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Episcopalian
Guest
If a priest was vacationing in a state/province in a different diocese for a family trip or something, could he say, walk up before Mass and ask to concelebrate or guest speak?
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edward_george1
Guest
Generally it has to be prearranged. According to Canon Law, all you need is someone to vouch for your good standing. In the US, pretty much all Dioceses require a letter of good standing to be sent to wherever you’re going indicating that you are in good standing and that, as far as your home Diocese is aware, there is no reason why you are unsuitable to minister, with particular reference to ministry with children. It was a measure instituted in light of the sex abuse scandal many years ago.
So to answer your question, not usually. If I go back to my parents home parish, the pastor there knows me and could let me say Mass publicly or hear confessions or something, since he can vouch for my good standing. But if I’m on the road and in a place where I’m not known, I would have to call ahead. And I generally don’t. I just say Mass privately wherever I’m at.
-Fr ACEGC
So to answer your question, not usually. If I go back to my parents home parish, the pastor there knows me and could let me say Mass publicly or hear confessions or something, since he can vouch for my good standing. But if I’m on the road and in a place where I’m not known, I would have to call ahead. And I generally don’t. I just say Mass privately wherever I’m at.
-Fr ACEGC
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edward_george1
Guest
I don’t attend Mass somewhere when I’m on vacation, I usually celebrate privately. If I were to do so, it would be improper for me to just sit in the congregation. I would either concelebrate the Mass or sit in choir. Sitting in choir, by the way, doesn’t mean I’d literally be in the choir, but rather would be wearing cassock and surplus and usually sitting in the sanctuary.
If I go to conferences and things away from home where Mass is offered as part of it, I will concelebrate.
If I go to conferences and things away from home where Mass is offered as part of it, I will concelebrate.
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Jbrady
Guest
Your slip is showing!
Tis_Bearself
Patron
When priests go on pilgrimages with a group, they will arrange a church in each place to have Mass for the group and in some cases the priest might end up concelebrating with another priest, for example if there are two groups wanting to use the same church at the same time then both priests might say the Mass with both groups there. It is all arranged in advance as Father said.
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RolandThompsonGunner
Guest
Interesting. Is this just for priests? I’ve known permanent deacons to just sit in the congregation for masses ar which they’re not actually assisting.
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edward_george1
Guest
It’s for any clerics, really. They should either be vested or in choir. I know a lot of deacons who sit in the congregation, but they really shouldn’t.
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Episcopalian
Guest
Father @edward_george1, when you celebrate privately, does that sanctify the location you performed the Holy Sacrifice?
So, not to be flippant, but like in the movies when folks escape demons by running inside a church, would your old hotel room be just as good too?
So, not to be flippant, but like in the movies when folks escape demons by running inside a church, would your old hotel room be just as good too?
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InThePew
Guest
In my own diocese I can show up anywhere and concelebrate. Outside of my own diocese, in order to do any sort of public ministry, I need what’s called a celebret (Latin for “may he celebrate”) which is basically a letter from my bishop confirming that I’m a priest in good standing in my home diocese. In New Zealand, all priests have reciprocal faculties in our six dioceses but if the priest doesn’t know me or if I’m overseas then I need a celebret. Some places (like Australia) actually now require more than this - you basically have to get pre-approval in order to do any sort of public ministry.
I can and often do show up at churches and ask to celebrate although I tend to do this mostly in places where I know the priest. Preaching is another matter. for one thing, it’s nice not having to preach! For another the priest will most likely already have prepared a homily and may have something in particular he was intending to talk about. That said, other times a priest may well welcome the break himself!
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dochawk
Guest
Your slip is showing!
Our priest was a late ordination (although he attended seminary young), and knows a great many people, including priests.
It’s not as common now, but we have had lots of priests from all over the place come and concelebrate while coming here (Las Vegas) on vacation.
On one occasion, he explained that our visitor was a passionate priest, and I made some appreciative comment–which bought a laugh, and the explanation the he was a Passionist priest . . .
And more than once, we’ve had a visiting priest who I don’t think had even seen a byzantine liturgy before . . .
And when there were a couple of priestly deaths and sickness and the bishop and many airlines were shuffling like mad, we had a priest who had just received his bi-ritual faculties and was on is first Divine Liturgy on his own. He told us (the servers) before hand, asked us to help him, and all was well.
And a visiting priest from our Eparchy, imported from Europe, who showed the congregation his wedding ring when Father asked him to introduce himself.
We love them all.
(and if any of the priests or deacons here visit Las Vegas, I’m sure Father would love to have you concelebrate [well, at least after this Chicom virus is done]–so drop me a PM, and I’ll forward your contact information to Father)
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InThePew
Guest
Not sure about Vegas but I do happen to know a priest in Scottsdale, AZ which isn’t all that far…
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