Focus on the Liturgy

The show for September takes up a very fundamental topic in regard to the Liturgy: The sacramental sense with which Catholics view and understand life and the world. Co-hosts Danielle Knott, from Liturgy Training Publications, and Todd Williamson, from the Office for Divine Worship, discuss this sacramental sense, and how it governs a Catholic understanding of the world and God's action in it (i.e., that God is not distant to us, but rather is intimately engaged with His creation). God breaks into our world and our own personal experience in so many ways and through so many means (family, relationships, nature); this is sacramental, and it is the context for our understanding of Liturgy - one of the primary means through which the Father, through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, encounters us and saves us.

In this episode of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk about a brand new opportunity for Liturgical Musicians in the Chicago area. The new Chicago Series in Liturgical Music, an 18-month course of study, will begin in September, co-sponsored by the Office of Divine Worship (Archdiocese of Chicago) and the Rensselaer Program of Church Music and Liturgy (St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana). Anna Belle O'Shea, from ODW, and Steve Janco, Director of the Rensselaer Program, join Todd and Danielle to discuss this exciting new series.

This month, on Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives as Catholics; we look at the current Liturgical Season - Ordinary Time in Summer, and we spend time looking at the Bread of Life Discourse from John's Gospel, which will mark the next 5 weeks of our Liturgical Lives!

The Archdiocese of Chicago is about to enter the second year of 5-year Strategic Pastoral Plan. Each of these 5 years focuses on a particular aspect of parish life; for example, the first year was dedicated to Teens and Young Adults. The second year, which goes from July 2012 - June 2013, is dedicated to Sunday Mass. In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the Year of Sunday Mass, and highlight a specific resource for any Catholic interested in deepening their awareness and appreciation for Sunday Mass: Blessed John Paul II's Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini.

In this months Focus on the Liturgy, Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) explore the season of Ordinary Time. Primarily looking at the Summer portion of this liturgical season, Danielle and Todd discuss upcoming solemnities and other liturgical observations, highlighting the liturgies and rituals by which we as Catholics mark the passing of time.

On this month's broadcast, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson focus on the Easter Season. They discuss the overall theology of the season and then explore how that theology is made evident in the liturgies of Easter. They look at the unique quality of the Liturgy of the Word and they discuss the special Solemnities and feasts that help mark this 50-day celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

In this month's broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss Holy Week. Listen as they explore the many Liturgies that mark this most important week in the lives of Catholics: Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, the Chrism Mass at Holy Name Cathedral (at which all of the Holy Oils used in the Archdiocese of Chicago are blessed and consecrated by the Cardinal), and of course, the great days that mark the Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

This month on Focus on the Liturgy, the show airs on Ash Wednesday (how perfect for the Liturgy Geeks!). So - Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson discuss not only Ash Wednesday, but also the whole season of Lent, exploring the Rites and the practices that help us to prepare to renew our Baptism at Easter!

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss the Liturgical Year, exploring various aspects of how we Catholics mark the passing of time. Answering the question, “Around what do you order your time,” Danielle and Todd look at the seasons of the Liturgical Year, the cycle of feasts and solemnities that celebrate the saints and martyrs, and our Catholic sense of sacred time.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (from Liturgy Training Publications) and Todd Williamson (from the Office for Divine Worship) spend the first half of the show looking back at the first month of using the revised Mass texts. They talk about not only how the transition has been going, but also remind listeners to continue exploring the new texts as a means of coming to a deeper understanding of the Liturgy. During the second half of the show, Danielle and Todd discuss the Christmas Season and it’s many symbols and customs, breaking open the theology and spirituality of the season.

In this final broadcast before the implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal (November 26/27), co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) review numerous aspects of the English translation. For the last year, Danielle and Todd have devoted at least some part of each show to this momentous event in the life of the U.S. Church. This show re-visits many of the issues and topics that have been discussed over the past year of preparing for the Roman Missal.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott (LTP) and Todd Williamson (ODW) discuss a number of liturgical matters: in the first half of the show, the topic of Communion under both species is addressed, stressing how the norm in the Archdiocese of Chicago (and in most of the dioceses in our region) is to offer both the Body and the precious blood of the Lord at Mass. The second half of the show addressed various issues related to the upcoming English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This show was originally broadcast just one month before the implementation date for the Missal!

