By Marie Mulvenna

Calling for "a second spring of liturgy in Atlanta," Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan told members of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission they must "serve as catalysts" in forwarding liturgical renewal. Speaking at the November organization meeting of the Commission, the archbishop stated that "a plateau has been reached in liturgical renewal, varying from parish to parish, but we must now set goals for carrying out forcefully our liturgical renewal which is so basic to the Christian life of our archdiocese."

"We are a worshipping community and since worship is the primary function of any Christian community, we must provide leadership, new ideas and motivation to raise ourselves from this plateau and continue our progress in achieving renewal," the archbishop stated.

In response to the archbishop's forceful call for continuing renewal in worship, the Liturgical Commission this week announced the formation of a special liturgy "Task Force." Members of the "Task Force" are presently initiating contacts with all parishes within the archdiocese concerning the formation of, and present activities of, parish worship committees.

Father Henry Gracz, priest-secretary of the commission, announced that the unique approach was intended to put into reality a request made by the archbishop almost two years ago that all parishes establish a parish worship committee.

The "Task Force" is operating on a one-to-one basis with Commission members assigned several parishes with whom they will function as a liaison person. The liaison will directly assist parishes with their own particular needs in liturgy and will also train new committees in those parishes which have not as yet put such a group into being. The Commission announced that parish worship committees should be formed by mid-January in order for the Archdiocesan Commission to formulate plans of assistance and education in liturgy and to comply with past requests of the archbishop.

The "Task Force" concept, providing any direct contact between the individual parish and the Commission itself, will furnish a channel of communication for liturgical information, revisions, options and the history of liturgical practices. "We feel very strongly," Father Gracz stated, "that this personal link to the parishes will provide a better unified means of forwarding liturgical renewal in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

"Reactions we have heard to date from parishes already contacted by Commission members have been most encouraging. The parishes seem most responsive to this new means of communication. Rather than letters, questionnaires, printed materials, etc., we think the personal relationship of a liaison person will help us immeasurably in putting into effect the continuing and extremely important renewal of our liturgical life," Father Gracz said.

The Commission is presently studying a number of liturgical matters for future implementation including workshops, educational programs, music education and training and the submitting of agenda items for the forthcoming Federation of Diocesan Liturgy Commissions meeting slated for January in Conyers.