Liturgy Office:
The Diocesan Liturgy Office is tasked by our bishop with implementing the vision of the Liturgy Constitution of the Second Vatican Council and all subsequent liturgical documents. To this end the Liturgy Office will provide formation, support and development to the liturgical life of our parishes, schools and institutions. We strive to promote further understanding in the areas of liturgical prayer, the sacraments, liturgical music and space, as well as to provide educational opportunities for the development of all liturgical ministers.
The Liturgy Office is also responsible for advising the bishop and our parishes on matters of Liturgical Art and Architecture – building, re-ordering, alterations and additions and artistic commissions – for all churches of the Diocese.
We are here to support individuals, parishes and communities in everything that enables them to be more fully a Church of deepened prayer – so if there’s anything that might support you and your parish in its celebration of the liturgy, please do get in touch.
The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales Liturgy Office has prepared Prayers for use during a time of ‘flu and illness. This contains general prayers for health and also a note about Spiritual Communion and praying during Self-Isolation. You can access their page here.
Please see the latest newsletter below.

Tel: 0117 902 5595
160 Pennywell Road,
Bristol, BS5 0TX
Click on a link below for Liturgical information and resources:
Ministries:
Prayer of the Faithful worksheet
Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Ministers-of-Holy-Communion-trifold
Guide for taking Holy Communion to the sick and housebound
Communion of the sick – Liturgy (trifold)
Guidelines for Lay Ministers of the Word
Feasts, Saints and Seasons:
Fasting and Abstinence Guidelines
Gospel of the Blind Man Narrator
Sacrament of Reconciliation – a simple guide
Easter Triduum:
The Liturgy of the Easter Triduum
The Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday
The Easter Vigil – Blessing the Fire
Triduum, Morning & Evening Prayer:
Morning Prayer Maundy Thursday
Evening Prayer Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday – Office of Readings & Morning Prayer
Good Friday – Morning Prayer & Office of Readings
Holy Saturday – Morning Prayer & Office of Readings
Resources:
Rites & Blessings
Advent
- Advent Readers Guide (A)
- Advent Readers Guide (B)
- Advent Readers Guide (C)
- Advent Carol Liturgy
- Advent O Antiphon Liturgy
- Advent O Antiphon Liturgy – Booklet
- Bambinelli Sunday
- Christingle
- Los Posadas
- Order of the blessing of an Advent Wreath
- Suggested Hymns and Readings before Midnight Mass
Christmas
Epiphany
- The Epiphany Proclamation
- Easter Announcement Music File
- Blessing of Homes on the Epiphany
- Epiphany Carol Liturgy
Lent and Easter
More Resources
Prayer of Blessing of Married Couples
A Liturgy of the Word for Sundays
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of Reconciliation Tri-fold
Time before the Blessed Sacrament
Prayer of the Faithful worksheet
Prayer of the Faithful – Arundel & Brighton guidelines
Cycle of Prayer – Model Intercessions
Year A Advent/Christmastide
Immaculate Conception of the BVM
Year A Lent / Eastertide
2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Year A Ordinary Time
Year B – Advent/Christmastide
Immaculate Conception of the BVM
Year B Lent / Eastertide
2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy
Year B Ordinary Time
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Other Solemnities and Feasts
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Year C
Prayer of the Faithful worksheet
Prayer of the Faithful – Arundel & Brighton guidelines
Cycle of Prayer – Model Intercessions
Year C Advent/Christmastide
Immaculate Conception of the BVM
Year C Lent / Eastertide
2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Year C Ordinary Time
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Other Solemnities and Feasts
The following links are offered as a resource to all who are involved in liturgical ministry. The links given below were accurate at the time of going to print.
GENERAL LITURGY RESOURCES
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/index.htm
Congregation for Divine Worship and the discipline of the Sacraments (Vatican).
The Department for Christian Life and Worship
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Offers a number of free to use hymns, prayers, pictures etc
LITURGY MAGAZINES
The Pastoral Liturgy Magazine
Worship is an ecumenical journal devoted to the study of liturgical theology and practice.
www.musicasacra.com/journal/sacred-music/
Sacred Music is the official journal of the Church Music Association of America
LITURGY SOCIETIES
The Society of Saint Gregory. Music and Liturgy Journal is produced by the society. A useful
resource for music planning.
The Society for Catholic Liturgy is committed to promoting scholarly study and practical
renewal of the Church’s liturgy.
Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy.
LITURGICAL FORMATION
This website contains a variety of materials, mostly related to biblical and liturgical studies.
LITURGICAL PLANNING & MUSIC
This website features free, downloadable communion antiphons for all liturgical year cycles
to be used at Sunday and Holy Day Masses.
