THE revision of the Australian Lectionary for Mass “out of print and wearing out in many parishes” was discussed at the recent National Liturgical Council of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference held at Brisbane’s Francis Rush Centre.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge chaired the meeting held on September 11.
NLC secretary Dr Paul Taylor said the meeting was informed the Australian bishops were considering reprinting the lectionary.
“In this case, there would be minor revisions to the Jerusalem Bible translation of the readings and the Grail translation of the Responsorial Psalms,” he said.
The recent approval of revisions to three Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children used in many Australian Catholic parish primary school communities and the question of tertiary education in liturgy were among other key issues discussed.
Also in attendance were Bishop of Ballarat Paul Bird, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne Peter Elliott, Fr Barry Craig from Cairns, Dr Bill Griffiths from Adelaide, Missionaries of Sacred Heart priest Fr Stephen Hackett from Brisbane, Dr Clare Johnson from Sydney, Sophy Morley from Sale, Fr Brian Nichols from Hobart, Jenny O’Brien from Adelaide and Monsignor Pat O’Regan from Bathurst.
Local NLC consultant Liturgy Brisbane director Fr Tom Elich and Liturgy Brisbane education officer Elizabeth Harrington were also present.
NLC members also participated in the 12.30pm Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Principle celebrant, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, said the Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Fr William Jordan who died aged 77 on August 8.
Dr Taylor said Fr Jordan edited the Catholic Worship Book (1985).
“He also made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of liturgical music in Melbourne and Australia through his work on the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, the National Liturgical Commission and Diocesan Commissions and editorial projects based in Melbourne between 1967 and 2013,” he said.
