LITURGY &
SACRAMENTAL LIFE
THE MISSION
The Office for Liturgy and Sacramental Life serves as a resource and guide for pastors and parishes in the areas of liturgical formation, liturgical preparation, celebration, and evaluation, liturgical spirituality, and the sacramental life, seeking to deepen awareness of our Catholic liturgical and sacramental identity, and to promote ways in which this identity may find fruitful expression in daily life.
In addition, the Office for Liturgy and Sacramental Life serves as liturgical consultant to Archbishop McKnight, and coordinates and directs the preparation, celebration and evaluation of the liturgical celebrations of the Archbishop for the Archdiocesan Church.
Michael Podrebarac
Consultant for Liturgy and Sacramental Life
email: liturgy@archkck.org
phone: (913) 647-0330
phone: (913) 647-0330
THE "BIG" PICTURE
“The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration.
“They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into an ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that, finally, God may be all in all” (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, paragraph 48).
Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion
The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion is celebrated each year in two regional celebrations.
The Rite of Election is for those catechumens who will receive the sacraments of initiation the following Easter. The Call to Continuing Conversion is for those already-baptized who are seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, usually during the following Easter.
The regional celebrations of the 2026 Celebration of Election and Call will be on Sunday, February 22 at 3pm at St. Matthew Church in Topeka and at 7pm at Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.
Adult Confirmation Mass
The Adult Confirmation Mass provides the opportunity to be confirmed by the Archbishop for those adults who were baptized in the Catholic Church yet did not receive the Sacrament of Confirmation as youth. The Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle each year on Pentecost Sunday. Contact your pastor or parish adult faith coordinator for more information. Pre-registration and the validation of your eligibility by your pastor is required.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
A prayer to use when reception of Holy Communion at Mass is not possible.
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you, my Lord and my God! Amen.
