1. Name: The name of the Commission is the Diocesan Liturgy Commission. In this Constitution it shall be referred to as the “Commission”.
2. Role: The Commission is responsible to the Bishop for the promotion of the liturgical apostolate within the Diocese of Bathurst. i
3. Objectives:
The objectives of the Commission are:-
a) to study the liturgical documents of the Church;
b) to inform itself about the practice of the liturgy in the Diocese;ii
c) to inform itself of the decisions of the competent authorities in liturgical matters and to help put these into effect in the Diocese, under the direction of the Bishop;iii
d) to inform itself of what is being said and done in liturgical matters in other Australian dioceses and in other parts of the world;
e) to make recommendation to the Bishop, and to the Australian Liturgical Commission on matters within its competence;
f) to suggest and promote, under the direction of the Bishop, practical schemes to further the liturgical movement, especially to assist priests and parish liturgy committees in their work of planning and executing liturgical celebrations and of liturgical formation.i
g) to suggest steps for a pastoral liturgical programme within the Diocese and to provide or give advice about the persons, resources and materials available to put such a programme into effect.
h) to co-operate with other Commissions and Diocesan bodies in the promotion of joint projects to ensure that Diocesan schemes for the promotion of the liturgy have the goodwill and co-operation of all concerned.vi
i) to advise the Bishop on building, decoration and furnishing of churches and the adaptation of existing ones according to the norms laid down in the relevant liturgical documents.
j) under the direction of the Bishop to further studies and necessary experiments in the case of adaptations in liturgical rites to be submitted to the Apostolic Seevii and to carry out consultations, including those requested by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference or its committees.
k) to give assistance when requested in the planning of a Diocesan liturgical celebration.
4. Membership and Officers of the Commission
5. Committees of the Commission
a) The Commission may form various committees to deal with various aspects of its work, for a specific purpose or for a specific period of time.
b) The Chairperson and members of each committee are to be appointed by the Commission.
c) The Chairperson and Secretary of the Commission are ex-officio members of all committees.
d) Each Committee regulates its procedure and work to the Terms of Reference as approved by the Commission.
e) The Committees have no power to make executive decisions but submit their recommendations in writing to the Secretary of the Commission, except in so far as powers are specifically delegated to a Committee.
6. Officers’ Duties
a)The duties of the Chairperson shall be to:-
i) preside when it is possible for him/her to do so, over all meetings of the Commission and sign all minutes approved by the Commission as a true record of its proceedings;
ii) ensure that the Committee responsible puts into effect such resolutions as the Commission may require;
iii) provide a link between the Bishop and the Commission and submit its recommendations to the Bishop;
iv)undertake any other duty that the nature and scope of his/her office may require.
b)The duties of the Vice-Chairperson appointed by the Commission are:-
i) to preside at Commission meetings in the absence of the Chairperson;
ii) to undertake the Chairperson’s duties in the absence of the Chairperson.
c) The duties of the Secretary/Treasurer will be to:-
i) consult with the Chairperson in drawing up the agenda for Commission meetings;
ii) call Commission meetings on the instruction of the Bishop, the Chairperson of the Commission or at the written request of four members of the Commission;
iii) give Commission members at least 14 days notice of any meeting so called;
iv) act as a point of contact for correspondence;
v) attend all meetings of the Commission and keep a record of the proceedings;
vi) submit Minutes of all Commission meetings to next meeting of Commission.
vii) submit to the Commission for consideration proposals received from Parish Liturgy Committees or from individual person;
viii)receive all monies paid to the Commission;
ix)discharge all accounts;
x) enter all accounts into the books of the Commission;
xi)give up all books, documents and money to his/her successor on his/her departure from office;
xii) present to all members at the first Commission meeting each year a statement of accounts for the financial year and a balance sheet as at December 31 of the preceding year.
e)The Vice-Chairperson and the Secretary/Treasurer remain in office at the discretion of the Chairperson in consultation with the Bishop.
7. Meetings
a) The Commission meets at least three times a year.
b) Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the Bishop, by the Chairperson or at the written request to the Secretary of four members of the Commission. Fourteen days clear notice of such meetings shall be given to all members.
c) The agenda for meetings is drawn up by the Secretary in consultation with the Chairperson.
d) The quorum for meetings of the Commission is one half of the members, plus one.
e) Any motion duly proposed and seconded is decided by a simple majority of those members present and voting.
f) If necessary, the Chairperson has a casting vote in addition to his/her deliberative vote.
g) Any member who does not attend four consecutive meetings of the Commission of which he/she has been given prior notice and has not given an acceptable reason for absence, is deemed to have resigned. Such a member shall, however, remain eligible for re-appointment.
8. Communication
a) The Commission gives a report of its work, decisions and recommendations to official Diocesan, Regional and Parish committees, to all Priests and to Parish Liturgy Committees where established.
b) A Parish Liturgy Committee, and indeed any person, is able to submit proposals in writing to the Secretary for consideration by the Commission.
c) The Secretary will be provided with a ‘contact person’ in each parish to whom, in addition to the Priests of the parish, correspondence will be directed.
9. Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution, duly proposed and seconded, shall be carried by a two-thirds majority of the Commission the notice for which shall have contained clear details of the proposed amendments. Fourteen days notice of such amendments must be given by the Secretary to all members of the Commission. Any such amendments so passed shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop.
I Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium” No. 45
ii Instruction on the Constitution 47a
iii Instruction on the Constitution 47b
iv Instruction on the Constitution 47c
v Instruction on the Constitutuion 47d
vi Instruction on the Constitution 47e and 45e
vii Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium” No. 44
