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Views from the Choir Loft

Portland Publishes an “Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook”

Fr. David Friel · November 18, 2018

RCHBISHOP SAMPLE of Portland, Oregon gave a presentation this past week to the philosophy club at The Catholic University of America. His topic was very appropriate for the month devoted to All Souls: “It Comes to Us All: A Reflection on Our Own Death.” I attended the presentation, during which the archbishop spoke thoughtfully and beautifully about his experiences surrounding death and dying, as both a priest and a son.

Meanwhile, back in Portland, the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship recently published an excellent new resource, entitled the Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook. The book is available for free PDF download here, and it is also available for purchase in paper and kindle formats through Amazon.

At 350 pages, this is a substantial publication, and it addresses many topics, ranging from the pontifical celebration of Mass at the cathedral to the requisite pastoral care for couples seeking marriage. In addition to a very interesting section on funerals, the book also includes careful treatment of sacramentals, the repurposing of sacred objects, the catechumenate, Eastern & Orthodox Christians, and the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. This is by far the most comprehensive diocesan handbook on the liturgy I have ever seen.

Primarily the work of Msgr. Gerard O’Connor, director of Portland’s Office of Divine Worship, the publication also acknowledges the collaboration of the (arch)dioceses of Washington, Pittsburgh, and Denver. The text, itself, relies heavily upon official liturgical documents relevant to the many topics for which guidance and directives are offered.

N HIS introduction to the volume, Archbishop Sample describes the handbook as “a living document which guides and steers the liturgical praxis within our Archdiocese.” Most dioceses have some form of local liturgical regulations, but I doubt if very many have promulgated a document this complete.

By virtue of its quality and thoroughness, Portland’s Archdiocesan Liturgical Handbook serves as a model of the seriousness with which every local Church should approach the duty of divine worship.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Archbishop Alexander K Sample Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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«In the same quarter where he was crucified there was a garden.» (John 19:41) — The word “garden” hinted at Eden and the fall of man, as it also suggested through its flowers in the springtime the Resurrection from the dead.

— Fulton J. Sheen

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