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CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS 

PRESS RELEASE

 

            

The Vox Clara Committee has just completed a two day meeting in the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. This Committee of Bishops from around the English-speaking world was established by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on July 19, 2001, to advise that Dicastery in its responsibilities related to the translation of liturgical texts in the English language and to strengthen effective cooperation with the Conferences of Bishops. Its inaugural meeting took place from April 22 to April 24 of this year.  

The Vox Clara Committee is chaired by Archbishop George Pell, Sydney (Australia), and includes among its Members Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, Mobile (USA), who serves as First Vice-Chairman, Archbishop Oswald Gracias, Agra (India), who serves as Second Vice-Chairman; Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Westminster (England), who serves as Secretary; Archbishop Justin Rigali, Saint Louis (USA), who serves as Treasurer; Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Chicago (USA); Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Kumasi (Ghana); Archbishop Alfred Hughes, New Orleans (USA); Archbishop Kelvin Felix, Castries (Saint Lucia); Bishop Rolando Tirona, O.C.D., Malolos (Philippines); and Bishop Philip Boyce, O.C.D., Raphoe (Ireland).  

In the course of its meetings, the Committee took up the work that had been entrusted to it on April 22, 2002, by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The responsibilities include assisting the Congregation in the preparation of a draft ratio translationis (cf. Liturgiam authenticam, n. 9), which would serve as a guide for the preparation of future English language liturgical translations, as well as the review of translations of select portions of the Missale Romanum, intended to serve as exemplars of English language liturgical translations which meet the requirements of the Fifth Instruction (Liturgiam authenticam) for precision and proclaimability. 

Cardinal Francis Arinze,who was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in October 2002, addressed the Vox Clara Committee on both days of its work. The Prefect emphasized the importance of an effective application of Liturgiam authenticam to the structures and processes undertaken for the translation of the liturgical books of the Roman Rite and expressed his gratitude for the work of the Vox Clara Committee in assisting the Congregation in their accomplishment of this end. 

The members and advisors of the Vox Clara Committee also sent a message of thanks and best wishes to Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, thanking him for his work. The Vox Clara Committee adjourned on Tuesday afternoon and will next meet in Rome in the spring, 2003.

Approved by the Vox Clara Committee on November 19, 2002

 

CONTACT: 

Monsignor James P. Moroney
Advisor, Vox Clara Committee
CELL: 202-256-6682

            

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