A diagram of a central seating arrangement

We now conclude our exploration of seating arrangements this week by looking at another which has become more common of late – the central arrangement.

This seating arrangement is characterised by the central location of the sanctuary, or at least the altar, in the worship space (hence the name central arrangement).  The seating for the assembly is then arranged around the centrally located altar.  One example of the central arrangement can be found in the recently built church of St. John the Baptist, Woy Woy.  This seating arrangement is probably most akin to the very earliest spaces of Christian worship outside of the Jewish temples.  With the eucharist often celebrated at that time in homes and specially prepared “house churches”, the small communities who gathered would have done so around the table, just as they would have done for other meals.

The central arrangement very clearly reflects the understanding that the entire assembly gathers and celebrates the eucharist together.  Their very act of gathering to celebrate together makes Christ present; it forms they into the Body of Christ.

Like the antiphonal arrangement, people can be concerned about facing others.  Addressing this concern at our own St. Patrick’s Cathedral, our diocesan director of liturgy, Fr Peter Williams wrote in Liturgy News of March 2004.  He pointed out that such an arrangement of people gathered around the altar is not designed for us to be “distracted”, but to focus on the liturgical celebration, and to be reminded that we ourselves form the Body of Christ when we gather to worship.  We are also reminded, consequently, that through the eucharist, we “become what we receive”.

A diagram of a typical antiphonal seating arrangement

We continue our exploration of seating arrangements this week by looking at an arrangement found in a number of churches, including our own cathedral – the Antiphonal arrangement.

This seating arrangement found its origin the monastic orders, and can often be found in the chapels of religious orders.  This is because the orders have maintained the tradition of praying the Liturgy of the Hours, or Divine Office.  The manner of praying of the psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours is well supported by a seating arrangement of rows on each side of the space, facing towards the sanctuary in the centre of the space.  The sanctuary then runs the full length of the space, often with the altar in the middle, and the ambo and presidential chair at each end (although this may vary).

This arrangement allows for the gathering of the assembly around the sanctuary, which is clearly evident as the centre of the Eucharistic celebration.  This arrangement also lends itself very effectively to the celebration of other sacraments and forms of prayer.  For example, there is still space in the centre where a coffin can be placed, or for candidates to process forward to the bishop for confirmation.  When there is a smaller assembly gathered, and the altar is not to be used, the assembly can then gather around the ambo where the scriptures will be proclaimed.

The major concern for some people, however, is a sense that people are “facing each other”.  While we may not be used to doing this at church, the point of the seating arrangement is not to be looking at others.  The point, rather, is to be gathered around the altar, and focused on where each part of the celebration is taking place.  Being able to see others, however, can serve to remind us that we gather together as a community for worship, and that in doing so, we make Christ present within us through our very presence and participation.

This morning was the second of our visits to renovated churches as part of our own renovation process.  Today’s visit was to All Hallows Parish, Five Dock.

View images of All Hallows

View images of our Advent Art and Environment

Please Tell Us Where to Go

… nicely, of course!  Sometimes members of the assembly are unable to come forward and receive communion due to health, or some other good reason.  Communion ministers are not mind readers, and sometimes need to be quietly alerted to their presence.  This is part of the responsibility we all have to be hospitable towards each other.  In the same way, members of the assembly cannot ask for an extra host to take back to their seat and give to a friend or relative with limited mobility.  A communion minister must bring communion to them.

A diagram of a typical radial seating arrangement

We continue our exploration of seating arrangements this week by looking at an arrangement that has become more common in the last fifty years, the Radial arrangement.

This seating arrangement has become more popular since the Second Vatican Council.  The main motivation for its development has been a desire to increase the sense of the assembly being gathered around the altar.  As such, the radial arrangement sees rows of pews or chairs arranged around the front and sides of the sanctuary in a fan shape, with the sanctuary remaining along a wall, or perhaps positioned so it extends from a corner of the space.

In some ways, this seating arrangement is somewhat of a compromise.  It provides people with a greater sense of being a part of a gathered community united in worship, but without deviating too much from a typical processional arrangement.  We can see a bit more than the backs of people’s heads, and the attention of the assembly is still very much directed towards the sanctuary.

One key limitation of the radial arrangement, however, comes from its similarity to the processional arrangement.  Its fan shape, or theatre style, can still give some people the sense that they are an audience; spectators observing a liturgy celebrated by the priest.  This perception is not in keeping with our belief that the liturgy of the work of Christ and his Church – the entire Church – priest and lay people gathered together in Jesus’ name.

In order to continue to learn more about other renovated churches, to gain more feedback from parishioners, and learn what would work best in our parish, we would like to invite all parishioners to join us on visiting other renovated churches. Our second and final visit for this year is on this weekend at:

All Hallows Catholic Church
2 Halley Street, Five Dock
10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday 29 November

If you wish to join us, please collect the “Visitor’s Sheet” from the display in the parish centre today, or download it here in two parts:

1. Information about All Hallows Church, Five Dock
2. Church Visit Feedback Form – for completion after the visit

Need help finding All Hallows? Take a look at the map below:

View Larger Map

Say Amen

When the minister says “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ”, the appropriate response is “Amen”.  It’s amazing how many people don’t say it out loud!  The profound experience of sharing in the body and blood of our Lord should be something that makes us want to say Amen.  It is our way of acknowledging the great mystery that we are about to receive.

A diagram of a typical processional seating arrangement

We begin our exploration of seating arrangements this week by looking at an arrangement well known to Wentworthville parishioners, the Processional arrangement.

This seating arrangement is the one we see in our own church, and has existed for many years.  The seats are all placed in rows facing the sanctuary at one end of the space.  This seating arrangement particularly suited the celebration of Mass prior to the Second Vatican Council.  The priest celebrated ad orientum, that is, all were of the same orientation – focused on the altar against the end wall of the church.

The processional seating arrangement’s advantages are that all attention is directed towards the sanctuary and its focal points of the altar, ambo and presidential chair.  Seating capacity within the space is maximised.  It is also a seating arrangement very well suited to personal prayer.  It can provide for clear lines of sight, and impressive processions through the church.

On the other hand, it can be argued that this arrangement suggests that the liturgy is the work of the priest which the assembly observes.  Nowadays, we understand that the liturgy is the work of Christ and his Church; all of us united in faith and gathered to worship.  It can also mean that people are a long distance from the sanctuary; again potentially limiting the sense of being an active participant in the liturgical celebration.  Distance also affects the assembly’s ability to see and hear what is happening.

Drink from the chalice

Self-intinction, or dipping your host into the chalice is not the means by which communion is consumed from the chalice.  We eat the host and drink from the chalice.  Intinction is only permissible when it is performed by the minister (not the communicant), and is considered to be an alternative method used only when communion cannot be distributed the usual way.  In Wentworthville, intinction is not used for the reception of communion.