Cathy Murrowood, 17 August 2023
This week, Cathy Murrowood shares her own story. Cathy is a Liturgy Educator with the ACU Centre for Liturgy and is involved in developing online liturgy training programs for communities across Australia. She is a member of the National Liturgical Council and a liturgical consultant. Thank you very much for your contribution, Cathy!
My background
I developed an interest in liturgy as a young teenage musician who was active in a youth group. I began to realize that music connects us to many aspects of the liturgy so I began to seek opportunities to learn from the many in our diocese who offered guidance. As a young mother of 2 children, I was surprised to be appointed to the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission by the Archbishop of Hobart, Guilford Young, a pioneer of liturgical formation. I was later appointed as the Chair of the Commission by Archbishop Eric D’Arcy. Encouraged by Archbishop Adrian Doyle, I undertook post-graduate liturgical studies in the USA. I recognised that these were ‘firsts’ for a married laywoman, so I responded wholeheartedly to these wonderful opportunities that were presented to me.
When I was appointed as the first Liturgy Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Hobart some 20 years ago, I was aware that I was standing on the shoulders of many in the Archdiocese who encouraged and promoted a deep understanding of the liturgy, illuminated by the Second Vatican Council. I hoped to continue being part of this tradition.
Rural Parishes
In the last 20 years, many communities who desired to continue their witness as a people of faith and mission have been challenged by dwindling resources and the need to maintain many churches, among other things. These difficulties have been real and immediate. I remember vividly one distraught community rallying after their priest suddenly died (on the road while serving a number of different Churches in his parish). Others recognised the need for some form of local lay leadership when it became more and more difficult for their aging Parish Priest to find supply. Although managing change was never easy for these communities, the Spirit remained strong.
Smaller communities have shown great resilience over the years. I visited some communities who rarely have had a resident priest (e.g. Tasmanian islands). Since the 70s, they gathered for Mass once a month and celebrated the Liturgy of the Word with Communion on the other weeks. The work by the local parishioners was shared in such creative ways. Many tasks, both big and small, were undertaken by different people, an indication of the community spirit and a desire to be a strong Christian presence in their local town. I was always in awe of them as they demonstrated such commitment, far beyond that of many of us who reside in the city. In my time as a diocesan coordinator, many of these rural communities also embraced new opportunities for training and formation; they understood the importance of developing their faith and the centrality of Sunday worship, even if Mass was not possible. This also reduced their sense of isolation from the broader Church.
Leadership
Throughout the years, many women religious have taken up some form of leadership at diocesan and parish levels. They exercised liturgical and catechetical leadership, engaged in pastoral outreach and acted as facilitators and encouragers, actively involving community members in parish life. In some cases, the Bishop always included these women in pastoral conferences (also called clergy conferences) but there was no real structure that recognised their ministry and responsibilities, say like that of a Deacon. While there are dwindling numbers of women religious in present times, it is of note that the majority of people exercising liturgical ministry are still women; their contribution is essential in building and leading the Church of the future. Opening the ministries of Acolyte and Lector to both men and women is a first step and may have a significant and positive impact, especially in remote communities.
Join us to celebrate the Feast of St Phoebe with a free webinar on Sunday the 3rd of September from 11:15am – 12pm AEST. Guest speaker, Dr Debra Snoddy, will speak on ‘St Phoebe and women in the early Church, inspiration for a synodal Church today.’ Register at the below link.
Liturgy on the Margins 