Director of Liturgy; Chair of the Department of Pastoral Theology
• E-mail: dfriel@scs.edu
EDUCATION
S.T.D. (Liturgical Studies) The Catholic University of America (2022)
S.T.L. (Liturgical Studies) The Catholic University of America (2019)
M.A. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (2011)
M.Div. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (2010)
B.A. (Philosophy) Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (2007)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Director of Liturgy, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Lower Gwynedd, PA (2024-)
Chair, Department of Pastoral Theology, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Lower Gwynedd, PA (2024-)
Weekend Assistant, St. Monica Church, Philadelphia (2024-)
Director, Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, Wynnewood, PA (2021-2024)
Chaplain, Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (2013-2016)
Vocation Coordinator, Philadelphia North (2013-2016)
Parochial Vicar, Saint Anselm Church, Philadelphia, PA (2011-2016)
PUBLICATIONS
"The Children’s Liturgy of the Word: An Appraisal.” International Journal of Evangelization and Catechetics 4, no. 2 (2024): 121-139.
“Chrysostom’s Homily on the Word ‘Koimeterion’ and on the Cross: A Translation and Commentary.” Vigiliae Christianae 76, no. 1 (2022): 1-36.
“Between Universality and Inculturation: Gregorian Chant as a Bridge.” Sacred Music 149, no. 1 (Spring 2022): 6-27.
“Comparing Canons: Does Using Eucharistic Prayer II Really Save Time?” Adoremus Bulletin (28 September 2021).
“Liturgical Lessons from the Pandemic.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review (June 2020). https://www.hprweb.com/2020/06/liturgical-lessons-from-the-pandemic/.
“Romano Guardini and the Priesthood of the Baptized.” Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal 23, no. 1 (2019): 24-42.
“Proclaiming Christ’s Kingship.” God’s Servant First. Blog of the Committee for Religious Liberty of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. October 2018. (http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/christ-the-king/proclaiming-christs-kingship.cfm)
“Mutuality and Male Headship: Liturgical Evidence from Marriage Rituals throughout History.” Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal 21, no. 3 (2017): 252-289.
“Is Beauty Subjective? Identifying Criteria for Beauty and Recognizing Them in Chant.” Sacred Music 144, no. 2 (Summer 2017): 23-32.
“Liturgically Creative Writing: Popular Development of the Sequences in the Missale Romanum.” Adoremus Bulletin XXII, no. 6 (May 2017): 6-7, 10.
“A Call to Action: Take Up Thy Cross in Proper Style!” Adoremus Bulletin XXII, no. 5 (March 2017): 8-10.
Review of Sacred Music and the Liturgy After Vatican II: Significant Works of Monsignor Richard J. Schuler in Sacred Music, ed. Virginia A. Schubert (Waterloo, ON: Arouca Press, 2024), in Sacred Music 151, no. 3 (Fall 2024): 62-63.
Review of Joseph Dyer, Readers and Hearers of the Word: The Cantillation of Scripture in the Middle Ages, Ritus et Artes: Traditions and Transformations 10 (Turnhout: Brepols, 2022), in Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal 27, no. 2 (2023): 265-267.
Review of Introduction to Eastern Christian Liturgies, ed. Stefanos Alexopoulos and Maxwell E. Johnson (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic, 2022), in Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal 26, no. 1 (2022): 224-227.
Review of The Seven Gifts of the Spirit of the Liturgy: Centennial Perspectives on Romano Guardini’s Landmark Work, ed. Christopher Carstens (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2020), in Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal 25, no. 2 (2021): 259-261.
Review of Carlo Rossini, The Priest’s Chants and Recitatives at the Altar (1942; repr. Kansas City, MO: Romanitas Press, 2020), in Sacred Music 148, no. 3 (Fall 2021): 59-61.
Review of Michael Pakaluk, The Memoirs of St. Peter: A New Translation of the Gospel According to Mark (Washington, DC: Regnery Gateway, 2019), in International Journal of Evangelization and Catechetics 1, no. 2 (Fall 2020): 246-248.
PRESENTATIONS
“The Development of the Byzantine Koinonikon Cycle and the Roman Communio Repertory: Parallel Movements of Specification, Diversification, and Multiplication.” Given at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, Saint Mary Seminary, Houston, TX (September 26, 2024).
“Disciplining the Soul: A Priest and a Shaykh Discuss the Perfection of the Spiritual Life.” A Veritas Forum at the University of Pennsylvania (April 16, 2024).
Retreat for the Priestly Discernment Program at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, OH (February 2-4, 2024).
“The Advent Collects and the Annunciation.” Given at Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally, PA (December 19, 2023).
“Eucharistic Theology in the Hymns of Corpus Christi.” Given at Nativity of Our Lord Church, Warminster, PA (September 26, 2023).
“Liturgical Formation & Priestly Formation.” Member of panel discussion at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, MN (September 22, 2023).
“Eucharistic Corporeality in Thomistic Theology and the Offices of Corpus Christi.” Given at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, MN (September 21, 2023).
“The Propaedeutic Stage in Seminary-Based Programs.” Given at National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors, Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, NY (August 29, 2023).
“Sacrosanctum Concilium.” Given at St. Albert the Great Church, Huntingdon Valley, PA (November 21, 2022).
“The Children’s Liturgy of the Word: An Appraisal.” Given at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, St. John Vianney Seminary, Denver, CO (October 1, 2022).
“Longing for the Eucharist: Stories from Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ and Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati.” Given at the Miraculous Medal Shrine, Philadelphia, PA (June 24, 2022).
“What Is the Mass?” Given at Old St. Augustine Parish, Philadelphia, PA (November 30, 2021).
“Between Universality and Inculturation: Gregorian Chant as a Bridge.” Given at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, University of Notre Dame, Southbend, IN (September 25, 2021).
“Encountering God through the Sacred Liturgy.” Given at Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA (March 2, 2021).
“Chrysostom’s Homily on the Word Koimeterion: An Exercise in Liturgical Theology.” Given at Saint Gregory the Great Academy, Elmhurst, PA (November 23, 2020).
“Celebrating the Liturgy with Reverence and Fidelity.” Keynote address given at the annual convocation for priests of the Diocese of Allentown (November 5, 2020).
“The Vocabulary of Kingship in the Sacramentary of Verona.” Given at the Treasures New and Old: Christian Culture and Cultures in the Patristic Age Conference, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Early Christianity, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (October 4, 2019).
“The Ritualization of Byzantine Symphonia in the Tenth-Century Book of Ceremonies.” Given at University Research Day, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (April 9, 2019).
“Romano Guardini and the Priesthood of the Baptized.” Given at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference, Cathedral of St. Mary, Miami, FL (September 28, 2018).
“Encountering God through the Sacred Liturgy.” Given at Bucks County Theology on Tap, Buckingham, PA (August 22, 2018).
“Mutuality and Male Headship: Evidence from Liturgical Rites of Marriage.” Given at University Research Day, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (April 19, 2018).
“Is Beauty Subjective? Identifying Criteria for Beauty.” Given at the National Gregorian Chant in Pastoral Ministry and Religious Education Conference, Saint Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie), Yonkers, New York (March 10-11, 2017).
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Society for Catholic Liturgy (Member, 2012-; Board of Directors, 2022-; Conference Planning Committee, 2023-; Vice President, 2024-)
Church Music Association of America (2007-)
Association of Church Musicians in Philadelphia (2008-)
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Priest Alumni Executive Committee (2013-2015; 2021-)
