Cardinal John Dew is one of 27 new members Pope Francis has appointed to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. The Congregation handles matters relating to the public prayer of the Church and the sacraments. It has the final say on translations of the Roman Missal and other liturgical books.
As well as Cardinal Dew, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne has been appointed to the Congregation, which gives Oceania stronger representation than it has had in the past.
“It is a great privilege to be appointed to this Congregation,” said Cardinal Dew. “Vatican II described the liturgy as the the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed, and the font from which grace flows to us all.”
“The work of every parish liturgy committee is as important on the local level as the work of the Congregation is internationally. Both need each other. I am looking forward to deepening my own understanding of liturgy, and bringing that back to the archdiocese. At the same time I would like to take with me to the Congregation a pastoral understanding of liturgy as it is experienced by the people here in Aotearoa New Zealand.”