Centre for Liturgy at St Louis University. Excellent weekly resources including good
Universal Prayers (Prayer of the Faithful)
National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Music for the Liturgy.
Responsorial Psalm settings for the liturgical year. The site includes free printable music for
organ and cantor and audio files. A Very useful for new cantors.
www.canticanova.com/index.html
Traditional music for the Contemporary Church. Planning, resources and hymns.
www.wellsprings.org.uk/wellsprings.htm
A good resource for the liturgical year: prayers, meditations. Good non-Eucharistic material.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Help for those who proclaim the Word at Mass
Liturgy Alive. Good resources for the Mass including Prayer of the Faithful for each Sunday.
Online study Bible with different translations and search
www.salfordliturgy.org.uk/sundaysyeara.htm
An excellent resource from Salford Diocese including notes for readers for each Sunday of the year.
A useful resource for helping people with intellectual challenges – includes downloadable files and resource guides
www.kairosforum.org/space/weekly-gospel/
A useful resource making the Sunday Gospel more accessible for people with intellectual challenges
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/LOWC/index.shtml
Guidelines and ministry leaflets for Masses and Liturgy of the Word with children
www.ocp.org/en-us/products/9595
Music for CLOW
LITURGY OF THE HOURS
Mass Readings / Calendar/ Liturgy of the Hours -also phone app for hours. Grail translation
of psalms available together with some English diocesan calendars.
LATIN LITURGY
Association for Latin liturgy
Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)
Liturgy Office Newsletter – Spring 2023
This Spring newsletter finds us already part way through Lent, hopefully having been able to keep to our Lenten Resolutions so far. The word ‘Lent’, as we know, comes from the old English word for Spring, Lencten, which means to lengthen. As we progress through the season of Lent the days of daylight gradually lengthen until the cold days of February and March are transformed into the brighter days of April. For many people Lent is when we ‘give something up’, which can make Lent feel a somewhat negative, deprived time in our lives, instead of something that is positive and will enable us to grow closer to God. Perhaps, this year, we could think in terms of ‘taking something up’ – either instead of, or as well. For example, if we give up social media for one day, or part of a day, each week, we could instead visit a sick friend, or someone who is alone or feeling isolated.
Liturgies of Reconciliation
Lent is a time when we, perhaps, are keen to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and, once again, Bishop Declan will be celebrating Liturgies of Reconciliation during the Season of Lent at venues across the diocese. These Liturgies are a beautiful way of celebrating God’s love and mercy for us, especially during this season. Each liturgy will start at 7pm. Priests will be available at each venue to celebrate sacramental reconciliation. There are three session still to come:
Thursday 16 March (St Catharine of Alexandria, Frome),
Thursday 23 March (St Mary, Swindon),
Thursday 30 March (Corpus Christi, Weston-Super-Mare).
An Examination of Conscience, which might help us to prepare ourselves for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and based on Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (13:4-7), is available below. Don’t try to go through the whole list but pick two or three areas that you might reflect upon.
An Examination of Conscience
Examination of Conscience based upon the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul
based on Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (13:4-7)
The examination may be read silently as you prepare for your confession.
Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Love is patient, love is kind . . .
- Do I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind, or do I hold back because of my love of possessions or status or because of my own fear? Have I used the Lord’s name in vain?
- Do I express my love for God with daily prayer and participation in the Mass? Do I keep Sunday as a holy day?
- Do I patiently wait for the Lord to hear my prayers?
- Am I patient in putting into practice those things which God calls me to do?
- Am I patient with my family, friends and co-workers?
- Do I treat others with true kindness? Am I generous with my time and talent with those in need?
- Am I true to my family relationships? to my friends? Do I act or speak one way in their presence and another when they are gone?
- Do I honour my parents and show them respect and love?
- Do I empathize with others, especially those who are poor and vulnerable or who seem difficult to love?
Love is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude . . .
- Am I jealous of other people? Do I covet their popularity, money, or possessions?
- Do I look down on others of different races or financial status?
- Am I quick to judge others?
- Do I treat all people with respect and love?
Love does not seek its own interest, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury
- Do I put aside my own wishes and desires to serve God, as well as my family, parish, and community?
- Do I become angry if things do not go “my way?”
- Am I quick to speak harshly to others—those I love as well as strangers?
- Am I able truly to forgive others? Or do I hang onto pain and mistrust?
- Have I committed violence against others? Have I struck someone in anger? Am I abusive — physically or emotionally — of a spouse or child?
- Have I stolen from someone or kept something that does not belong to me?
- Have I been faithful to my spouse?
Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth . . .
