Fr. Madden Comments on the North American Academy of Liturgy Conference

The North American Academy of Liturgy held its annual meeting in Savannah, Georgia, January 3-6, 2008. As usual, a number of other associations, including the Catholic Academy of Liturgy, met prior to the opening of the general meeting. At the Catholic Academy reports were given by the Executive Director of the Bishops’ Committee on the Sacred Liturgy, Msg. Anthony F. Sherman, and a report on the activities of ICEL (International Committee on English in the Liturgy) was given by Fr. Paul Turner, a member of the committee.

The format of the meeting of the NAAL is different from most conferences. Most of the participants’ time is spent in study groups where members have an opportunity to discuss their current research and writing with others interested in the same area of study. Currently there are 21 study groups. Usually, only two person give addresses to the entire convention: the incoming president of the organization (this year Judith M. Kubicki) and the year’s recipient of the Berakah Award for distinguished contributions to the field of liturgical study (this year Paul F. Bradshaw). Next year’s meeting will be in Baltimore, Maryland.