Communion Services

[twf]

Are parishes permitted to celebrate Communion Services on weekdays when a priest is not available? In a recent “Ask an Apologist” thread the Apologist implies that this is an option, but it was my understanding that Communion Services, led by a deacon or lay person, were only to be celebrated on Sundays or other Holy Days of Obligation when it is truly impossible for a priest to be present.
(See here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=901320)

 

[suko]

Communion Services, led by a deacon or lay person, were only to be celebrated on Sundays or other Holy Days of Obligation when it is truly impossible for a priest to be present

I’ve never heard that, but I do know my parish has a 6:30am communion service every weekday that’s led by a lay person. I’ve seen it done many times at other parishes on ordinary weekdays as well.

 

[Phemie]

Are parishes permitted to celebrate Communion Services on weekdays when a priest is not available? In a recent “Ask an Apologist” thread the Apologist implies that this is an option, but it was my understanding that Communion Services, led by a deacon or lay person, were only to be celebrated on Sundays or other Holy Days of Obligation when it is truly impossible for a priest to be present.
(See here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=901320)

It’s not forbidden, though it is less than ideal.

For what the Church says about this go to Redemptionis Sacramentum, articles 162 to 167.

In Canada, as you probably know, the ritual for these Communion services is contained in the book Sunday Celebration of the Word and Hours. The implication is clear in the name.

 

[pianistclare]

We only have one priest. If he’s ill or goes away…it’s a communion service.
It happens frequently. Not everyone is blessed with a rectory full of priests.
I’m glad we have the option. It would be awful to not be able to receive. Many of our elderly parishioners can’t or won’t drive a great distance from home.

 

[ProVobis]

It’s not forbidden, though it is less than ideal.

For what the Church says about this go to Redemptionis Sacramentum, articles 162 to 167.

It doesn’t sound like the Church encourages this.

[165.] It is necessary to avoid any sort of confusion between this type of gathering and the celebration of the Eucharist.[271] The diocesan Bishops, therefore, should prudently discern whether Holy Communion ought to be distributed in these gatherings. The matter would appropriately be determined in view of a more ample co-ordination in the Bishops’ Conference, to be put into effect after the recognitio of the acts by the Apostolic See through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. It will be preferable, moreover, when both a Priest and a Deacon are absent, that the various parts be distributed among several faithful rather than having a single lay member of the faithful direct the whole celebration alone. Nor is it ever appropriate to refer to any member of the lay faithful as “presiding” over the celebration.

[166.] Likewise, especially if Holy Communion is distributed during such celebrations, the diocesan Bishop, to whose exclusive competence this matter pertains, must not easily grant permission for such celebrations to be held on weekdays, especially in places where it was possible or would be possible to have the celebration of Mass on the preceding or the following Sunday. Priests are therefore earnestly requested to celebrate Mass daily for the people in one of the churches entrusted to their care.

 

[Phemie]

We only have one priest. If he’s ill or goes away…it’s a communion service.
It happens frequently. Not everyone is blessed with a rectory full of priests.
I’m glad we have the option. It would be awful to not be able to receive. Many of our elderly parishioners can’t or won’t drive a great distance from home.

We also only have one priest and he’s often away the entire week in other parishes or at the diocesan offices where he’s on the Tribunal. We still don’t have Communion Services on weekdays. No priest during the week = no Communion for anyone except possibly the shut-ins.

If our Pastor has to be away on a Sunday, then yes, we have four lay people trained to do a Liturgy of the Word with Communion. I’m one of them and two of us are also trained to do the Funeral Rites should the need arise (we’ve had occasion to do all but the actual Funeral). Several EMHC have been trained to do the Communion Rite part of it the Sunday Celebration. The leader has the option of giving a reflection after the Gospel or simply having a moment of silence (my personal choice if I’m leading the service).

 

[Phemie]

It doesn’t sound like the Church encourages this.

