Tag: Johan van Parys
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Book Excerpt: What’s The Smoke For? Part Three
Let me start by assuring you that devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is an essential part of our Catholic faith. It is necessarily rooted in and directed toward an ever deeper relationship with Christ. Unless this relationship exists, all the rest is nothing but intellectual gymnastics and ritualistic posturing.
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Book Excerpt: What’s The Smoke For? Part Two
Before the concept of inculturation was even invented, Mary wisely started to inculturate Christianity. Had it not been for Mary in her apparition as Our Lady of Guadalupe, for example, Christianity would have had a much harder time taking root in the Americas. No wonder Our Lady of Guadalupe has since been declared the patron…
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Book Excerpt: What’s The Smoke For? Part One
In recent times we have become more aware of the importance of the senses. Remember, for example, how the slightest whiff of a certain perfume can whisk you off to a totally different place and time, as it reminds you of a certain person or event. Similarly, incense is used as a reminder of the…
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Interviewing Liturgical Leaders: Johan van Parys
“We too often content ourselves with beautiful liturgies without making the obvious connection to the world we live in. Unless the liturgy changes us and causes us to want to make a difference in the world it is little more than a self-indulgent artistic endeavor and spiritual navel gazing.”
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Creating a Place for Worship. Art and Environment for our Times
Though we are all one, Christians from different cultures have their own artistic traditions and expectations. When we come together in one and the same church a great tapestry of possibilities avails itself to us. Learn how to create a unified environment that embraces and engages every member of the community.
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Timeless Hospitality. Integrating an ever-changing and multicultural community
The days of mono-cultural communities are waning in favor of complex multicultural communities. This new reality provides us with great opportunities as well as with certain challenges. This keynote offers practical ways to help everyone feel welcome so our church can be a place for spiritual nourishment and support for all.
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Perspectives on Catholic architecture: a response to Dennis McNamara
The unmistakable thread running through Dr. McNamara’s book is that there is one true faith, one true liturgy, and one truly sacred style of architecture: the classical tradition. It is surprising that he touts one architectural tradition as the one true expression of his principles.
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Of Spirit and Soul
I have read books about it for years. I have attended conferences, workshops and retreats. And yet, I am not sure I can define it. I am referring to spirituality. Spirituality is so often spoken about, and yet, it is in essence unspeakable; it is the topic of great lectures and the result of much…