This unit studies the church’s rites of commitment – marriage and orders – as they are celebrated in the Catholic church, and the development of lay leadership in liturgy. A brief account of the origins and evolution of rites of commitment leads to an analysis of their contemporary liturgical form. Particular attention is paid to the question of appropriate music for weddings. The study of ordination rites for deacons (including married deacons) and priests and their consequent liturgical roles is complemented by an examination of rites for and the exercise of lay ecclesial leadership.

Pre-requisites:
DL350

Excluded combination:
DL362 and DL363

Requirements:
intensive mode

Assessment:

• one 2,000 word essay - 50%
• one 1,000 word class presentation - 25%
• one 1,000 word evaluation of a liturgical celebration - 25%

Bibliography:

• Croft, Steven J. Ministry in Three Dimensions: Ordination and Leadership in the Local Church. London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1999.
• Hahnenberg, Edward P. Ministries: A Relational Approach. New York: Crossroad, 2003.
• Laler, Michael G. Secular Marriage, Christian Sacrament. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1985.
• O’Meara, Thomas F. Theology of Ministry. Rev. ed. New York: Paulist Press, 1999.
• Philibert, Paul J. The Priesthood of the Faithful: Key to a Living Church. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2005.
• Rademacher, William J. Lay Ministry: A Theological, Spiritual and Pastoral Handbook. New York: Crossroad, 1996.
• Searle, Mark, and Kenneth W. Stevenson. Documents of the Marriage Liturgy. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.
• Stevenson, Kenneth W. To Join Together: The Rite of Marriage. New York: Pueblo, 1987.
• Wood, Susan K., and Michael Downey, eds. Ordering the Baptismal Priesthood: Theologies of Lay and Ordained Ministry. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003.