It’s not encouraged but it’s still up to the Bishop to decide for his parishes. Note that it’s not even encouraged to give Communion at the Sunday gathering, but most bishops will allow it. I have no idea if our bishop allows weekday services but in our parish it’s simply not done and that for exactly the reason mentioned in RS: in some cases people stop making the distinction between the Communion Service and Mass.

For too many people as long as they can get Communion everything is good – not what the Church wants to hear. I’ve even had some people tell me they prefer a Communion Service because the people are more involved. Why? Because we have to be the ones reading the Gospel and doing the reflection? I think they have their priorities screwed up.

You want to hear how messed up it has become? I know one parish that has a Communion Service every Sunday for months on end because the priest only visits a few times a year. If they don’t distribute Communion people won’t bother to gather. The Blessed Sacrament has been MAILED to that parish at least once that I’m aware of when they’ve run out of consecrated Hosts.

 

[ProVobis]

It’s not encouraged but it’s still up to the Bishop to decide for his parishes. Note that it’s not even encouraged to give Communion at the Sunday gathering, but most bishops will allow it. I have no idea if our bishop allows weekday services but in our parish it’s simply not done and that for exactly the reason mentioned in RS: in some cases people stop making the distinction between the Communion Service and Mass.

Not encouraging it seems to be consistent with Vatican II’s desire to give out that communion which is consecrated at that Mass which we attend. Also even a second reception of communion can’t be made in the same day unless one attends the Mass that goes with it. It seems the Church is saying there is little if any benefit (or little meaning) of receiving communion outside Mass, that is, if one is able to go to Mass at all.

You want to hear how messed up it has become? I know one parish that has a Communion Service every Sunday for months on end because the priest only visits a few times a year. If they don’t distribute Communion people won’t bother to gather. The Blessed Sacrament has been MAILED to that parish at least once that I’m aware of when they’ve run out of consecrated Hosts.

 

[Corki]

Are parishes permitted to celebrate Communion Services on weekdays when a priest is not available? In a recent “Ask an Apologist” thread the Apologist implies that this is an option, but it was my understanding that Communion Services, led by a deacon or lay person, were only to be celebrated on Sundays or other Holy Days of Obligation when it is truly impossible for a priest to be present.
(See here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=901320)

That AAA reply is confusing. She seems to imply that a priest who is the only one at a parish can never take a whole day off and ties it to an obligation to say Mass every day. That obligation no longer exists for priests and I don’t think it ever bound priests to say public Masses every day.

The US document for Communion services is called “Sunday Celebrations in Absence of a Priest”. Like the Canadian document, the clear implication from the title is that this is a benefit to congregations for Sundays. But then the USCCB put out another statement “Weekday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” which states that the preference is to coordinate with nearby parishes so that Mass is available near by but that a week day Communion service is not prohibited.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/frequently-asked-questions/weekday-celebrations-in-the-absence-of-a-priest.cfm

 

[ProVobis]

But then the USCCB put out another statement “Weekday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” which states that the preference is to coordinate with nearby parishes so that Mass is available near by but that a week day Communion service is not prohibited.

But how exactly would this work? Who would determine the hour in which to meet? And what would stop them from just telling people to drop into church whenever they felt like it to receive communion? If the priest isn’t around, then the bishop would need to set some ground rules, I would think. As well as look for a certain commitment on the part of a few. And, most of all, can he trust them?

 

[Corki]

But how exactly would this work? Who would determine the hour in which to meet? And what would stop them from just telling people to drop into church whenever they felt like it to receive communion?

I don’t think it’s a matter of having to determine any hours. If Church A’s priest was not available this week, a notice could be placed in the bulletin that directed parishioners who want to go to daily Mass to look into Mass at nearby Church B.

A person can’t drop into Church whenever he feels like it to receive Communion but he can certainly go to another parish to attend Mass and/or receive Communion at a scheduled Mass time.

