LITURGY LINES
© Liturgy Brisbane

Elizabeth Harrington is the education officer with Liturgy Brisbane. All of her more than 800 past “Liturgy Lines” columns are available on The Liturgical Commission website www.liturgybrisbane.net.au. Items of interest can be located by date, title or word search.
(Note: Parishes are encouraged to reproduce “Liturgy Lines” in their bulletins as a way of educating parishioners about the liturgy. No permission is required but the copyright line (© Liturgy Brisbane) must be retained.) 

COMMUNAL RECONCILIATION
THE SECOND RITE

Most parishes schedule communal reconciliation during Advent. The official title of this liturgy is “Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution” or the Second Rite of the Sacrament of Penance.

The Sacrament of Penance ritual book encourages participation in this form of reconciliation which “shows more clearly the communal nature of penance”.

Sometimes the manner of celebration of the second rite of reconciliation conveys the impression that the first half of the liturgy is a communal celebration but the second part a private one, in other words a combination of the third and first rites.

I have attended second rites where, after the introduction, liturgy of the word, and examination of conscience, the priests moved to the privacy of the church’s confessionals and sacristies. One by one, people entered these rooms, often for a considerable length of time, to confess their sins and receive absolution. In fact, from this point on they were just like Saturday afternoon confessions, but with several priests and a much bigger crowd. People were even told to leave after they had had their “turn” and not wait around for the concluding rites.

This is not at all what the second rite envisages. Such poor celebrations turn people away and deprive them of a wonderful opportunity to experience communal reconciliation which “shows more clearly the communal nature of penance”. (Sacrament of Penance #22)

The second form of the sacrament of penance is a communal liturgical celebration from beginning to end. It begins with the community listening to the word of God. The homily emphasises our need for repentance and the infinite mercy of God. During the examination of conscience, the assembly reflects together on where and how they have fallen short of their baptismal commitment to follow Christ.

The individual confession and absolution that follows is communal too in that the penitents approach the confessors in full view of all present. The priests stand at appropriate points around the worship space in such a way that penitents can be seen but not heard by others. This is easily arranged in most churches. Those who wish to confess their sins approach one of the priests. While no restriction is placed on the individual’s confession, good manners and common sense dictate that people limit the time they spend with confessors. More time for integral confession and spiritual guidance is available at the first rite.

It is a moving experience to witness fellow Christians humbling themselves publicly by approaching a confessor for forgiveness. As they do, we pray for them, that they will know the fullness of God’s grace and mercy.

After the confessions, the ceremony concludes with a proclamation of praise, a prayer of thanksgiving and a blessing. These are an integral to the celebration, not an optional extra!

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We have a new set of banners for our Altar in St Anne’s church. They were created by Judy Dioszegi and her daughter Debbie Vicini, who, with advice from Randall Lindstrom, also created our vestments and church banners. All the designs complement each other and will be used for major liturgical feasts and seasons.

Due to the extreme weather that Melbourne is capable of having and for the health and safety of all present, our parish will celebrate 5.30pm Sunday Mass at St Anne’s Church throughout January and February 2015. We are blessed to have air conditioning to cope with the extreme heat during the summer period. Thanks to the weekly donations of our parishioners.

On Sunday the 4th May the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrated the installation of a set of Liturgical Banners with a blessing during the 8.30am Mass at St Anne’s Church, Sunbury in the presence of the Liturgical Artist, Judy Dioszegi and the architect, Randall Lindstrom.

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Project Design

The project began early in 2013 with a reconvening of the steering committee that had been elected at a Parish Assembly to guide the updating of the interior of St Anne’s Church. The task was to consider ways in which the expanse of the blank brick curtain wall behind the sanctuary might be made less of a blank space and more eye-catching. In the centre of the wall is a shape of a brick round tower, split by a stained glass window. Both these continue up and out of sight. The stained glass window shows the beginning of the story of Jesus from Mark’s Gospel chapter 1 with light streaming down from above.
While it may have been possible to fit windows or other artefacts into the walls it was considered that these would lessen the integrity of the great curtain walls themselves. After discussion with the architect, Randall Lindstrom, it was decided to investigate some form of liturgical banner or banners.
Banners have been used by human societies since the dawn of time to get attention, to inform, and to inspire action. They communicate on many levels through texts, colours, shapes, symbols, and shades.
The committee researched church tapestries both in Melbourne and overseas. The team of Judy Dioszegi and her daughter Debbie Vicini was chosen and over many months the design evolved.

“Randall, our artistic sounding board, ……came to our aid and helped refine the many ideas we were shuffling back and forth. Fr. Kevin and the committee were supportive with constructive comments and suggestions, and patience as we worked through the design process. And, at the end of many days, after much discussion, drawing, erasing, reworking and of course, lots of prayer, we had a direction, a theme, a story…the Resurrection.”………. Debbie Vicini

The final design of the banners was for them to start at the Crucifix and to move across the wall passing the stained glass window with its theme of the commissioning of the Son by the Father through the Spirit and on to the left-hand side of the wall with the Resurrection. To achieve this, the design takes our eyes from the dark blues, greys, and black of the sky at the Crucifixion, interspersed with lightning-like flashes of white in all directions, down towards the floor and across to the left. Once our eyes have passed the window they are directed upwards by the design, and the colours that started in darker shades get lighter as our eyes are lifted up, until the final panel of colours which represent the colours of our earth and our plants and where we are now as Children of the Resurrection. The horizontal arms of the Crucifix are continued across all panels to tie them into a whole and to suggest that there can be no Resurrection without the Crucifixion.

Production

(from a letter from Debbie Vincini)

There are 120 pieces in these 10 panels. Each piece is cut, backed, applied to a background and sewn. A paper pattern was created and carefully laid out to ensure accurate follow-through, which although we try, is seldom perfect. We like to think it adds authenticity, and is appreciated as a one-of-a-kind hand stamp of the artist. As well, the fabrics can have a mind of their own and sometimes one will act differently than another, unique in its qualities…  like us. The process of one piece at a time is a discipline in patience, focus and sometimes frustration. While some days are rewarding, others are less so.  Occasionally, we felt like, “Are we still working on this panel!”
And then, suddenly, a finished panel appeared. For me, this is the most satisfying part of any project. When I considered the large quantities of cloth in the studio, and the stacks of carefully cut pieces, and 9’ paper patterns all over, sometimes it seemed endless. But when the day came and everything was in its place and the last stitches had been sewn and we were looking at 10 beautiful completed panels, it was very rewarding. It gives me hope and keeps me focused on the idea that out of chaos came come incredible beauty, if you are patient, prayerful and positive.”………. Debbie Vicini

Celebration and Blessing

At the blessing of the banners Fr Bert Fullbrook SDB spoke of how we can see in these banners a representation of the Paschal Mystery which forms the most important part of the Church Year. He thanked the design and production team of Judy Dioszegi and her daughter Debbie Vicini and also thanked Randall Lindstrom, our liturgical architect, for his input. Thanks were also due to the installers Tony and Mario who have communicated with Judy by email many times and have spent several days and nights installing the tapestries. Finally thanks went to the Parish Team of Bingo volunteers (Graeme, Gary, Ray, Robert and Tony) who donated this tapestry.
Special mention was made of Fr Kevin McIntosh, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish who was the driving force behind the project but was prevented from being at the blessing by illness.