Wednesday, 20 February 2013 13:49

Sister Loretta Beckius has been appointed director of the diocesan Office of Worship.
She succeeds Father Michael Nolan, who is pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Goddard and adjutant judicial vicar for the diocesan marriage tribunal.
“I’m really excited because liturgy has been a love of mine,” she said last week. “This is a wonderful opportunity to put this passion at the service of the Bishop, the priests and parishes of the Diocese.”
Sr. Loretta, who began working for the Diocese of Wichita as the diocesan archivist on Feb. 2, 2007. Continuing as archivist, she began assisting Father Nolan in the Office of Worship in February of 2008 where she served first as secretary and then program coordinator. For a short time she was also the secretary to the Office of Stewardship.

Although she will now direct the office, Sister Loretta said she will be relying on Fr. Nolan, now the Spiritual Moderator to the Office, “because he has exceptional gifts – especially in preaching and in the ‘ars celebrandi,’ the ‘art of celebrating’ the Mass.”
Sr. Loretta recently completed her studies for a master’s degree in liturgy from The Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary, northwest of Chicago. She started the five-year summer program in 2008.
The Office of Worship supports Bishop Michael O. Jackels and his four areas of concern regarding the liturgy: celebration, preaching, music, and hospitality.
Sister Loretta said her office will also assist with such things as training in areas of ministry, for example, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, help with ongoing formation, answer questions, all with a desire to help the faithful of the diocese “come to a depth of understanding and participation in the liturgy, particularly the Mass.”