Letters
Collation of Liturgical Workshop
Evaluation Sheets
Regis College, Toronto, November
4, 2006
Proclaiming & Presiding
The following comments come from 13 of
15 participants in the workshop, who handed in forms. Each bullet
is a different voice. Some gaps are not accounted for as not all
answered all questions.
What new insights did you gain from this
workshop?
- Importance of reading slowly so that
listeners can assimilate each word’s meaning
- The workshop was excellent! Taught us to
speak loudly and be slow!
- That a slow, clear proclamation of the
Word is necessary in order to engage the congregation
fully into the liturgy
- Breathe, when you hear what you are
reading the congregation will hear it too
- Importance of proclaiming the Word
(theological significance); practice of proclamation;
overall this was a good and very focused workshop
especially on the topic of liturgy
- No matter how experienced, not to become
complacent when proclaiming and/or presiding
- New attention for the speed of talking;
new attention to the voice of a speaker
- Definitely, the importance of each word of
the Eucharistic prayer; people are attentive to what we
do much more than we think; there’s not only one
perfect way to read from a liturgical point of view
- A realization of the importance of
proclaiming; after many years of proclaiming, one gets
sloppy; “incarnating” – the divine must
come thru someone/thing human
- Reading is a sacramental activity; we read
so that God’s word can be proclaimed; so it is
wonderful that we learn to do it well
- Reverencing the liturgy: slowing down and
enlarging the impact with volume, sharpness and clarity
- Things to practice and become even more
aware of… volume/pace, intonation, hearing oneself,
liturgy – its performance characteristics
What implications will these insights have for
your personal ministry?
- Emphasize reading slowly and more loudly
- I will continue to try to work on my word
pronouncement and words that I should focus on when
presiding and proclaiming
- I will endeavour to improve in my delivery
of any reading that I am called to proclaim; the ideas
given at the workshop will help me to do so
- Prayerful approach to the scriptures has
always been important to me; hear
- I became aware of my strengths and the
areas I need to consider
- Proclaiming and presiding always presumes
personal prayer and reflection
- Trying to speak more slowly and pay more
attention to my voice
- To pay more attention to the way I read in
public; I will start practicing privately
- Reinforces things taught long ago –
in Seminary days; importance to make the Word of God one’s
own before proclaiming it
- Confidence to do this in my parish; able
to get over difficulty by slowing down and be louder
- Continue to develop my own style of
reading at liturgy
- Awareness of self (characteristics of
sound of voice)
What implications will these insight have for
your ministry?
- Increase sensitivity to the point of view
of the audience
- Important, excellent
- That the Word that I am proclaiming is
important – indeed it is the Word of God – and
should allow for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to
enter in
- he ministry of being a person who
proclaims the Word is one I have felt called to many
times; being a better minister/reader will help me in my
own personal development
- I believe that there is always room for
awareness of new talents (or revisit observed talents);
talents are to be shared for the greater community
- Renewed awareness that proclaiming and
presiding as a ministry for and with the assembly
- I will consider the importance of the way
someone speaks when preaching the Word of the Lord
- To take into account that the prayers of
the Eucharist are not only mine but also of all the
assembly; to try to give the best of myself when
celebrating; I will share what I learnt with other
friends who are involved in ministry
- I will volunteer more often
- Bring these insights/learnings (sic) to
the ministry of proclamation in my own community and at
Regis
- Awareness of impact
What did you value the most about this
workshop?
- James presentation style and personality
- The coaching
- Personal instruction
- The feedback of the facilitator
- The input from James; the light moments
and the clearer, clear, astute direction for getting
better at being minister was very valuable
- I was glad to see the number of audience
participants; this was very helpful; I appreciated the
criticism, it was very encouraging
- The resource person (James) was excellent
- The active way in which the teacher
teaches. He seems like entertaining sometimes while
teaching
- Almost everyone for a chance to
participate; the passion put and shown by the presenter;
good environment (ambience/family-friends like)
- Awakes the importance on proclaiming; did
not experience any presiding (Presiding was limited to
Proclaiming in another way)
- Sense of community; that we were learning
together
- Personal coaching; emphasis on hearing of
liturgical prayer rather than reading
- Personal practice; option of blessing
– as the choices were a but awkward for a female RC
presider
What did you value the least about this
workshop?
- Too much repetition; we could have
discussed other aspects of presiding than only reading
voice
- Way too long; it could finish at 1 p.m.
- It was a little long and repetitive; I
would perhaps offer people a place in one of three, two
hour workshops; perhaps 8-10 people in each workshop
would allow for more personal instruction
- Maybe the readings should have been
different, simply because of the repetitious nature of
the workshop – so that all may have a chance
- Varying the kinds of reading and pace got
a little monotonous; but using the same reading was a
good idea; …longer breaks…
- I valued everything; I was hoping to hear
more about the “presiding” part of the workshop
- For the rest, it gets boring pretty soon
after the first persons have spoken
- The repetition (in the readings); the fact
of dealing only with the Eucharistic prayer, and not with
all the parts of the Mass
- Tried to cover too many themes –
meaning, articulation, tones, modulation, pacing, stress
on key words\
- Volume, less intentional break time in the
AM was draining and challenging
Would you recommend this to others?
| Recommendation |
Total
(some overlap) |
| Yes –
beneficial |
7 |
| Yes –
essential |
8 |
| No |
- |
When considering future liturgical workshops,
what other issues should be addressed?
- Gestures
- Selecting readings and setting up the
ambience for liturgies to celebrate different occasions.
- Planning liturgies, i.e., the outline of
Eucharistic Liturgy, or communion service; Liturgy of the
Hours
- Music/singing, use of space/architecture,
analysis of ritual
- Church Music (in Advent), Choir Music,
different kinds of worship services; what books to use
for the preparation of services; how todecorate the altar
- Gestures, explanation of the parts of the
Eucharist; some general words and thoughts on different
types of lituirgies
- More varied lay liturgical options...
Presented with permissionn of Regis
College, 2006