Collaboration said to be a key to 'praying well with others'

Published: 2006-04-24

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Understanding the difference between cooperation and collaboration is important when developing liturgies for children, said a speaker during an April 20 workshop at the National Catholic Educational Association's 103rd annual convention in Atlanta. Cooperation is like "a river flowing in one direction. We're all in our own little boats, following the flow of the water," said Therese Brown, who works for the U.S. bishops' publishing office and has extensive experience in youth and school ministry, including experience with the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. With collaboration, on the other hand, "we've only got one boat, and all 27 of us have to jump in the same boat," Brown said. Brown was one of three speakers for the workshop, titled "Prays Well With Others -- Whole Community Collaboration." Jerry Galipeau, workshop resources editor for World Library Publications, said it can be hard to break out of long-standing practices for planning liturgies. Meredith Dean Joseph, who also works for World Library Publications, said an effective approach to planning children's liturgies should involve the whole parish pastoral team working on a common theme.

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