Fr. James Wallace, a professor of homiletics at Washington Theological Union, to be recognized by the Georgetown Center for Liturgy

December 4, 2009 — Redemptorist Father James Wallace is the 2009 recipient of the Georgetown Center for Liturgy’s award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Liturgical Life of the American Church.”

“Jim gets high marks for his ability to bring his wealth of theological knowledge to his presentations in a very accessible form without dumbing down the material,” said Jesuit Father Lawrence J. Madden, the Center’s founder and director. “He has been one of the pioneers as he has dedicated his whole career to the ministry of the Word of God.”

The award was presented on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception following a Mass in Dahlgren Chapel at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Father Wallace was the homilist.

After Mass and upon receiving the award, Father Wallace dedicated his acceptance to the great Jesuit homilist Walter J. Burghardt, S.J.. In his three part response, Father Wallace thanked his parish family, Holy Trinity in Georgetown, his academic home, the Washington Theological Union, his Redemptorist religious family, and all his family and friends who celebrated this honor with him.

In his remarks, Father Wallace spoke about the power of language.  In quoting Tom Stoppard, he stated, “Words deserve respect.  If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little…”  Father Wallace went on to say that language is a preacher’s legacy and a preacher’s offering to the community.  “They are words that spring from God’s word, with and set before a hungry community – hungry for meaning, for nourishment, for the wisdom and power that is within the Word of God.”

“Preaching can inform us about matters of great importance.  Preaching tells us about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Preachers remind us of who we are: adopted sons and daughters, destined for divinity, called to freedom and grace. Preaching can transform the church, both as a body and within its members…Preachers use words that speak of and invite us to respond to the mysteries of salvation, redemption, reconciliation, and the promise of eternal life.”

Father Wallace went on to say, “Preaching can create dialogue. It can shed light where there is war, injustice, prejudice, hatred and ignorance.  Preaching needs to be brought to bear on life – the life of the community and the interior life of every person who has been created to be in partnership with God.”

In closing, Father Wallace asked for everyone to pray for preachers, and pray to God to raise up good preachers who will speak God’s word to the world, “in and out of season, when convenient or inconvenient.” He asked that we pray “that God give them an ability to name grace, that the word given will succeed in nudging the world a little towards mercy, justice, peace, and reconciliation; towards community so that we may know when we look in each other’s eyes, that we truly see the face of God.”

Father Wallace professed first vows as a Redemptorist in 1964, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970. He has been a professor of homiletics at the Washington Theological Union since 1986. From 1973-85, he taught at the Redemptorist seminary at Mount St. Alphonsus in Esopus, NY. He is the past president of the Academy of Homiletics, the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics, and the Religious Speech Association. He has served as co-editor of the new Theological Review and as a member of the Editorial Council of the Liturgical Press. He is an author, teacher, and popular presenter. He also is a regular preacher of daily audio homilies featured on redemptorists.net.

“The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province salute Father Jim for his recognition by the Georgetown Center for Liturgy,” said Very Rev. Patrick Woods, provincial of the Baltimore Province. “In addition to his being an outstanding professor of homiletics, Father Wallace has traveled extensively throughout our worldwide Congregation to help his confreres be more effective proclaimers of the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

“The Redemptorists, since our founding by St. Alphonsus in 1732, have sought to be excellent preachers in parish homilies, missions, and retreats,” Father Woods continued. “We consider preaching the plentiful redemption of Jesus Christ a primary charism of our Congregation.”

Previous recipients of the Center’s award for Outstanding Contributions to the Liturgical Life of the American Church include: Fr. Walter Burghardt, S.J.(preaching); Bishop Donald Trautman (liturgical leadership); Roseanne Casey (extraordinary Catholic leader); Marty Haugen (liturgical music); Rev. Richard Vosko (art and architecture); Sister Catherine Dooley,O.P.(catechetics); Rev. Paul Cioffi, S.J.(liturgical teaching); Rev.Gil Ostdiek, O.F.M. (liturgical scholarship); and Dr. Elaine Rendler-McQueeney (liturgical music).

What is the Georgetown Center for Liturgy?
The Georgetown Center for Liturgy, an Institute for Worship, Spirituality and the Arts at Georgetown University was founded in 1981 as a response to the U.S. Bishops’ call for centers and institutions to aid the U.S. Church in the implementation of the liturgical reforms inaugurated by the Second Vatican Council. The founder and current Director is Rev. Lawrence J. Madden, S.J.

Who are the Redemptorists?
The Redemptorists were founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in 1732 in Naples, Italy. The priests and brothers minister to the spiritual and material needs of the faithful, especially the poor and most spiritually abandoned. Their primary ministry is preaching. There are approximately 300 Redemptorists serving in the United States, and approximately 5,300 worldwide.

For more information about the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province, visit redemptorists.net.