Bishop of Tucson speaks of liturgical leadership in a time of change

Intermountain Catholic

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Bishop John C. Wester, (left) reacts to Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas' humorous outline of his topic, which he said would make the audience late for the Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which was scheduled for five hours later in the evening.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas, bishop of Tucson, offered three images and reflected on four challenges in implementing the changes of the new Roman Missal at the Southwest Liturgical Conference at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center Feb. 5. Bishop Kicanas also spoke about the important role leaders have in preparing people for the transition on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27.

The immediate past vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Kicanas is now the chairman of Catholic Relief Services.

With the recent tragedy in Arizona, his diocese was grieving and in shock, said Bishop Kicanas, who presided at the funeral Masses for shooting victims Christina Taylor Green and Judge John Roll and offered a Mass of Healing at St. Odilia Parish in Tucson.

"The families felt great support listening to the Word of God through the prayers that surrounded them and the hymns that enveloped them," he said.

For those attending the conference, "We’re here to reflect on liturgy, which has such a tremendous and powerful affect in helping people through such trauma," he said. "The liturgy can offer great council and support at times of such need."

Bishop Kicanas described the Third Roman Missal with images from Ezekiel. The first image, from Chapter 37, urges the house of Judah and the house of Joseph to become one.

"There is only one shepherd," said Bishop Kicanas. "It is critical for us as a Church to move toward a greater unity within the household of God. There have been divisions and polarizations among us for so long and one of our most important responsibilities is to heal some of the polarizations that exist."

The second image he used was Ezekiel being taken by the angel of the Lord to the Valley of Dry Bones, and suddenly the spirit of God comes upon the bones and they begin to take shape.

"As a Church today we are quite weary and worn down," the bishop said. "Perhaps the introduction of the Third Roman Missal could be an opportunity to shake us from our lack of confidence as a Church and we could find again in the Eucharist that which is our strength."

In the third image, Ezekiel is taken to the door of the temple from which a stream of water comes, first shallow, then so deep he has to swim.

"We’ve all heard since the Second Vatican Council that the liturgy is the source and summit of our life in Christ; the life giving water that nourishes and strengthens us," Bishop Kicanas said. "And yet, for many, that is not their experience."

Challenges will accompany the introduction of the third Roman Missal, he said. "Two of the challenges are fallen-away Catholics and those who don’t go to church regularly. How do we reintroduce the importance of the Eucharist to them?"

The third challenge is that some people have never experienced Christ and some identify with the Church but are not committed to it, while the fourth challenge is the lack of catechesis with which Catholics have been confronted since the Second Vatican Council, he said.

"Change happens in an accelerated way and always is uncomfortable, awkward and difficult," he said. "Change is now going to happen in the celebration of the Eucharist and we sometimes forget how important faith is to some, so we have to be sensitive to the fact that the slightest change can be very difficult."

Bishop Kicanas encouraged the liturgical leaders to think about how they can help people understand what is taking place and to help them work through their frustrations and difficulties.