Liturgy Workshop Offers Deeper Understanding

On Saturday, March 14, a Liturgy Workshop was held at Our Lady of Consolation and led by Deacon Todd Curtiss and Fr. Marcel. The session focused on the meaning and structure of the Mass along with the spiritual disposition needed to participate more fully.

A central theme throughout the workshop was that the Mass is not something to observe from a distance. It calls for interior participation. Presence of heart and attention of mind were emphasized as essential. When approached with intention, the liturgy becomes a place of encounter and transformation.

Attention was given to the gestures that often pass unnoticed. The Sign of the Cross, genuflection, kneeling and silence before Mass were described as sacramentals that prepare the soul. When carried out with care, these actions help foster reverence and awareness of God’s presence.

The structure of the Mass was also explained in detail. The Introductory Rites prepare the assembly. The Liturgy of the Word forms and instructs. The Liturgy of the Eucharist stands as the high point, where bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Dismissal serves as a sending forth into daily life.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Eucharist as the center of Catholic worship. Reverence, belief and thanksgiving after receiving Communion were described as essential. The importance of remaining present through the end of Mass was also noted.

The workshop addressed the role of cultural expression in the liturgy. While the Mass remains universal, its expression may reflect the life of the local community when rooted in the teaching of the Church.

Time was also given to practical questions. Topics included fasting before Communion, the purpose of the homily, use of digital devices for Scripture and the meaning of the liturgies of Holy Week. These questions helped connect the teaching to everyday practice.

The session concluded with a clear reminder: the liturgy is the source from which the Christian life is strengthened and the place from which the faithful are sent out. A more intentional approach to the Mass leads to a deeper encounter with Christ and a renewed sense of mission.

Read the overview here.