Variety of workshops offered at SWLC

Intermountain Catholic

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The Southwest Liturgical Conference will take place at the Salt Palace Feb. 2-5.

SALT LAKE CITY – For four days in February, a thousand Catholics from across the United States will convene at the Salt Palace for fellowship, prayer and education about the liturgy of the Church.

The focus of the conference will be the upcoming changes to the Roman Missal, which will take effect the first Sunday of Advent this year.

"That’s a rather extraordinary event in the life of the Church," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, adding that these changes will affect all Catholics. "It’s happening for all of us together as brothers and sisters in Christ, and so it would be very important for all of us together to learn together" about the changes.

As of the third week of January, 1,119 people had registered for this year’s Southwest Liturgical Conference, making it the largest number to attend in conference history, said Karin Hurley, core program committee chairperson for the 2011 SWLC. "We have people coming from as far away as Massachusetts, New York and Florida," she said.

The yearly SWLC Study Week is the oldest continuous regional event of its kind in the United States. Its location rotates among the 27 dioceses in Region 10 of the Federation for Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, of which the Diocese of Salt Lake City is a part.

The large number of registrants can be attributed to the education that will be offered on the changes to the Roman Missal, as well as the quality of the presenters and the workshops they will give, Hurley said.

Although the focus is on the Roman Missal, many other topics will be addressed. For example, the majority of workshops in Spanish will deal with liturgical catechesis "to help our Spanish-speaking community also enter into the liturgy more deeply and experience it more richly," said Timothy Johnston, director of liturgy for the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

The goal of those organizing the conference is for those who attend to "fill their toolbox" so they will return to their community equipped to address the local challenges brought by the changes to the Roman Missal, Hurley said.

In addition, "it’s a time for fellowship, a time for prayer," said Johnston, who also is a member of the organizing committee. "For a lot of people it’s a time for rejuvenation. Even though they’re studying and they’re learning new things, it’s getting away and connecting with other people."

While he hopes that people come with an open mind about the changes to the missal, and leave excited about the opportunities for liturgical renewal and formation, Johnston also points out that many workshops deal with other topics. "I think a lot of people are attracted to the variety and not just being stuck in ‘Roman Missal’ mode," he said. "There is something for everyone at the conference."

The conference also will include an exhibit hall with vendors offering resources such as Mass cards with the new texts and liturgical books and music.

"We’re creating a real marketplace for people to be able to find the product that they’re looking for or the solution that they need in their organization," Hurley said.

Bishop Wester said he is grateful to the conference organizers, not only those on the national level but also the local level, especially Hurley, Johnston and Erika Manternach. "I’m very grateful to them for all they have done to make this such a great success," the bishop said.