04/07/2026
LITURGICAL POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS DURING THE HOLY MASS (Guidelines on Simplicity, Reverence, and Copyright)
1. SHOULD THE POWERPOINT HAVE GRAPHICS, ANIMATIONS, AND TRANSITIONS?
The general liturgical principle is: Less is better. The liturgy itself is intrinsically simple, noble, and prayerful. This reflects the Church's broader understanding of sacred actions, as stated in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 34):
"The rites should be distinguished by a noble simplicity."
"Noble simplicity" does not mean plain or unattractive. Rather, it means avoiding anything that distracts from Christ and the sacred action. Therefore, a liturgical PowerPoint should avoid:
• Flashy animations
• Bouncing, spinning, or scrolling text
• Excessive or abrupt transitions
• Decorative clip art or generic internet stock images
• Distracting, moving, or brightly looping video backgrounds
• Bright or neon colors
• Unnecessary visual effects
Instead, it should feature:
• Plain backgrounds: Solid colors or very subtly textured dark/light tones.
• High contrast: White or light text on a dark background, or vice versa.
• Large readable font: Clean, sans-serif typography visible from the back of the church.
• Minimal decoration: Keeping the focus entirely on the text.
• Smooth transitions: Simple fades or no transition at all.
• Generous spacing: Well-paced phrasing for easy congregational reading and singing.
The Bottom Line: The projection is a servant of the liturgy, not the center of attention. Technology should foster active participation but must never become a distraction or diminish the dignity of the Mass.
2. SHOULD THERE BE RELIGIOUS GRAPHICS?
Yes—but only if they directly support prayer.
Appropriate visual elements include:
• A simple, stylized cross
• Traditional Eucharistic symbols (e.g., wheat, grapes, host, chalice)
• A liturgical monogram or symbol relevant to the season (e.g., Chi-Rho, Marian monogram)
• A high-quality sacred icon
• A subtle, dignified image related to the specific feast day
Avoid:
• Cartoon-style or clip-art images
• Dramatic digital or sci-fi special effects
• Overly realistic or distracting scenes from movies
• Images that are so large or bright they compete visually with the altar
Remember: During Mass, the altar and the sanctuary, not the projector screen, remain the visual center of worship.
3. SHOULD THE COMPOSER'S NAME BE SHOWN?
Yes. While no universal liturgical law mandates that a composer's name appear on every single projected slide, there are strong moral, legal, and pastoral reasons for including it.
A simple, unobtrusive format on the title slide is sufficient:
Example: Christ Be Our Light: Bernadette Farrell
This practice:
• Gives proper recognition to composers
• Educates the congregation and choir members on liturgical music repertoire
• Helps musicians identify authentic, liturgically approved versions of songs
• Encourages respect for the sacred music ministry
Ultimately, acknowledging the creator of a work reflects the Church's deep teaching on social justice and human labor.
4. IS THIS ONLY ABOUT COURTESY?
No. It is a matter of copyright law.
Many Catholic hymns remain under active copyright protection. Organizations such as OneLicense and CCLI exist because composers and publishers retain legal rights over their music.
Churches using copyrighted music under license are generally required by law to acknowledge copyright ownership when reproducing lyrics or projecting them. Projection slides should ideally include the title, author/composer, copyright notice, publisher or rights holder, and the parish's official license number where applicable.
5. WHAT ABOUT ROYALTY FEES?
There is a common misconception that churches are automatically exempt from paying royalties. In reality, when a parish projects copyrighted lyrics, prints custom worship aids/hymn booklets, or livestreams the Holy Mass online, appropriate licenses are legally required.
Licensing organizations like OneLicense and CCLI collect these fees and distribute royalties directly to composers and publishers based on reported usage.
This is not merely a secular legal matter; it is a matter of Christian justice. As Scripture reminds us, "The worker deserves his wages" (Luke 10:7). A composer may spend months or years creating music to serve the Church; supporting copyright honors that unique vocation.
5. WHAT IF THE COMPOSER IS ALREADY DECEASED?
If a piece of music is legally in the public domain, financial royalties are generally no longer required. However, it remains excellent scholarly and pastoral practice to attribute the work whenever the source is known.
For example:
• St. Thomas Aquinas
• Traditional Latin Hymn
• Gregorian Chant, Mode VIII
Giving attribution preserves and respects the rich musical heritage of the Catholic Church.