- Do I rejoice in others’ achievements or do I rejoice when others fail or are wronged?
- Do I expect the best or the worst from other people?
- Do I cherish the truth above all things? Am I true to my own word?
- Do I gossip? lie? cheat?
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things . . .
- Do I bear the crosses in my life with patience and joy in the Lord?
- Do I believe the tenets of the Catholic faith?
- Do I live out the Church’s beliefs in all facets of my life?
- Do I wait in joyful hope for our Lord’s return in glory?
- Am I hopeful, even in the midst of the world’s uncertainty?
- Do I endure the trials of my life in faith? Am I willing to bear the cross of Christ?
A Prayer of the Penitent
Lord Jesus, you chose to be called the friend of sinners.
By your saving death and resurrection free me from my sins.
May your peace take root in my heart and bring forth a harvest
of love, holiness, and truth. Amen.
—from the Rite of Penance
We also include articles on Holy Communion under both kinds, Holydays of Obligation, Lent and Easter Music, the Chrism Mass (which, this year, will take place on Wednesday 5 April at 11am in our cathedral), Liturgies of the Word and Art & Architecture.
Holy Communion under both kinds
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales now states that the practice of receiving both the Body and Blood of Christ may be resumed on Maundy Thursday or, if that is felt to be too early, Corpus Christi. An information leaflet is attached. Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion can be found here https://cliftondiocese.com/liturgy-office/ under the ‘Ministries’ tab. If you wish, members of the Liturgy Office will be happy to provide formation to deaneries or groups of churches.
Liturgies of the Word
We have received a number of queries about Liturgies of the Word with and without Holy Communion. Bishop Declan has made it clear that, certainly on weekdays, he does not wish parishes to celebrate Liturgies of the Word with Holy Communion. However, there are some Sundays when this might be appropriate, such as when supply cannot be found for a priest and there is no other church nearby that the faithful can attend. The parish priest will have had to make sure that there are sufficient consecrated hosts in the tabernacle to accommodate this. There is a suggested Liturgy of the Word for Sundays here https://cliftondiocese.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lit-Word-for-Sundays.pdf . This envisages that Holy Communion will not be included but watch out for an additional document for a Liturgy with Holy Communion on Sundays – coming soon! Do remember, too, that there is a section with suggested Bidding Prayers for each Sunday here https://cliftondiocese.com/liturgy-office/ , under the Prayer of the Faithful tab.
Lent and Easter music
If you’re one of our Diocesan musicians I’ve no doubt that you’re currently right in the middle of practising and learning music for the latter part of Lent, Holy Week and the Triduum. It’s music which deserves a lot of thought and planning, a lot of concentration and sometimes, in my experience, a lot of nerve during the celebrations themselves. I wish you the best of luck for this most important time of the liturgical year. Sing and play with passion, understanding and accuracy.
But while the Holy Week celebrations are pivotal, can I put in a plea for the Easter season which follows. Don’t forget about it. I’m sure you already have plans for some excellent, uplifting, resurrection-filled music on Easter Sunday itself, but what about the weeks that follow?
The Easter Season gives us the chance to fill the church with Alleluias and happy singing. Those Alleluias are not only for the Gospel Acclamation – many other parts of Mass can be adorned with them. Look for songs and hymns which use the word ‘Alleluia’. Use seasonal indexes in hymn books and in online resources to seek out Easter songs. The responsorial psalm during the Easter season can simply have the response ‘Alleluia’.
There are other ways to highlight the Easter Season. This might be a thought for the future, rather than this year as it would require research, planning and rehearsing: why not have a Glory to God which is only used during Easter (and maybe at other major feasts during the year). Other Mass parts can benefit from this idea, too. It might not just be the Glory to God, but a whole Mass setting, which you can employ in this way.
One other thing that you can do is spruce up your singing during Easter. It is, after all, springtime, so fill yourself with the joys of the season. Take a deep breath – both when you step outside your front door, and when you are about to sing.
Above all, enjoy the Easter season and its music!
Chrism Mass
Our annual Chrism Mass, when Bishop Declan will bless the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens and consecrate the Oil of Chrism – all of which will be used throughout the diocese in the coming year – will take place in our cathedral on Wednesday 5 April at 11am. This is a wonderful experience of the family of the diocese coming together to celebrate Mass just before we begin the Holy Paschal Triduum. If you have never taken part in this celebration, do consider coming along; it is a beautiful liturgy and generates a great sense of anticipation for the Easter Vigil when, if there are people being received into the Church, the oils will be used for the first time. From the Chrism Mass, the oils are brought back to the parishes and it is appropriate that they are presented to and received by the local parish community. We give here some guidelines and a couple of suggested Rites for the reception of the oils.
