International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)

The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) was established in 1963 in response to the Second Vatican Council’s call for wider participation and greater accessibility regarding the liturgy. ICEL is a commission of representatives appointed by a number of English-speaking bishops’ conferences, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and it is responsible for preparing English translations of the Latin liturgical texts of the Roman Rite. Most recently, ICEL completed the new English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours, a landmark effort that brings renewed clarity to the Church’s daily prayer. Through its work, ICEL plays a key role in helping ensure that the Church’s prayers and liturgical texts are accessible throughout the English-speaking world.