

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk about the issue of Liturgical Renewal. The movement for Liturgical Renewal began well before the Second Vatican Council, and as Pope Francis noted in a recent address to Italian Liturgists, it is still going on today! Danielle and Todd also discuss the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson are joined by Wendy Silhavy, the Senior Coordinator of Liturgies and Music from the Office for Divine Worship of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as they discuss the role of music in liturgy. Liturgical Music is its own form of music – as such it fills a specific role and purpose. There are norms that govern it’s choice and even the determination of what is sung in prayer. As Find out why we say, as Wendy notes during the show, “It’s not that we sing at Mass; it’s that we sing the Mass.”

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy cohosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and specifically about the National Gathering on Christian Initiation, scheduled for July 5 & 6 right here in Chicago! Guests Michael Ruzicki and Vicky Tufano, from LTP, join in on the conversation. LTP (Liturgy Training Publications) is sponsoring the event. This is a National Gathering for all Christian Initiation Ministers and this broadcasts focuses on all the various aspects of the event!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson unpack the season of Easter! From the renewal of baptism (or baptism first received) at the Easter Vigil, they as the question, “So What?” So What that we have just renewed our baptism? Or for those Elect who were baptized on Holy Saturday night, “So what that you were baptized?” What now? The Easter Season is for living out of the baptism we have just renewed or have just received.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson talk about the Liturgies of Lent, particularly those that are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Many parishes have been celebrating the Scrutiny Rites with the Elect – those who will be baptized and fully initiated at the Easter Vigil this year. Danielle and Todd talk about the Scrutiny Rites and much more!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy cohosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the Great Season of Lent. They talk about the liturgies of the Season and look at some of the Texts and the Readings that help to give shape to our experience of Lent. They spend a good amount of time discussing the Baptismal Focus of Lent and how everything of the season prepares us for the Renewal of our Baptism at Easter.

On this broadcast of Focus on the LIturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the season of Ordinary Time. For the first part of the show, they look at the liturgies of this season and highlight some of the feasts and celebrations. In the second half of the show, Danielle and Tod explore the evangelizing power of the Liturgy.

This broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy explores the season of Christmas Tide! Co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the season, it's liturgies and symbols. They talk of how the season only begins on Christmas Eve, raises to a highpoint with Epiphany, and closes out with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 9th!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, cohosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the season of Advent. Looking at the liturgies of the season, they explore the readings, texts and images of the Season.

Archbishop Blase Cupich has been named a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church! In this broadcast of Focus on the LIturgy, co-hosts Danelle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the process of being named a Cardinal, how a bishop is named such and what it means for the Church. Then, in the second half of the show, they discuss the great Solemnity of All Saints and All Souls.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss the funeral rites of the Church. As the process of death is itself a journey for those of us who have faith, so too are the rites and the rituals of Christian Burial. The hosts discuss the three main movements, or "stations" of the Funeral Rites: The Vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and the Committal.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Noe and Todd Williamson discuss a number of Liturgical topics! It's Summer Ordinary Time, and so they look at the season and some of the Feasts and Celebrations that mark the period. They also spend time talking about the Revised Order of Celebrating Matrimony, which is able to be used in parishes of the United States as of September 8.