Holydays of Obligation
During the pandemic, and for some time afterwards, our obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days was suspended and this continued until November 2021 when we were encouraged to pick up that obligation once again. It is helpful if we can view that ‘obligation’ as a gift, rather than an imposition, an invitation to grow deeper in love with God. During the pandemic, we had to find other ways of honouring Sunday and for many this was via a live-streamed Mass – indeed a live-streamed Mass is still a God-send for countless people who are physically unable to get to Mass. But, if we can get to Mass, we should not view ‘watching Mass’ a suitable alternative.
Our Sunday Mass obligation is based on the Third Commandment: “Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy” (Ex 20:8). All of the commandments of God are serious matter, so to deliberately miss Mass on Sunday — without a just reason — would be sinful. But, of course, there are reasons that will excuse us from the Sunday obligation. The Church recognises that there will be exceptions, such as the physical or moral impossibility of attending Mass. Physical impossibility would include the person who is too ill to attend or just lives too far away; moral impossibility would be higher extenuating circumstances for a higher act of charity, such as caring for the sick, or a young mother having to care for infants. We are not asked to neglect such responsibilities in order to attend Mass on a Sunday or other Holyday of Obligation.
The Holydays of Obligations for England and Wales are:
- Every Sunday
- Nativity of the Lord (25th December)
- Epiphany of the Lord (6th January*)
- Ascension of the Lord (Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter)
- St Peter & St Paul (29th June*)
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15th August*)
- All Saints (1st November*)
- * According to a decision of the Bishops’ Conference (1984) Holydays which fall on Saturday or Monday are transferred to the Sunday and, since 2006, Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of the Lord) has been transferred to a Sunday.
For 2023, the remaining Holydays of Obligation, which do not fall on a Sunday, are:
Saints Peter and Paul – Wed 29th June and All Saints – Tues 1st Nov.
Art & Architecture
The Liturgy Office is responsible for advising the bishop and our parishes on matters of liturgical Art and Architecture – building, re-ordering, alterations and additions and artistic commissions – for the churches of the diocese. Any proposed changes which affect the liturgical and devotional life of the parish or community will need to be referred to the Liturgy Office for advice and permission where necessary. This may also require diocesan approval and possibly approval from the Historic Churches Committee (in the case of a listed building).
Is Diocesan Permission Needed?
Permission is required for all works that affect the liturgical and devotional life of the parish or community. This is wide-ranging and may range from the construction of a new church building to a major re-ordering or even provision of works of sacred art. It may also extend to the grounds of the church especially where this area includes the approach to the building, its use for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy (burials, Palm Sunday Liturgy, Eucharistic processions etc), devotional areas and where such grounds are the context for works of sacred art.
The interior of the church or chapel includes the narthex, nave, sanctuary, baptistery, Blessed Sacrament chapel, sacristy, places for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, shrines, galleries and other places. This will include such things as
- the overall liturgical environment;
- the provision of altar, ambo, font, presidential chair, place for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Oils, musical instruments, seating, altar rails, confessionals and also substantial brass and silverware;
- décor, lighting schemes, furnishings, floor coverings, glazing, sound systems, heating, memorial plaques etc;
- works of Sacred Art including stained and etched glass, statuary, Stations of the Cross, icons, paintings, mosaics, murals, banners etc;
- any item that is intended to be a permanent fixture. ‘Permanent’ is understood to refer to placing of an object, whether fixed or moveable, in the church for a continuous period exceeding three months;
- the restoration, removal or disposal of any work of art, historic vestments, plate and furnishings from a church or chapel belonging to the Clifton Diocese.
Early Consultation
It often saves time and frustration if you approach the Liturgy Office at the outset, before submitting a formal application. Please do contact the Liturgy Office for comments and advice about your plans as early on in the project as possible. The Liturgy Office seeks to serve our communities and offers a consultancy service on the various aspects of sacred space and the general liturgical environment.
Site Visits
It may be that the Liturgy Office will wish to send a member or a small group to discuss your proposals on site or to meet with the parish priest, members of the PPC and other parishioners or members of your community. It will help if you can send as much information as possible, such as sketch plans, brief etc. in advance if you have reached such a stage of development.
Please remember
Any works carried out without approval may have to be reversed. Furthermore, no work is to be commenced in a listed church until a faculty has been received from the Historic Churches Committee.
For further information please contact liturgy@cliftondiocese.com
Update on New Translation of the Lectionary
We are now advised that the New Translation of the Lectionary will not be available this year and the current estimate is that it will be introduced next year, either on Trinity Sunday or on the First Sunday of Advent. Watch this space!