Pope Francis made this declaration in a speech to Italy's Centre of Liturgical Action.

"We can affirm with certainty and magisterial authority that the liturgical reform is irreversible," he said.

As one commentator noted, " It's not every day that Pope Francis chooses to invoke the full weight of his office.

"This is, after all, the pontiff renowned for his freewheeling, informal style and that famous phrase 'who am I to judge'."

Francis concluded his address by saying, "the liturgy is life, not an idea to be understood."

Liturgical worship "is not above all a doctrine to be understood or a rite to be accomplished.

"It is a wellspring of life and of light for our journey of faith."

While acknowledging that "there is still work to do" in interpreting changes made during the Second Vatican Council, Francis said it is not a question "of rethinking the reform by reviewing its choices, but of knowing better the underlying reasons."

He underlined the fact that "the practical application" of the reform, "guided by the bishops' conferences in the respective countries, is still under way.

"Because it is not sufficient to reform the liturgical books to reform the mentality."

He reminded his audience that over the past 70 years "substantial and not superficial events" have happened in the life of the church and in the history of the liturgy.

He pointed out that the changes began many decades before the council and can be seen in the responses of the different popes in the first half of the 20th century.

Vatican II and the reform of the liturgy are "two events directly linked," and "they did not flower in an unexpected way but were prepared over a long time."

A source close to the pontiff told America Magazine the remarks were intended not only for the Italian liturgists present but the church worldwide.

Click here for text of Pope Francis' speech (in Italian)

Source

• America
• Crux
• RNS
• Vatican Radio
• Image: Vatican Radio

The possible additions to the current outreach at the newly earthquake strengthened Church, are the result of an Alpha Leadership Course and meeting of Marist city centre ministers held recently in London.

The changes are floated by a member of the St Mary of the Angels staff, Fr Kevin Conroy, who attended the early May leadership conference, along with 6,000 people from all denominations.

"Could St Mary of the Angels Parish, through Alpha Catholic courses, alternative liturgy styles, and focussed intercessory prayer by a core group of the parish, reach out to more people in Wellington?" asks Conroy by way of reflection.

Energy and hope

Conroy described being with thousands of mainly young and passionate about being christian, as giving him "energy and hope".

Labelling the conference input as "high quality", He said for him Cardinal Tagle and Jean Vanier were the standout speakers

"They moved me by their simplicity, joy and wisdom", he reflected.

Conroy said Cardinal Tagle described a church leader ‘as someone needing a compelling vision,' and who, on a practical level, has the opportunity to ‘model their vision when they meet people.'

Developing the Cardinal's observation, Conroy quotes him: "Often people come with dilemmas rather than problems to be solved, and a good leader helps a person find meaning rather than give a solution".

Conroy summed up Vanier's definition of leadership as simply, "helping people to grow in their humanity by listening well to them".

Alpha endorsed

The Alpha conference was endorsed by several high profile Catholics including Cardinal Christoph Schonburn and Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa.

In an interview Cardinal Schonburn says Alpha helps us to be less afraid in bringing people to Jesus; it brings us joy.

Source

• sm.org.nz
• Image: sm.org.nz

Now there is a vibrant Catholic culture, with liturgies celebrated both facing the people and facing the altar, Eucharistic adoration, a host of parish organisations, a music ministry, 75 altar boys and a Corpus Christi procession through the neighbourhood that attracts 1000 people.

How the change occurred is told in a new documentary.

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