Cochabamba Cathedral. Cochabamba, Bolivia

Considering art and architecture, why don't we feast our eyes on the Cathedral in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Time before Lent.

Lent is a time of renewal, a time to prepare ourselves to remember the gift of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. This of course means that time is slowly burning away to prepare liturgically for Lent.

The Extraordinary Form affords us a wonderful opportunity to remind us Lent is around the corner. Septuagesma, the roughly three weeks before Ash Wednesday, helps us to get into the motion of Lent. The Gloria disappears, not to be heard until Holy Thursday, and the Alleluia leaves us until the Great Vigil of Easter.

The Ordinary Form however, does not afford us the weekly reminders. However we should keep in front of us the fact that Ash Wednesday is about three weeks away, we should take some example from the Extraordinary Form and begin to enter into the spirituality of Lent.

With either Form, there is planning to do. Music needs to be finalized (ideally into the Easter Season), Art and Environment should be planned, choirs need preparation, and those who excercise leadership in the communal worship of the church should begin to ease their congregations into Lent.


If you're seeking assistance with planning, I am avaliable for consultation and advising.

A forthcoming New Liturgical Movement

Not to distant from now, Benedict XVI will issue a Moto Proprio, reconstructing the Congregation for Divine Worship. With this will include a road map for a New Liturgical Movement. We should be grateful to the Holy Father for guiding the Catholic Church with a loving hand. We also should give thanks to God in a fitting way for this opportunity to implement the liturgical reforms on Vatican II in a more fitting manner.

Parishes who struggle with implementing these reforms should not be afraid to contact someone learned in liturgical matters to assist them with implementation. I think it would be wise for parishes to hold a short series of talks about the Sacred Liturgy. They should consult with individuals about their particular artistic needs when retrofitting a building. Parishes should seek counsel from an outside individual when music is involved of changed.

In short, we may not know the full extent of these forthcoming reforms. However we should look at this as an opportunity for renewal of the Church's spiritual and liturgical life. Giving thanks to Almighty God for His goodness and bountiful blessings.

Parishes seeking outside help with implementing the Revised Roman Missal should feel free to contact me for an initial consultation.

Liturgical Consultant

I would like to introduce myself as Patrick Callahan: Liturgical Consultant. After working for the Roman Catholic Church for many years, I believe I have the expertise to consult in matters musical and artistic. From being a Catholic Seminarian, to working in parishes, and finally to being a parish Organist and Choir Master, my expertise and experience is vast. Rooted in the teachings of the Church, I believe that I can assist parishes as they desire to deepen their liturgical life. As well I firmly believe that the Liturgical Tradition of the Church should be where we look when we desire to bring our worship life more inline with the sacred.

We have younger generations who seeks something beyond this world. We must remember that when we worship God in the Mass and the Sacraments we enter into a mystery which is never ending.

If you are interested in beginning a project but are not sure where to begin, let a fresh set of eyes and ears see and listen to your ideas.

Let us remember that all we do is Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!

Patrick