Hosting the SWLC is an honor, Bishop Wester says

Intermountain Catholic

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The 49th annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week will be hosted by the Diocese of Salt Lake City Feb. 2-5. Its theme is "Ever Ancient, Ever New: Preparing for the Revised Roman Missal."

"It’s an honor for the Diocese of Salt Lake City to host the Southwest Liturgical Conference," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City. "The SWLC is noted for being one of the finest liturgical conferences in the country, so it’s a feather in our cap to be able to host it this year, when the focus is the changes to the Roman Missal, which will occur the first Sunday of Advent. That’s a rather extraordinary event in the life of the Church, and it gives us an added honor and joy to host the conference because there will be many people attending who want to learn more about the changes and prepare for them.

"I encourage anybody and everybody in the diocese who is interested in learning about the new Roman Missal and liturgy in general to attend the conference, even if you’re not a practicing Catholic but you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit calling you to come back home to the Catholic Church. This would be a wonderful way to hear some very inspiring speakers and workshops and to recharge your Catholic batteries.

"For those who are very much involved in the Church, it will be a way for you to get some new ideas, fresh approaches and ways of communicating the truths of our faith in your usual work in the Church, whatever that may be."

Among the highlights of the conference will be the keynote speakers, especially the Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, and the Most Rev. José H. Gomez, Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Bishop Wester said, and added, "I think another highlight will be celebrating the liturgy in our beautiful Cathedral of the Madeleine."