To make the liturgical celebrations more meaningful, active and participatory, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has published “The Directives for the Celebration of the Liturgy”.

The ‘Liturgical Directives’ was released by Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) at a small function held during the 75th Executive Committee meeting of the CCBI on Tuesday 20th September 2016 at St. John’s National Academy of health Sciences, Bangalore. Its first copy was handed over to Archbishop Dominic Jala, the Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Liturgy and the Archbishop of Shillong.

The 27th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI which was held from 3 to 9 February 2015 deliberated on the theme “Liturgy and Life. The members of the Assembly requested the Liturgical Commission to prepare directives for the celebration of the liturgy for liturgical renewal in the Church in India. The CCBI Commission for Liturgy headed by Archbishop Dominic Jala and Rev. Dr. Ayres Fernandes prepared the Liturgical Directives and the Bishops discussed it during the 28th Plenary Assembly. The 73rd and 74th Executive Committee of the CCBI, proposed suggestions and amendments. Incorporating the numerous suggestions, the Commission presented the final draft and it was approved by the National Episcopal Conference.

“Liturgy is the font from which all power flows and the summit towards which the entire activity of the Church is directed.” Archbishop Jala explained. “These directives are important and would give new impetus in liturgical celebrations. The Directives for the Celebration of Liturgy is an essential and fundamental reference book for all our ecclesiastical institutions and places wherever liturgy is being celebrated. The Commission is planning various strategies to implement the directives at the diocesan, regional and national levels” added  Archbishop Dominic Jala.

Report by Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General, CCBI

  Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Catholic Church, CBCI, Christian, liturgy, The CCBI Commission for Liturgy