If the priest isn’t around, then the bishop would need to set some ground rules,

Such as? If the priest isn’t around, there isn’t Mass. There are no ground rules needed. Sometimes it’s planned. For example, at our parish (which isn’t close to any other parish - it’s out in the boonies) if Father knows he won’t be available for morning Mass on a given weekday, he makes an announcement at Sunday Mass. If he gets called away on an emergency, he puts a note on the door.

I would think. As well as look for a certain commitment on the part of a few. And, most of all, can he trust them?

Who needs to be making this commitment? Are you talking about the person leading the Communion Service? Of course, that person should be properly trained and scheduled by the pastor.

There is no requirement that a given parish have Mass a certain number of days a week or even to make Communion available a certain number of days a week. If there is a priest available, there should always be a Sunday Mass or at least one on Saturday evening. Otherwise, Mass is up to the availability, as to some extent, the desire of the pastor.

 

[pianistclare]

We also only have one priest and he’s often away the entire week in other parishes or at the diocesan offices where he’s on the Tribunal. We still don’t have Communion Services on weekdays. No priest during the week = no Communion for anyone except possibly the shut-ins.

If our Pastor has to be away on a Sunday, then yes, we have four lay people trained to do a Liturgy of the Word with Communion. I’m one of them and two of us are also trained to do the Funeral Rites should the need arise (we’ve had occasion to do all but the actual Funeral). Several EMHC have been trained to do the Communion Rite part of it the Sunday Celebration. The leader has the option of giving a reflection after the Gospel or simply having a moment of silence (my personal choice if I’m leading the service).

We don’t use lay people. We have 4 Deacons.
Although a neighboring parish does use laypersons. They do a pre-approved reading of a Gospel related nature.
I’m a lay ecclesial minister, but no one has ever asked me to do anything but retreats and classes.

 

[FrDavid96]

… But then the USCCB put out another statement “Weekday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” which states that the preference is to coordinate with nearby parishes so that Mass is available near by but that a week day Communion service is not prohibited.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/frequently-asked-questions/weekday-celebrations-in-the-absence-of-a-priest.cfm

We have to be careful about web pages like that.

Did you read the opening paragraph very carefully? Check it again, because you might be surprised.

The USCCB did not make any such statement. One needs to read it carefully. The “statement’” is nothing more than suggestions made by a committee to the US bishops.

Anyone can offer suggestions to the bishops. Such suggestions have no force.
We also have to look at the date. These suggestions were made in 2000, 4 years before the Church issued Redemptionis Sacramentum.

There is a common misconception that anything that shows up on the USCCB website is somehow a “decision of the bishops.” That’s not always the case—and more often than not, it is not the case.

Note the words in the opening paragraph: “The following reflections are offered to bishops and their advisors and may serve to* assist bishops in the formulation of guidelines for this important area of pastoral life.”

It does not say that what follows comes from the bishops, but instead, it’s being suggested to bishops by the committee.

• sic. the original reads “o assist” which obviously should be “to assist”

 

[Phemie]

We don’t use lay people. We have 4 Deacons.
Although a neighboring parish does use laypersons. They do a pre-approved reading of a Gospel related nature.
I’m a lay ecclesial minister, but no one has ever asked me to do anything but retreats and classes.

As far as I know there are only 2 deacons in my province which has 1 archdiocese and 2 dioceses. They are at the archdiocese. There are none in my parish or anywhere in our area so we lay ministers are it for Sunday Celebrations of the Word with Communion.

 

[pianistclare]

As far as I know there are only 2 deacons in my province which has 1 archdiocese and 2 dioceses. They are at the archdiocese. There are none in my parish or anywhere in our area so we lay ministers are it for Sunday Celebrations of the Word with Communion.

Wow, that’s amazing. Our Archdiocese is loaded with Deacons. In fact, our parish has another one in formation. We’re assuming that he will be used elsewhere when he is ordained. We’re a small parish, and it would be kind of embarrassing to have 5 Deacons when other pastors are struggling. Of course, some priests prefer to work without a net, so…
Peace!

