Communion Service on Sunday: question

[poche]

If the pastor approved it with the idea that this would substitute for the mass obligation on Sunday then, while not most of us would be the best, it could.

 

[thistle]

If the pastor approved it with the idea that this would substitute for the mass obligation on Sunday then, while not most of us would be the best, it could.

There is no substitute for the Sunday obligation.
Either Mass is available and the obligation remains or there is no Mass available which means there is no obligation.

 

[bassmansteiny]

So our retreat leader arranged for us to have a Sunday morning Communion Service instead.

When I was incarcerated, we had a one of two visiting preist about once a month and a deacon who did a liturgical mass and communion every Sunday that we did not have a Preist. Obviously he did not do confession or the concentrating part of the mass. However this was under the bishop of that diocese because of our special circumstances.

 

[Gorgias]

However this was under the bishop of that diocese because of our special circumstances.

Right. In fact, the circumstances you describe are within the spirit of the direction that the Church gives. On those days, there could not be a priest available at all, and therefore, the bishop allowed a Liturgy that was not the Mass.

 

[OraLabora]

By rights, there shouldn’t be a Liturgy of the Word with Communion on a Sunday.

I think it’s the other way around. The Church would of course rather have a priest available to offer Mass every Sunday, but allows a Liturgy of the Word with Communion on Sundays when this is not possible.

During the week is when it is discouraged except for grave reasons. It is preferred that if no priest is available, instead of a communion service, the Office of the Liturgy of the Hours that is appropriate for that time of day be used instead. In my parish, typically, if no priest was available for daily Mass, which was in the morning, Lauds was recited in community instead.

 

[poche]

So what you are saying is that the pastor of the church has no authority for what he believes is a good reason to offer that dispensation?

 

[thistle]

a good reason to offer that dispensation?

The OP did not say the pastor had given a dispensation. The OP said he was not available for a morning Mass.
I am saying a Communion Service is NOT a substitute for the Sunday obligation.
I also said if an evening Mass is available then the obligation to participate in the Mass remains.
I wish you would have read my earlier post carefully!!

 

[Gorgias]

I think it’s the other way around. The Church would of course rather have a priest available to offer Mass every Sunday, but allows a Liturgy of the Word with Communion on Sundays when this is not possible.

Considering that the context of the question is that there is a “priest available to offer Mass [on] Sunday”, I don’t think I’ve gotten this one backward.

(And yes – it is also inappropriate to have one during the week, when it is not strictly required to celebrate a Mass, and therefore, inappropriate to substitute a communion service.)

 

[Jen7]

UPDATE: we attended Mass and it was very beautiful! Thank you all for your advise, direction, & especially thank you to those who offered empathy and kindness.