Cardinal Roche coming to Baltimore for opening Mass of major liturgical gathering

Baltimore-area faithful will have a rare opportunity to worship alongside one of the Vatican’s most influential liturgical leaders when Cardinal Arthur Roche is present for the opening Mass of a major national conference at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland Sept. 30.

Cardinal Roche, who serves as Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, will join Archbishop William E. Lori and the Cathedral Schola for the 5:30 p.m. liturgy that kicks off the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions’ 56th annual national meeting. The Mass is open to the public and promises to showcase “beautiful music and profound liturgical prayer,” according to organizers.

The Sep. 30 to Oct. 2 gathering brings together the nation’s leading liturgical experts in Baltimore to explore “The Church at Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours,” a theme that takes on special significance as the church anticipates a new English translation of the Divine Office currently awaiting Vatican approval.

The conference opens with a special study day Sept. 30, available to all interested participants for $95 (or $145 after Sept. 1). From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Inner Harbor, attendees can dive deep into the upcoming translation, learn how liturgy forms the faithful and explore the musical elements of the Liturgy of the Hours.

Joining Cardinal Roche as plenary speaker will be Benedictine Abbot Gregory Polan, former abbot primate of the Benedictines and the Benedictine Confederation. Their presentations will anchor a program featuring breakout speakers including Dr. Steven Janco, director emeritus of Music and Liturgy Programs at Alverno College; Father R. Bruce Cinquegrani from the Diocese of Memphis; and Dr. James Starke from Baltimore’s own St. Mary’s Seminary and University.

The three-day program promises practical resources for implementing the Liturgy of the Hours more fully in parish communities. Sessions will examine the psalms, delve into the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, and explore the ancient tradition of sanctifying the day with prayer.

Representatives from the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship will provide updates on other liturgical texts in development, while the gathering will culminate in the presentation of the organization’s most prestigious honor – the Monsignor Frederick McManus Award – to Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso for his dedication to liturgy and social justice.

Julie Grace Males, director of the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship, is hopeful for “great attendance” at the opening Mass with Cardinal Roche at the cathedral.

“Let’s give him a big Baltimore welcome and show him that the ‘Cradle of Catholicism’ in the United States is still alive and well – and thriving,” she said. 

Registration information and the full conference brochure are available at fdlc.org.

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