WHAT IS LITURGY?

Liturgy is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ.  It involves the presentation of man’s sanctification under the guise of signs perceptible by the senses and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs.  In it full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head and his member.  (SC # 7)
 

Nevertheless the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows. For the goal of apostolic endeavor is that all who are made sons of God by faith and baptism should come together ton praise god I the midst of his church, to take part in the sacrifice and to eat the lord’s supper. SC # 10

But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds be attuned to with proper dispositions, that their minds be attuned to their voices, and that they cooperate with heavenly grace lest they receive it in vain.  Pastors of souls must, therefore, realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the laws governing valid and lawful celebration.  It is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite and enriched by it. (SC # 11)

1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the church, that is on the apostolic see, and as laws may determine, on the bishop.

2. In virtue of power conceded by law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of bishop’s conferences, legitimately established, with competence in given territories.

3. Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority. (SC # 22)

Finally, there must be no innovations unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them, and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing. (SC # 23)

SITUATIONER:

1. The Vicariate, of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, has no liturgical Commission to speak of.

2. Lectors, Commentators and Extra-Eucharistic Ministers are given formation only once a year during their annual recollection. New lectors and commentators receive their formation only before they are commissioned.

3. There is no body that will provide an on going formation for the clergy and lay faithful. There is a need to form, develop and nourish the existing ones.

4. There is a need to form a group of experts in the Pangasinan Language to look into the translations and revisions of our liturgical texts in the vernacular.

1. Nature

Under the direction of the Archbishop the commission is an advisory body to help regulate pastoral-liturgical action throughout the territory and to promote studies and necessary experiments whenever there is question of adaptations.

a. To formulate policies that will guide the meaningful celebration of the liturgy.

b. To come up with a liturgical formation programs that would minister to the lay and the clergy.

c. To disseminate new liturgical updates.

d. To take charge in the translation of Pangasinan liturgical texts (eg. Sacramentary and Lectionary) so that it be in keeping with the true and authentic spirit of the liturgy.

The Vicariate Commission on the laity is de officio headed by the incumbent vicar Forane who is closely assisted by a Priest-coordinator and Lay Members coming from the different Parishes within the Vicariate, all imbued with the same spirit of service and all Co-workers of the vicar forane in the same mission.