6. RECOMMENDED FORMAT FOR PARISH POWERPOINT SLIDES
To maintain cleanliness, dignity, and legal respect, the following slide layout structure is recommended:
SLIDE SECTION: FORMATTING GUIDE:
Title Large, bold font (First slide only)
Composer Smaller, italicized font underneath
Lyrics Clean, highly legible, well-spaced verses
Copyright Notice Very small, discreet font at the
bottom of the title or final slide
Example of copyright notice: (at the bottom/ final slide)
© OCP. Used with permission. OneLicense -######.
7. A GOLDEN LITURGICAL PRINCIPLE TO REMEMBER
A helpful rule of thumb for media ministries is this: If people notice the PowerPoint presentation more than they notice the prayer, the PowerPoint has become too elaborate.
The projection should complement the assembly's ability to sing; it is not there to entertain them.
8. ARE THESE COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS APPLICABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES?
Yes. Copyright and intellectual property laws apply fully in the Philippines, including to musical works used within liturgical celebrations. Whether an individual composer actively chooses to enforce those rights is a separate matter.
Key considerations for the Philippine context include:
1. Philippine Law Protects Musical Compositions
The governing legislation is the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8293). It protects original musical compositions and lyrics from unauthorized reproduction, distribution, and public performance. Projecting song lyrics on a screen, printing them in parish leaflets, or livestreaming Masses fall under these legal definitions.
2. "The Composer Doesn't Mind" is Not Legal Permission
Many Filipino Catholic composers are incredibly generous and may choose not to actively seek royalties from local parishes. However, from a legal standpoint:
• Some composers explicitly waive fees and allow free use specifically for liturgical purposes.
• Others require formal licensing or permission.
• Many have assigned their rights to institutional publishers or collective management organizations (e.g., FILSCAP), meaning the composer alone no longer has the legal authority to bypass copyright rules.
Unless explicit permission has been documented, parishes should not assume a work is entirely free to reproduce.
3. Giving Credit is Still a Moral Duty
Even when no royalties are collected, including the composer’s name is vital because it:
• Acknowledges the creator’s time and talent.
• Promotes institutional honesty and pastoral justice.
• Helps parish music ministries track down authentic, liturgically appropriate arrangements.
• Respects the composer’s moral rights under RA 8293, which includes the right of attribution (to be identified as the author).
4. The Pastoral Reality in Philippine Parishes
In practice, many Philippine parishes project lyrics without formal licenses, and many local composers tolerate or even encourage this for pastoral reasons. Enforcement has historically been minimal within church walls.
However, common practice does not dictate ethical or legal correctness. As parish music ministries, church leaders should model respect for both civil law and Christian ethics.
5. A Balanced Pastoral Approach
For locally composed Filipino liturgical music, when in doubt, simply reach out to the composer, diocese, or publisher for clarification. Many will gladly grant permission for parish worship free of charge, provided that proper attribution is clearly visible on the screen.
CONCLUSION
From both a liturgical and pastoral perspective, the best parish PowerPoint is one that is simple, reverent, readable, and legally compliant. A modest design featuring the song title, the composer's name, and required copyright info honors both the sacredness of the Mass and the dignity of those who compose music for the glory of God.
REFERENCES:
Church Documents
• Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Second Vatican Council), no. 34 ("noble simplicity").
• Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 112 (the true purpose of sacred music).
• General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), nos. 39–41 (on the importance of singing and liturgical participation).
Philippine Copyright and Intellectual Property Laws
• Republic Act No. 8293 – The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (specifically Part IV: Law on Copyright, which protects original musical compositions, literary works/lyrics, and outlines moral rights, rights to attribution, and rules regarding public performance and reproduction).
• Republic Act No. 10372 – An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8293 (enacted to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Philippines, including provisions on technological protection measures and copyright infringement).
International Copyright and Liturgical Projection Guidelines
• Liturgy Office (England & Wales): Copyright guidance for liturgical music and projections.
• National Liturgical Council (Australia): Copyright acknowledgments for projection slides and music licensing.
• Archdiocese of Los Angeles: Video Projection in Liturgical Celebration: guidance on using technology without distracting from the liturgy and on obtaining appropriate copyright permissions.
