The 1986-91 Pastoral Plan envisaged the establishment of a Secretariat for Liturgy to ensure that each parish would have a Liturgical Commission and that the altar servers, readers and other liturgy animators would receive good formation. The Secretariat was founded by decree on the 3rd December 1986, and a further decree on the 26th March 1988 stipulated directives related to the structure and responsibilities of the Secretariat. Other Commissions became affiliated to this Secretariat following a decree issued on 16th December 2002.
By a decree dated 8th August 2023, Archbishop Charles Scicluna appointed Mgr Jesmond Manicaro as the first Episcopal Vicar for the Liturgy.
Episcopal Vicariate for the Liturgy
Episcopal Vicar
Mgr Jesmond Manicaro
Tel
2590 6215
Members
Can. Stephen Attard
Mgr Michael Bugeja (ex-officio)
Commission for Sacred Art
The aims of the Commission are to promote Sacred Art, its appreciation and education related to it. It also ensures that new works in churches are only undertaken where necessary and pastorally useful, and that they are of a suitable artistic standard. The Commission’s meetings are held four times a year and are led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.
Members
Mgr Jesmond Manicaro, Chairperson
Fr Charles Bugeja, Secretary
Mons. Claude Portelli
Architect Andrew Ellul
Architect Andrew Scicluna
Ms Agatha Grima
Mr Hilary Spiteri
Mgr Louis Suban (representative of the Parish Priests’ College)
Commission for the Translations of the Liturgical Texts
The aim of the Commission is to prepare and publish translations of Liturgical Books and to prepare other liturgical texts for the dioceses of Malta and Gozo. This Commission meets once a week and is currently being led by Archbishop Emeritus Mgr George Frendo OP.
Members
Can. Stephen Attard
Fr Nazju Borg (Diocese of Gozo)
Mgr Michael Bugeja
Mgr Jesmond Manicaro
Mgr Paul C. Vella
Commission for the Permanent Formation of the Clergy and Laity
The aims of the Commission are to:
- organise, from time to time, in collaboration with the Secretariat for the Clergy, a liturgical refresher course for the diocesan clergy and religious;
- organise liturgical formation courses in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute, especially for lay people, at a diocesan and parochial level.
Key Person
Can. Stephen Attard
Office of Celebrations presided by the Archbishop
The aims of this Office are to prepare the liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations presided over by the Archbishop or in which he assists, as well as diocesan celebrations. It is also responsible for the publication of books needed by the celebrant, as well as by the congregation.
Key Person
Mgr Michael Bugeja, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies and others involved from time to time in particular celebrations, in different places and on different occasions.
Commission of Sacred Music
The aims of the Commission are to:
- improve sacred music in the Archdiocese, in such a way that the Christian community will have a varied repertoire for different liturgical celebrations, and to ensure they are implemented in a suitable manner.
- support parish choirs in their development, mainly by training choir directors, and to see that liturgical formation is given to musicians and singers.
- select and prepare, together with the Master of Ceremonies, appropriate hymns for liturgical celebrations in the cathedrals and during diocesan liturgical or para-liturgical celebrations.
Key Person
Mro Christopher Muscat