Sent Out into the World: A Liturgical Theology for a Parish Community and the New Evangelization—A Reading of The Order of the Dedication of a Church
Ebook
Sent Out into the World contains a liturgical theology for a parish community and the new evangelization that is derived from a reading of The Order of the Dedication of a Church. For this reason, its content can be attributed directly to a liturgical rite of the Catholic Church. It is not the creation of any one person, but rather an exercise in lex orandi, lex credendi. It presents a vision of the parish that comes directly from a rite of the church and focuses the parish community, and its members, on the mission that it has within the body of Christ.
Applying the content of the ordo to a parish community, it presents a theology for those communities in which most Catholics meet the Lord and practice their faith. The liturgical theology for a parish community that is presented here focuses all parish communities on Christ and his presence in the liturgical celebrations that take place in the parish churches. As this ritual powerfully reminds the baptized, from the liturgical and sacramental celebrations in which they encounter Christ in their parish church, the faithful are to be sent out into the world as ministers of the new evangelization.
By reading this book, every Christian who practices his or her faith within a parish community will be reminded of the mission which they are called to live as members dismissed to go into the world at the end of every eucharistic celebration.
“Rev. McGourty’s book restores the importance of rituals, such as the Order of the Dedication of the Church, as essential components of evangelization, the revitalization of parish communities, and the praxis of journeying together as a community of faith.”
—John Elmer Abad, associate professor of systematic and historical theology, St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto
“While liturgical ceremonies for the Dedication of a Church are not very frequent in our day, Fr. McGourty believes that the Order of the Dedication of a Church articulates powerfully the evangelizing mission of every parish community. I am certain that this work will help parish communities and local churches to reflect upon the vocation that the church building, through its symbolism, inspires in each of us. Sent Out into the World presents a badly needed liturgical theology for the contemporary Catholic Church.”
—Thomas Rosica, CSB, SSL, founding CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network
“An insightful and practical liturgist, Michael McGourty draws out the theological riches that are in the Order of the Dedication of a Church to illustrate how our understanding of who and what we are as Christians (the Church) is manifest in the building (the church) in which we gather to worship and from which we are sent out.”
—Gary Franken, bishop, Diocese of St. Paul in Alberta
“Fr. McGourty’s very thoughtful, well-researched, and well-written book invites the local parish community to discover its mission as part of the Mystical Body of Christ and to become a visible sign on earth of the Church in heaven. In our unprecedented era of the ‘virtual parish,’ this book offers a timely reminder that in order for the parish community to realize its ‘authentic ecclesial and spiritual identity,’ the faithful must never lose their focus upon the real presence of Christ, who journeys with us on our pilgrim way.”
—A. Robert Nusca, president, St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto
- Title: Sent Out into the World: A Liturgical Theology for a Parish Community and the New Evangelization—A Reading of The Order of the Dedication of a Church
- Author: Michael McGourty
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798385206230, 9798385206216, 9798385206223
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385206230
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-02-01T21:45:41Z
Fr. Michael McGourty was ordained in 1992 and serves as a priest in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Having completed his doctorate in liturgy at the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Liturgy in 2002, he has taught liturgy and sacraments at St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto and St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. He currently teaches liturgy at St. Augustine’s Seminary and is pastor at St. Peter’s Church in downtown Toronto, Ontario.