Preaching effective homilies was focus of Advent spirituality day for priests
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Homilies are important to the faith life of parishioners. With that focus, an Advent spirituality day for priests centered on helping priests to develop a better understanding of the need for inspiring homilies.
Prepared by the diocesan Department of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life, the event, held Dec. 12 in St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, had as its theme, “The View from the Pew,” and featured a keynote address by Professor Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and founder and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in Princeton University.
Relating highlights of George’s presentation, the goal of the day helped Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the 120 priests in attendance to focus on “what people expect from their homilies when they go to Mass on Sunday,” according to Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for the diocesan Department of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life.
“Parishioners, believe it or not, don’t want to be entertained by a homily,” emphasized Msgr. Mullelly. “They have other venues for entertainment. When they listen to a homily, they want to be informed, inspired and filled with hope about their Catholic faith and the saving news of Jesus Christ.”
George stressed that priests “tell the truth of the faith, in all its beauty,” Msgr. Mullelly said. Pointers that George shared with the priests about preaching homilies are that parishioners do not appreciate hearing them in a “lecture format,” nor do they enjoy being “spoken down to.”
The preferred approach for homily delivery, he said, is the “quasi sacramental reality,” which prompts the faithful to “stretch a little” in their understanding about the truth of the Church.
Msgr. Mullelly reiterated that the truth “always points to Christ and Christ present in the Eucharist.”
Msgr. Mullelly noted that in the past year, Bishop O’Connell has placed great emphasis on providing ongoing opportunities for priests to develop their preaching skills “because next to the liturgy, the opportunity to expose people to the richness of the Church’s tradition, its dogma and moral tradition, the hope and joy of the Good News is through preaching.”
Msgr. Mullelly added that George was chosen to address the spirituality day given his credentials as a scholar, author, leader and his being “an outstanding Catholic layman.” A member of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, George is also a visiting professor at Harvard Law School; chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and he has authored/co-authored numerous books and articles.
Msgr. Mullelly said the response from Bishop O’Connell and the priests toward George’s presentation was overwhelmingly positive then added that the spirituality day also included a Christmas celebration with a luncheon hosted by St. Justin the Martyr Parish.
Msgr. Mullelly said the Advent spirituality day was one of several annual events that is designed to bring priests of the diocese together in a collegial setting. Other occasions when the priests gather as a unit include the Lenten spirituality day; the fall convocation held in Avalon, and the dinner that precedes the Chrism Mass which is celebrated on the Monday of Holy Week.
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By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Homilies are important to the faith life of parishioners. With that focus, an Advent spirituality day for priests centered on helping priests to develop a better understanding of the need for inspiring homilies.
Prepared by the diocesan Department of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life, the event, held Dec. 12 in St. Justin the Martyr Parish, Toms River, had as its theme, “The View from the Pew,” and featured a keynote address by Professor Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and founder and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in Princeton University.
Relating highlights of George’s presentation, the goal of the day helped Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and the 120 priests in attendance to focus on “what people expect from their homilies when they go to Mass on Sunday,” according to Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, vicar for the diocesan Department of Clergy Personnel and Consecrated Life.
“Parishioners, believe it or not, don’t want to be entertained by a homily,” emphasized Msgr. Mullelly. “They have other venues for entertainment. When they listen to a homily, they want to be informed, inspired and filled with hope about their Catholic faith and the saving news of Jesus Christ.”
George stressed that priests “tell the truth of the faith, in all its beauty,” Msgr. Mullelly said. Pointers that George shared with the priests about preaching homilies are that parishioners do not appreciate hearing them in a “lecture format,” nor do they enjoy being “spoken down to.”
The preferred approach for homily delivery, he said, is the “quasi sacramental reality,” which prompts the faithful to “stretch a little” in their understanding about the truth of the Church.
Msgr. Mullelly reiterated that the truth “always points to Christ and Christ present in the Eucharist.”
Msgr. Mullelly noted that in the past year, Bishop O’Connell has placed great emphasis on providing ongoing opportunities for priests to develop their preaching skills “because next to the liturgy, the opportunity to expose people to the richness of the Church’s tradition, its dogma and moral tradition, the hope and joy of the Good News is through preaching.”
Msgr. Mullelly added that George was chosen to address the spirituality day given his credentials as a scholar, author, leader and his being “an outstanding Catholic layman.” A member of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, George is also a visiting professor at Harvard Law School; chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and he has authored/co-authored numerous books and articles.
Msgr. Mullelly said the response from Bishop O’Connell and the priests toward George’s presentation was overwhelmingly positive then added that the spirituality day also included a Christmas celebration with a luncheon hosted by St. Justin the Martyr Parish.
Msgr. Mullelly said the Advent spirituality day was one of several annual events that is designed to bring priests of the diocese together in a collegial setting. Other occasions when the priests gather as a unit include the Lenten spirituality day; the fall convocation held in Avalon, and the dinner that precedes the Chrism Mass which is celebrated on the Monday of Holy Week.