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Liturgical Environment Ministry: Beautifying the Church to Enhance Our Worship
When Diane and Frank DeSena moved to Indian Land seven years ago and first started attending Mass at St. Philip Neri, Diane was captivated by the sheer beauty of the church building and the sanctuary.
Having an extensive background in both liturgy and liturgical décor after 30 years working for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, N.Y., Diane knew that one day she would again hear the Lord calling her into service, but was content to simply sit back, observe and worship in the pew until that time.
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“We have a beautiful church just as it is, and we are very blessed,” Diane says. “However, liturgical décor can always be enhanced to create a more welcoming environment that draws people in so they can focus on prayer and participate more fully at Mass.”
Two years after joining St. Philip Neri, her beloved husband, Frank, unexpectedly passed away in December 2016. Soon after, Diane heard the Lord calling her to service once again, and she willingly answered the call.
“My greatest love when I was working at my home parish in Lynbrook (N.Y.) was being on the arts and environment committee, and I knew that this was something that I could share with my parish,” she says.
Diane’s vision for the ministry was to enhance the architectural and natural beauty of the sanctuary and gathering space simply and subtly. Taking a leap of faith, Diane reached out to Fr. Fabio to share her ideas and was given the green light to move forward, taking over what is now known as our Liturgical Environment Ministry.
The mission of the ministry is a simple one — create and preserve a prayerful and welcoming environment for worship by arranging flowers and other adornments that tie into the key times of the liturgical calendar and seasons of the calendar year.
But for Diane and her ministry co-leader, Teresa Thompson, along with the members of this talented group of women, it is so much more than that. The work of this ministry beautifully and synergistically connects with the stewardship pillars of hospitality and prayer.
“With the liturgical environment, it’s all about being comfortable,” Diane says. “We strive to create a welcoming and reverential environment to help people focus on prayer as well as more fully participate in the liturgy.”
We celebrate the seasons of the liturgical church year with various colors, as the colors and different types of flowers that the ministry uses help how the people worship in the true spirit of the season. Throughout the year, parishioners can view the work of this ministry and can experience how the chosen décor beautifully ties in with each season.
During the summer months, with the Church in Ordinary Time, an array of summer greens and colorful flowers adorn the sanctuary and gathering space. As winter approaches, the ministry will shift its floral designs to the purples, and then the pinks of Advent.
During Lent, the décor will reflect the austerity of the penitential season with barren desert flowers, and the environment in the church will also feature other symbols associated with Lenten Scripture readings.
“Our designs during Lent have been especially gratifying as the ministry knows the importance of helping fellow parishioners gain a sense of what the season is truly about as it leads to Easter, the holiest time we share as Catholic Christians,” Diane says.
All these decorative elements throughout the year come together to draw parishioners and visitors more deeply into the liturgical experience.
Although Diane has been more involved in the life of the Catholic Church than most — she once was a Dominican Sister and has worked virtually her entire adult life at the diocesan and parish levels — serving here at St. Philip Neri on the Pastoral Council, as a Eucharistic Minister, and with the Liturgical Environment Ministry, has helped her grow even more in her faith.
Liturgical Environment Ministry leader Diane DeSena with hydrangeas grown on parish grounds.
She credits her co-leader Teresa and their work with the Liturgical Environmental Ministry for helping her do just that.
The next time you come to Mass, look around our beautiful church and take a moment to appreciate all the visual cues that help guide our worship throughout the liturgical year. You may find there is more meaning than you ever realized behind every careful detail that goes into the decoration of our church environment.
A floral arrangement at the altar this spring.
Desert grasses and rocks displayed in the narthex to reflect the penitential season of Lent.
Thanks to the Liturgical Environment Ministry, an array of colorful flowers was on display at the altar to celebrate that Christ is Risen this past Easter. And, a very special thanks to Fr. Fabio who singlehandedly did the arranging.
