ILS History

HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE

In June, 2000 the Catholic Diocese of Memphis inaugurated a new diocesan formation program designed to educate people in the basics of liturgy, liturgical ministry and liturgical music. Under the direction of the Diocesan Office of Worship and Spiritual Life, over 100 courses related to liturgy, theology, spirituality, pastoral ministry and liturgical music are offered at various locations throughout the Diocese. Classes are open to anyone interested in liturgy, liturgical ministry, liturgical music ministry, and/or general growth in knowledge of the Catholic liturgical and spiritual tradition. The Institute for Liturgy and Spirituality is a concrete implementation of the first goal of the Diocesan Strategic Plan:

"To nourish spiritual and liturgical life."

Formation of the Liturgical Ministry Institute began in October of 1994 when a small group of music directors, choir directors, organists and priests met with Sr. Maureen Griner, Diocesan Music Director, to discuss the need for training and development of gifts among those involved in music ministry in the diocese. A diocesan committee was then formed to explore the possibility of starting an Institute for Liturgical Music.

At the time that an institute for musicians was being discussed, the Diocesan Institute for Liturgical Studies (I.L.S.), under the direction of Father Bruce Cinquegrani, Secretary of the Department of Worship and Spiritual Life, had been in operation for about four years. Many people involved in parish ministry participated in the I.L.S., which was a three-year course of studies focused on liturgy. With the I.L.S. well under way, the need for courses which would meet more specific needs of the growing number of people active in liturgical music ministry became apparent. As courses of study for musicians were developed, it was obvious that some liturgical musicians would benefit from courses which already were being taught in the Institute for Liturgical Studies. Rather than run two institutes simultaneously, the possibility of combining the existing I.L.S. with a program which would meet the needs of liturgical musicians was discussed. Further discussion surfaced the advantages of including ongoing training, e.g., of cantors, eucharistic ministers and lectors, into one institute. The LITURGICAL MINISTRY INSTITUTE was a result of those discussions.

Over the course of the years, more than one hundred people have had opportunities for input into the L.M.I. Very early in the project, pastors and music directors in all parishes in the diocese completed a Survey of Needs; numerous meetings were used to gather volumes of information on needs, resources, textbooks, and instructors; educators developed course outlines...and the work continues with great enthusiasm. Courses are taught at varying sites throughout the Diocese by qualified instructors who have educational background and practical experience in Liturgical Ministry.

Because of the inclusion of new courses in the Institute, specifically focused on Spirituality, a review panel decided in 2004 that it was time to change the name of the Liturgical Ministry Institute to the Institute for Liturgy and Spirituality (once again the I.L.S.). The scope of courses in the Institute serves interests beyond the needs of those serving in liturgical ministries.

In September 2003, Mr. Michael Ziegler joined the staff of the Department of Worship and Spiritual LIfe as a Pastroal Musician, and his responsibilities included involvement in the development and administration of the ILS. Since that time, Mr. Ziegler has been a frequent instructor in the ILS. In November, 2006, Sr. Maureen, the founding director of the Institute, passed the baton of leadership of the Institute to Mr. Ziegler, in order to free herself for ministry as one of the co-directors of the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, which began as the result of a course about Dorothy Day offered through the Institute during the Summer 2003 session. Mr. Ziegler became the director of the ILS on November 15, 2006.

We're pleased you have come to visit our website. Read through the course descriptions for ideas for your personal learning experience. Watch future editions of the West Tennessee Catholic newspaper and be sure to check your mail. Plan to enroll in your first course in this exciting program. Better yet, invite someone in your parish to enroll with you and come together! Theologian Thomas O'Meara teaches that:

"Ministry is our basic human vocation by virtue of our baptism."

If you have never been involved in liturgical ministry in your parish, maybe now is the time to give it some thought. God might be calling you to a new ministry, or to further development in an area where you already serve.

For questions about this website contact: Michael.Ziegler@ic.cdom.org