Bishops from across the United States are meeting in Baltimore, Maryland this week for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2024 Fall Plenary Assembly.
Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost are among those in attendance at the session, which concludes on Nov. 14. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, a Cleveland native who leads the Archdiocese for Military Services, is USCCB president.
Among the business items were electing the USCCB treasurer-elect and chairmen-elect for five standing committees.
Bishop Woost will serve as chairman-elect of the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship after a 128-112 vote over Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon.
“Congratulations to Bishop Michael Woost on his recent election as the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship. For years, Bishop Woost has dedicated much of his ministry to teaching sacramental theology in our seminaries and sharing his love and knowledge of liturgy throughout our diocese,” said Bishop Malesic. “Please join me in continuing to pray for Bishop Woost as he assumes this new role for the bishops' conference.
Reached in Baltimore, Bishop Woost said it has been a busy week with numerous meetings, work sessions, liturgies and other gatherings.
“I will take over as the chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship at the end of the USCCB’s Plenary Assembly in November of 2025,” he said, adding the term lasts for three years.
“In the meantime, I will shadow the current chairman, Bishop Steven J. Lopes of Dallas, Texas, and learn my responsibilities from him. Being chairman means working with the staff of the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the USCCB,” Bishop Woost explained. Director of the secretariat is Father Dustin Dought.
“I will also act as the USCCB’s liaison with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,” he added.
The Committee on Divine Worship is responsible for all matters relating to the liturgy.
The Secretariat of Divine Worship carries out the work of the Committee on Divine Worship, by:
- Overseeing the preparation and approval of liturgical books and texts and granting the concordat cum originali for publications of liturgical texts in the United States;
- Reviewing all publications in the U.S. which contain excerpts from approved liturgical books;
- Providing leadership in liturgical formation and sacramental catechesis, especially by means of its monthly Newsletter and other publications; and
- Serving as a resource for bishops and diocesan liturgical commissions and offices of worship seeking advice.
The committee assists the bishops of the Latin Church in fulfilling their roles as priests and leaders of the worshiping community, especially with the translation of liturgical text and the development of guidelines for the celebration of the Mass and the sacraments. It also addresses prayer and worship within culturally diverse communities.
For the Latin Church, the committee’s mandate includes liturgical practice within the U.S., translation and adaptation of liturgical texts, sacred music and national shrines.
The committee also is charged with maintaining relationships with related USCCB committees and offices, with dioceses and national liturgical groups, with the Holy See, with the body of bishops and with other USCCB committees and offices that request review and consultation.
For a time, Bishop Woost served as director of the Diocese of Cleveland Office for Worship. In that role, he assisted Bishop Malesic in overseeing liturgical life in the diocese. Among the things he was responsible for were the formation and preparation of liturgical ministers; educational programming for implementation of sacramental and other rites of the Church; overseeing sacramental preparation; overseeing and preparing major diocesan liturgies; specifying diocesan standards and best practices regarding music for worship; providing resources and guidelines for sacred spaces; moderating the work of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission; and serving as a resource for parishes and other diocesan institutions on liturgical matters.
In other USCCB elections, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, was chosen as treasurer-elect and chairman-elect of the Committee on Budget and Finance. Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois was chosen as chairman-elect of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky was chosen as chairman-elect of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas, Texas, will serve as chairman-elect of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. And Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas will serve as chairman-elect of the Committee on Migration.
The bishops also voted to advance the cause of beatification and canonization of two American women: Sister Annella Zervas, OSB and Servant of God Gertrude Barber.
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