Communion services

[Sheeniac]

Having a Communion Service every day when there is already a Mass flies in the face of Redemptionis Sacramentum which says that allowing a Communion Service, as opposed to a simple Celebration of the Word, on Sunday, when no priest is available, has to be carefully considered. It goes on to say that no such celebration should happen on a weekday if Mass was, or will be, celebrated on Sunday.

I think that’s similar to what I read before. I think I will not volunteer for leading a Communion Service during the week since there are 2 other masses. (The two churches are blocks from each other - 1 at 6:00, the other at 8:00) Unfortunately, I can make neither.

While I think their heart is in the right place for offering it at 5:00 p.m., I just don’t think I could participate. Besides, how many people are home from work by 5 to get to Mass? I travel for work Mon-Thus, so could make a 5 pm Friday service, but I’d rather go for a Mass.

 

[Sheeniac]

When I was given instruction on how to conduct (as a Lay Leader of Prayer) a communion service, we were instructed we could give a reflection on the reading from Scripture (and the reading could be either from the gospel or other reading for the day) - but it was not to be confused with giving a homily. Attendees have often said “enjoyed your homily,” so they do not know the distinction between a reflection and a homily. I do not “instruct” them on the misuse of the word homily, but simply thank them. It has become a blessing to me - both in the preparation of the reflection and in the service itself, very much a time of prayer and paying attention to what message the Holy Spirit might be offering me during the time of preparation, always trying to direct attention to the message and not myself. However, sometimes the reflection becomes a time of personal testimony to the living message of the Word.

In many of the daily Masses I have attended, the priest has skipped the homily. I’ve attended a TLM a few times during the week (low mass) where the homily was skipped.

I know it’s allowed, but I would find it very uncomfortable with someone giving ‘reflections’ during a Communion Service when many priests find it unnecessary during a daily Mass. I suppose I’ve read with concern articles that suggested that some lay people (and women religious) have seemed to act in a manner that minimized the role of the priest. For me, this comes just too close to that line.