Zimbabwe: The Liturgy is about everyone’s active participation

The Faithful at Zimbabwe’s Holy Name Parish in Mabelreign last week organised a workshop on the Liturgy. The idea was to provide accurate and current liturgical knowledge to the laity. The workshop was facilitated by Fr Joseph Mahlahla, a lecturer at Chishawasha Major Seminary in Harare. 

Fr Mahlahla said the chief purpose of liturgy is to glorify God.

He emphasised that the term Liturgy means public worship. It entails active participation of everyone in the work of God, and the most important thing to happen during a liturgical celebration should be our encounter with God.

On sacred hymns during the Liturgy, Fr Mahlahla said people in the choir must not limit other people’s participation in the Liturgy. This sometimes means taking care not to introduce new songs into the celebration before they are taught to the congregation.

About Prayers of the Faithful, Fr. Mahlahla noted that giving petitions that are of a personal nature is inappropriate. Everyone is supposed to feel included in each and every prayer request that is publicly said during the Prayers of the Faithful.

During the proclamation of the Liturgy of the Word at Mass, the Faithful need to listen attentively and concentrate more on the Word being proclaimed rather than spend time scrolling through their Bible pages. 

“The time for the Liturgy of the Word is not a time for Bible study. What is needed here is to pay attention to God speaking to us. One can, however, read the readings before the Holy Mass so that when the Word is proclaimed you have a better understanding of the text,” said Fr Mahlahla.

 (Pylaia Chembe, Jesuit Communications Zimbabwe – Mozambique)

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