Speaking of Liturgy

Professor Clare Johnson invites us to consider the interrelationship of scripture, theology, and liturgy and expand our understanding of the study and interpretation of sacred scripture. This promotes a fuller recognition of Christ’s presence in the Word proclaimed. 
Professor Clare Johnson is the Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy and ACU Professor of Liturgical Studies & Sacramental Theology. She has taught liturgical studies, sacramental theology, preaching, liturgical music and introductory theology at the University of Notre Dame (USA), Michigan State University (USA), the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle) and ACU. Her research in liturgy, liturgical music, ritual studies, liturgical theology and liturgical inculturation has been widely published. 

Abbot Gregory Polan OSB invites us to learn more about a recent translation of the psalms The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, that has been chosen for number of new Lectionaries of English speaking countries and the Liturgy of the Hours. The psalms are the basis of much of the prayer of the Church. As director, coordinator, and lead scholar of the translation project, he offers a unique perspective.
Abbot Gregory Polan OSB entered the Benedictine community of Conception Abbey in 1970 and was ordained in 1977. He studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and undertook theological studies at St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota.  He completed a Licentiate and Doctorate in biblical theology at the Pontifical faculty of Université Saint Paul, Ottawa, Canada. He teaches in the seminary at Conception Seminary College on the campus of his monastery. From 2016 to 2024, he served as the tenth Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation based in Rome.

Fr Fergus Ryan discusses ritual music in light of earlier experiences of singing the liturgy. He describes how singing different chant tones heightens active listening in the liturgy and invites us to reconsider our liturgical practice.
Rev Dr Fergus Ryan, OP is an Irish Dominican and invited lecturer at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, from where which he received his licence and doctoral degrees. His doctoral thesis, published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana (SKU/ISBN 9788826605968), examined the influence the dialogue Mass had on the Roman Missal promulgated after Vatican II. He has lived in a variety of Western and Central European countries for studies and work, observing in practice how chanted liturgy operates in parishes, and has published his research in scientific journals in half a dozen countries. After twelve years in Rome, he has been working for his home diocese of Cork and Ross in parochial ministry for the last number of years.

Since ancient times, incense has been a part of religious rituals. Dr Johan van Parys explores the nature of incense as a sensory experience which invites us to encounter God’s presence. He notes some of the key rituals where incense is used in the liturgy.
Dr Johan van Parys, a native of Belgium, is Director of Liturgy and the Sacred Arts and Managing Director of Ministries at The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. He holds graduate degrees in Archaeology, Art History, Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain and a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Johan teaches at St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, MN and is the founder and President of the MN/ND Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. His books include Symbols that Surround Us (Liguori), What’s the Smoke for and And other Burning Liturgical Questions (Liturgical Press). His most recent publication, Sacramentals, was published in 2026.

Sr Janet Schlichting, examines how we respond when we gather for worship at Christ’s invitation. She invites us to look more closely at what we mean by full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy.
Sister Janet Schlichting, OP is a Dominican Sister of Peace. She holds a BS in Art Education, an MA in Liturgy and a DMin in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology. She has been a preaching team member and liturgist, Assistant director at the Notre Dame Center for Pastoral Liturgy, on staff at several retreat houses, and has offered parish missions and retreats for religious congregations. As an educator she taught art in elementary and high school, served on the summer faculty at Loyola University, Chicago; directed the M.A in Ministry Program at Ursuline College, Cleveland; and was Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis. Presently, she is engaged in making her own art and preaching and service to her congregation.

Corinna O’Loughlin presents the Church’s vision for sharing Holy Communion from the altar and notes that this is not always straightforward for communities. She offers some tips to help move from theological foundations to practical reality.
Dr Corinna Laughlin is a Pastoral Assistant for Liturgy at the Cathedral of St James, Seattle, USA. Since 1998, she has worked with clergy, Cathedral staff and volunteers, planning hundreds of liturgies each year.  Corinna has written the Guide for Sacristans, Guide for Servers, and Guide for Celebrating Holy Week and Triduum for Liturgy Training Publications as well as articles for many other publications. Corinna serves as a Consultant to the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Sr Kathleen Harmon examines how we respond when we gather for worship at Christ’s invitation. She invites us to look more closely at what we mean by full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy.
Sister Kathleen Harmon, SNDdeN holds an MA in Sacred Music and a Ph.D in Liturgical Studies. She has served on the Executive Committee of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the Executive Committee of the Catholic Academy of Liturgy and the Board of the National Pastoral Musicians Association.  She was Music Director for the Institute for Liturgical Ministry and Co-Director of its Liturgy in a Formative Environment program. Her books include The Ministry of Music; the Ministry of Cantors; The Mystery We Celebrate, the Song We Sing; and Becoming the Psalms: A Spirituality of Singing and Praying the Psalms.

Larissa Cairns explores the role of the Cantor as one who is primarily a minister of the liturgy. She describes some of the skills and qualities needed to exercise the ministry well, noting that effective Cantors require both skill and humility.
Ms Larissa Cairns is a soprano and music educator based in Melbourne, Australia. She completed studies in music and education at Australian Catholic University and has taught in secondary schools and led choirs, nurturing a love for diverse musical styles. Larissa has been involved in the premieres of many liturgical works by leading Australian composers and is a longstanding member of the St Francis' Choir, Melbourne. She is active in parish ministry and a sought-after cantor for liturgical celebrations.  

Paul Briers reflects on the significance and role of the altar server, in light of his own call to the ministry. He invites servers to make their outward actions an expression of inner prayer.
Mr Paul Briers KCHS is the Honorary President of the Archconfraternity of St Stephen, the International Guild for Altar Servers to which parishes from across the world become affiliated to Westminster Cathedral, London, where it was founded. It was raised to the status of Archconfraternity in 1906 by Pope Pius X, later saint.  Paul is in his final year of formation for the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Lancaster, England. He shares his experience and reflections from over thirty years of Altar Serving across two parishes and in wider involvement in the local diocese and the national church in England and Wales, UK. 

Fr Dennis Smolarski SJ advocates for gestures in the liturgy to be guided by the Church’s teachings on the Mass rather than by imitation of others. He invites us to consider adopting gestures that express the common worship of the community of faith, rather than an individual’s personal preference.
Rev Dennis C. Smolarski, SJ, received MDiv. and STM degrees from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and holds a PhD in computer science. He is currently on the faculty at Santa Clara University in California. Father Smolarski has had a long-time interest in Western and Eastern rite liturgy and worship, and possesses an indult to celebrate the liturgy also in the Byzantine rite. He is the author of several books on liturgy, including Q&A: The Mass (Liturgy Training Publications, 2002) and How Not to Say Mass: A Guidebook on Liturgical Principles and the Roman Missal, rev. ed. (Paulist Press, 2003).