New liturgical life: Bishop Marketz sets fresh accents!

New liturgical life: Bishop Marketz sets fresh accents!

In a historic step, Carinthian Bishop Josef Marketz approved a new “framework for the development of liturgical life in the parishes and the participation of laypeople in liturgical leadership” on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. This measure aims to renew liturgical life in the communities and to integrate more lay people into church processes. According to a report on the diocesan website Kathpress The current situation requires that parishes not only limit themselves to existing practice. Instead, the encouragement for missionary pastoral care is called for, which is intended to specifically address people who do not regularly attend church services.

The new framework also stipulates that a service that is specifically designed for outsiders will be offered at least quarterly. Attention should be paid to a contemporary and understandable design. Other focal points include cooperation between parishes at larger celebrations and the ability of laypeople to lead certain liturgical celebrations, such as blessing ceremonies. This is done not least based on the experiences during the corona pandemic. Recognized laypeople commissioned by the bishop should also take on liturgical services, the diocese reported on its website Catholic Church in Carinthia.

In order to comply with the new framework, the training program for liturgical services will also be adjusted. In the future, comprehensive training opportunities will be available for various liturgical functions, including leading word services, blessing ceremonies and training lectors and communion helpers. These measures are part of a comprehensive plan that emerges from the processes of synodal church development in the Diocese of Gurk and are intended to actively support change within the church in Carinthia.