 

[Phemie]

Wow, that’s amazing. Our Archdiocese is loaded with Deacons. In fact, our parish has another one in formation. We’re assuming that he will be used elsewhere when he is ordained. We’re a small parish, and it would be kind of embarrassing to have 5 Deacons when other pastors are struggling. Of course, some priests prefer to work without a net, so…
Peace!

The diaconate has never been promoted in any of the dioceses I’ve been in and it’s poorly understood by the PIP. In our archdiocese a former archbishop has been reported as saying he’d never ordain a deacon as long as there were married priests in the pews, men who had requested laicization so they could marry.

In some places the only reference they have to deacon is the older people’s memory of the Tridentine Rite where the deacon & subdeacon were really priests and where this was so rare that it’s referred to in hushed terms as a most extraordinary event. It was usually only seen at an Ordination or the funeral of a priest or the wedding of someone who had relatives or friends who were priests.

 

[Corki]

We have to be careful about web pages like that.

Did you read the opening paragraph very carefully? Check it again, because you might be surprised.

The USCCB did not make any such statement. One needs to read it carefully. The “statement’” is nothing more than suggestions made by a committee to the US bishops.

Anyone can offer suggestions to the bishops. Such suggestions have no force.
We also have to look at the date. These suggestions were made in 2000, 4 years before the Church issued Redemptionis Sacramentum.

There is a common misconception that anything that shows up on the USCCB website is somehow a “decision of the bishops.” That’s not always the case—and more often than not, it is not the case.

Note the words in the opening paragraph: “The following reflections are offered to bishops and their advisors and may serve to* assist bishops in the formulation of guidelines for this important area of pastoral life.”

It does not say that what follows comes from the bishops, but instead, it’s being suggested to bishops by the committee.

• sic. the original reads “o assist” which obviously should be “to assist”

Good catch.

 

[twf]

As far as I know there are only 2 deacons in my province which has 1 archdiocese and 2 dioceses. They are at the archdiocese. There are none in my parish or anywhere in our area so we lay ministers are it for Sunday Celebrations of the Word with Communion.

Sigh. I don’t get this. Why don’t our bishops promote the diaconate? Some regions of Canada have deacons, but a lot of regions simply don’t… The Archbishop of Vancouver finally instituted a formation program for the permanent diaconate a few years back, but there are no such efforts elsewhere in BC. I would be much more comfortable with “Communion Services” led by a deacon than by a layperson. While we’re at it, a deacon could also lead a solemn celebration of Lauds or Vespers. I wish parishes would do a better job of promoting the public celebration of the Divine Office, as Vatican II requested…

 

[twf]

Wow, that’s amazing. Our Archdiocese is loaded with Deacons. In fact, our parish has another one in formation. We’re assuming that he will be used elsewhere when he is ordained. We’re a small parish, and it would be kind of embarrassing to have 5 Deacons when other pastors are struggling. Of course, some priests prefer to work without a net, so…
Peace!

The Dioceses of the United States are loaded with deacons. American Catholics are often surprised to find that Vatican II’s call for the restoration of the permanent diaconate has, to date, still not been implemented in much of the world. I could be wrong on this, but I believe the vast majority of all permanent deacons in the world are found in either the USA or Italy. Some regions of Canada have promoted the diaconate, but in my experience most dioceses simply can’t be bothered.

 

[tee_eff_em]

The Dioceses of the United States are loaded with deacons. American Catholics are often surprised to find that Vatican II’s call for the restoration of the permanent diaconate has, to date, still not been implemented in much of the world.

Not all of them. But my own diocese is getting better. We had a class ordained in 1973, and the next one in 1998 (yeah, you did the math right – 25(!) years. A quarter-century). Two more classes since then.

Sigh. I don’t get this. Why don’t our bishops promote the diaconate?

My understanding is that formation programs were pretty much cobbled together, with no unified agreement of how they should run. Locally the bishop(s) did not ordain more deacons until a solid program was created. (At least that is what I have been told)

:twocents:
tee