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July,
2004
On June 4, 2004, the Bishop of
Phoenix, Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, met in Rome with Francis
Cardinal Arinze regarding LIFE TEEN. His Eminence Cardinal
Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship, stated
his support for LIFE TEEN and said he was "heartened to see
that dedicated persons have taken initiative to promote the
liturgy especially since, in various parts of the world, a
disaffection for the Mass is found among young people". The
Cardinal was very supportive of LIFE TEEN and encouraged our
mission to continue. However, he also believed that LIFE TEEN
needs to fully implement the new General Instruction of the
Roman Missal (GIRM).
In addition to his meeting with
Cardinal Arinze, Bishop Olmsted met with Monsignor James Moroney,
executive director of the United States Bishop's Committee on
the Liturgy (BCL) regarding LIFE TEEN. Msgr. Moroney has been in
dialogue with LIFE TEEN regarding implementation of the new GIRM.
As the founder of this youth movement, I am writing to confirm
our adherence to the new GIRM, and as always, our obedience to
our own local Bishops. In this spirit of obedience, we are
asking all parishes using the LIFE TEEN model to make the
following changes:
- In accordance with the new
GIRM, teens are no longer to enter the sanctuary for the
Eucharistic prayer. Being in the sanctuary is reserved for
the priest celebrant, concelebrants, and those performing a
specific ministry.
- The GIRM very specifically
offers three options for the end of the Mass. We are to
cease using the phrase "The Mass Never Ends, It Must Be
Lived" and begin using one of the three prescribed
endings found in the Missal.
- After music practice or
welcoming, please make sure there is a period of silence to
begin the liturgical celebration.
- As we have always taught,
please make sure the music does not in any way detract from
the action at the altar, ambo, or chair.
- Please make sure that full
implementation of the GIRM is done in accordance with your
Diocese and accomplished with a spirit of joy.
Although these changes may be
difficult for some parishes and teens to accept, let me assure
you that our cooperation with Rome and the BCL will only enhance
our liturgical celebrations and our mission in the Church. It
will be essential that we catechize our teens and their families
on what we are doing, and why we are doing it.
All parishes involved with LIFE
TEEN will receive a short video by the beginning of August to be
used to introduce these changes. We will assist you in any way
possible to make a smooth and grace-filled transition. We are
asking for catechesis and full implementation of these changes
by October 1, 2004. As you know, October has been chosen by the
Holy Father to begin the year of the Eucharist. This is an
exciting time for us to focus on the real presence and to call
our teens to a deeper faith in the Church and in the sacraments.
The heart of LIFE TEEN is the
Eucharist. Full, conscious, and active participation of our
youth remains to be our goal. Dynamic preaching, spirit filled
music, and the conversion of young people remain our hallmark.
The commitment of LIFE TEEN to evangelize our youth and to call
them to Christ is stronger than ever. We will work for
vocations. Our Holy Father John Paul II remains our role model.
Our Blessed Mother remains our patron.
Thank you for the love you have
for our youth and LIFE TEEN. We are growing and this can be seen
in our new national headquarters, in our camps in Atlanta and
Arizona, as well as in our local parish programs. We are also
working hard on the official status of LIFE TEEN as a private
association of the Christian Faithful, in favor with the
Apostolic See of the Catholic Church; bright days are ahead for
us all.
We thank Cardinal Arinze,
Bishop Olmsted, and Msgr. Moroney. They have clearly laid out a
path for us, and we will follow it with enthusiasm and faith.
In Christ,
Msgr. Dale J. Fushek and the
staff of LIFE TEEN
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