Eucharist Adoration outside of a Catholic Church

[pmcnally]

Hi,

I work at private secular university in Massachusetts. There is a non-denominational chapel on campus where various religions have services. There is Catholic Mass there on Sunday. I was wondering if it would be proper or allowed to have Eucharistic Adoration in this non-denominational chapel for an hour a week (or some regular frequency). This could be a good way to bring Catholics students and staff on campus together and potentially evangelize the Catholic faith. I know I would need to talk to the Catholic chaplain on campus (a lay person) and probably the pastor of a Catholic parish close to campus.

Thoughts? I have only heard of Eucharistic Adoration happening at Catholic churches. However since there is Mass at this non-denominational chapel maybe we could also do this.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[pianistclare]

They do it at retreat centers in the Mountains, so I don’t see why not.
So long as a Deacon or Priest brings the Monstrance, the Luna, and a consecrated host and facilitates the Holy Hour, why not?
it would have to be publicized and Adorers lined up.
Maybe one of the priests will weigh in though.

Chances are a secular school won’t be keen on it though.
There were plenty of Catholic Nuptial Masses done at our University Chapel.

 

[FrDavid96]

It is a judgement call that needs to be made by the priest and might need permission from the bishop.

While it isn’t “allowed” neither is it completely forbidden. If I were the priest providing the consecrated Host I would have a lot of questions and concerns, but I would be open to entertaining the request.

 

[CRM_Brother]

Hello Pete,
Ultimately, it is under the discretion of the Bishop and the member of the clergy conducting the Holy Hour. Eucharistic Adoration is a major part of our Order and we have tried to bring that Charism with us when one of our houses is granted a campus ministry. We encountered this very issue at Furman University in South Carolina. Our Order was given the the Sacramental needs of the university’s Newman Club (the local Catholic Campus Ministry) by the Bishop. Originally, they did not have a separate space for Mass and adoration, so we used the Campus non-denominational chapel with permission from the Bishop. You are correct in thinking that it is a excellent way to bring Catholics together and evangelize. Adoration is powerful.

If the local parish priest or deacons are not available (but the pastor and the Bishop allow the adoration to take place), then it is possible for an Acolyte to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, they simply cannot conduct the Benediction (the blessing of the people with the monstrance). I am not talking about an altar server but an Acolyte of the Minor Orders. This is a special ministry bestowed upon a member of the lay faithful which grants them the ability to perform certain non-sacramental functions within the Church. The faithful must be first installed as a Lector by Bishop in the intention of raising them to a Minor Order then, usually in a second ceremony, is installed as an Acolyte. It may be bestowed upon any male or female (since the 1960s). It is up to the Bishop if he wishes for non-clergy to be members of the Minor Orders within his diocese, but it may be beneficial for a non-clergy campus minister to be installed as an Acolyte for certain liturgical functions as they also have certain abilities regarding the distribution of the Eucharist.

God Bless,
Br. Ben

 

[Duesenberg]

If the local parish priest or deacons are not available (but the pastor and the Bishop allow the adoration to take place), then it is possible for an Acolyte to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, they simply cannot conduct the Benediction (the blessing of the people with the monstrance). I am not talking about an altar server but an Acolyte of the Minor Orders. This is a special ministry bestowed upon a member of the lay faithful which grants them the ability to perform certain non-sacramental functions within the Church. The faithful must be first installed as a Lector by Bishop in the intention of raising them to a Minor Order then, usually in a second ceremony, is installed as an Acolyte. It may be bestowed upon any male or female (since the 1960s). It is up to the Bishop if he wishes for non-clergy to be members of the Minor Orders within his diocese, but it may be beneficial for a non-clergy campus minister to be installed as an Acolyte for certain liturgical functions as they also have certain abilities regarding the distribution of the Eucharist.

Unless this is different than permanently instituted acolytes and lectors, I’m fairly certain, both ministries are open only to males and neither remain minor orders (at least in the Western Church.) Of course both males and females may be temporarily commissioned as EMsHC and readers and either can serve at the altar.

Around here, EMsHC may expose/repose the Blessed Sacrament – in the monstrance per the local ordinary. They may not conduct benediction as you note.

 

[pianistclare]

I wasn’t aware that the topic of gender had come up prior to this.
Or did I miss something?