Less than 2 months before the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy addresses a number of topics surrounding the English translation. Co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson talk about what parishes should be doing at this point in time in preparation for the Third Edition; Archdiocesan Workshops that are being offered for any interested Catholic; LTP's version of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, and how parishes might incorporate a blessing for the new Missal in their Sunday Mass.

In this edition of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Knot and Todd Williamson discuss the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. Looking at the structure of the season they delve into the readings and texts that mark this last season of the liturgical year

In this edition of Focus on the Liturgy co-hosts Danielle Knot and Todd Williamson spend the first part of the show discussing the USCCB's recent decision to allow each bishop to give permission in his diocese for parishes to begin in September using the sung versions of the new Gloria, Sanctus and Memorial acclamations, in preparation for the coming English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. In the second half of the show, they discuss the coming Ordination Liturgy for the two new Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Ordination Liturgy is scheduled for August 10, 2011.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, Todd Williamson and Anna Belle O'shea, both from the Office for Divine Worship, explore some examples of the music settings for the English translation of the 3rd Ed. Of the Roman Missal. Anna Belle and Todd discuss the role of music in the liturgy and listen to settings of the Gloria, the Sanctus and examples of the Memorial Acclamation.

This month, on Focus on the Liturgy, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson discuss the latter part of the Easter Season, the Solemnities of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. In the second half of the show they wrap up their reading of the Order of Mass as given in the English translation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. In this show they break open the texts of the Communion Rite and the Concluding Rite.

On Wednesday of the Octave of Easter, co-hosts Danielle Knott and Todd Williamson spend the first half of the show breaking open some of the symbols and rites of the Easter Celebrations! During the second half, they continue reading through and discussing the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. In today's broadcast they finish the Eucharistic Prayer.

In this broadcast of Focus on the Liturgy, we spend the first half of the show looking at the great, joyful season of Lent! In particular, we speak about the role and the importance of the Elect in our parish communities. For the second half of the show, we resume exploring and breaking open the English translation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal. Today, we look at the Eucharistic Prayer from the Preface Dialogue to the Memorial Acclamation.

In this show, we continue to unpack the texts of the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, consentrating on the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Guest Mary Fox, from Liturgy Training Publications, talks about an upcoming resource - a Study Edition of the Roman Missal.

In the last days before the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord, "Focus on the Liturgy" spends the first half of the show looking at the season of Christmas, exploring the theology and spirituality of the season. In the second half of the show, we continue to explore the texts of the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This month, we finish the Liturgy of the Word and then begin to explore the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with attention to the acclamations and responses.

The Day before Thanksgiving, "Focus on the Liturgy" uses the first half of the show to unpack the season of Advent. We look at the themes of Advent, the Scriptures that are proclaimed and the symbols of this first season of a brand new Liturgical Year. In the second half of the show, we continue the discussion on the English Translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, scheduled to implemented on November 27, 2011. This month we begin exploring the Liturgy of the Word and take an in-depth look at the Nicene Creed.

This edition of "Focus on the Liturgy" continues the discussion on the English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. This month we finish exploring the Introductory Rites by looking at the revised English translation of The Gloria and by looking at the role of the Opening Prayer. Also, in the first part of the show, we speak a bit about where we are in the Liturgical Calendar, looking at Autumn Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls).

In August of this year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) received from the Holy See the approved English texts of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. The Order of Mass (the parts of the Mass that do not change from day to day) were posted on the USCCB website (www.usccb.org/romanmissal). Beginning with the show aired on September 22, 2010, Focus On The Liturgy will explore the revised English translation of the Order of Mass, breaking open the texts and examining the theology and spirituality behind the texts that we pray each week. This first edition focuses on the Introductory Rites.