How do you receive the Body of Christ?

[Pug]

no, i just didn’t get what you were trying to say. perhaps because i’ve never seen what you were trying to describe so when i read your post my mind was completely blank, can’t draw up a picture

i do hope those three people are trained and given the Rite to become EMHCs

in the Philippines, EMHCs are even reqruied to wear formal clothes, and a stole (not the priest’s stole of course) to signify their ministry. and they sit in a specific location in the church. they are scheduled ahead of time, they do not attend every mass waiting to see if they are needed or not

so far in the parishes i have attended here in Canada, the same is true except for the stole and formal wear. like i said, the EMHCs have to be scheduled ahead of time, you don’t want them all to be attending the same mass, then in the other masses there won’t be anyone there to assist

We have a number of trained/approved EMHC in our parish. They are the ones who will come up when the priest requests people.

That is interesting about the stole and the special place to sit. Our EMHCs sit anywhere and wear nothing special, other than modest, nice clothes. We have a supposed schedule, but at the mass I attend, it is more random. Or, rather, less random, since if I show up, I will likely get called to serve, on account of that particular mass is short EMHC, as you point out can happen. So a few of the EMCH are overused, namely those who attend that particular mass. It would be nice if we had more at that particular mass. Either that, or fewer stations. Or more deacons! That is a nice idea.

 

[choy]

We have a number of trained/approved EMHC in our parish. They are the ones who will come up when the priest requests people.

That is interesting about the stole and the special place to sit. Our EMHCs sit anywhere and wear nothing special, other than modest, nice clothes. We have a supposed schedule, but at the mass I attend, it is more random. Or, rather, less random, since if I show up, I will likely get called to serve, on account of that particular mass is short EMHC, as you point out can happen. So a few of the EMCH are overused, namely those who attend that particular mass. It would be nice if we had more at that particular mass. Either that, or fewer stations. Or more deacons! That is a nice idea.

my current parish has pews to the right of the altar where the EMHCs as well as the lectors sit
to the left are pews for the choir

come to think of it, the last parish i go to doesn’t have a pew reserved for EMHCs. but they still schedule EMHCs ahead of time and they’re all needed. its a huge parish anyway, there’s 6 sunday masses and only 2 priests. both priests are present during Communion and are assisted by 6 EMHCs. there’s at least 1000 people by my estimate, as the Church is quite big and its always “standing room only” every Sunday Mass

yes, it would be more preferable to have more priests and deacons. i too didn’t approve the use of EMHCs at first, but have come to realize the necessity for them. and i’d rather have this problem in my parish (the necessity of too many EMHCs) rather than have only one priest in the parish and not have the necessity of EMHCs (meaning there’s only a handful of people at Sunday Mass)

 

[PaulinVA]

and how many priests do you have at your parish

Two assigned. One more in residence.

like i said, we can pressume all we want why something is happening the way it is. but at the end of the day, its all pressumptions. we don’t know the truth. maybe we’re right, maybe we’re wrong. but we should know our place in the church. if you think its a grave abuse, then talk to your priest. hear out his explanation. coming to the internet and complaining won’t fix a thing

Well, then, this discussion is moot, isn’t it?

As I said, the laity doesn’t really have the power to stop any of this.

 

[Ockham]

Or more deacons! That is a nice idea.

Here’s an even nicer idea: more priests?

Why do you suppose most OF seminaries are nearly empty or closed and EFs have a waiting list?

 

[Ockham]

158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.[259] This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.
Redemptionis Sacramentum

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

 

[Indyann]

Here’s an even nicer idea: more priests?

Why do you suppose most OF seminaries are nearly empty or closed and EFs have a waiting list?

Do you have any statistics to back up your statement?

It is my understanding that seminary enrollment is increasing, not decreasing.

jknirp.com/enroll.htm

 

[Ockham]

Do you have any statistics to back up your statement?

It is my understanding that seminary enrollment is increasing, not decreasing.

jknirp.com/enroll.htm

In traditional orders. I’ll dig around for the stats.

 

[Pug]

Here’s an even nicer idea: more priests?

Why do you suppose most OF seminaries are nearly empty or closed and EFs have a waiting list?

More priests is great too. I’m just happy because we got a new deacon less than two weeks ago, so I mentioned deacons.

I don’t know much about seminary enrollments. How is Opus Dei doing with their seminary, for example (the one in Rome)?

 

[palmas855]

Do you have any statistics to back up your statement?

It is my understanding that seminary enrollment is increasing, not decreasing.

jknirp.com/enroll.htm

The link you provided refers to sminary enrollments of about eight to ten years ago.

This link will give you up to date accurate information on the subject. It is very informative.

cara.georgetown.edu/Overview200809.pdf

.

 

[Indyann]

The link you provided refers to sminary enrollments of about eight to ten years ago.

This link will give you up to date accurate information on the subject. It is very informative.

cara.georgetown.edu/Overview200809.pdf

.

It certainly is an informative report. However, unless I missed it, I did not see where it categorized “Traditional Seminaries”.

In response to the statement “OF seminaries are nearly empty”, I can say that certainly is not true. Not in this area.

archindy.org/criterion/local/2009/08-28/brute.html

courier-journal.com/blogs/faith/2008/10/st-meinrad-enrollment-up-again.html

Both seminaries in this area are “bursting at the seams”.

Bishop Brute Seminary has only been open for 5 years.

So again, I ask for evidence that OF seminaries are practically empty and “Traditional” seminaries are thriving as was stated by Ockham.

 

[choy]

Here’s an even nicer idea: more priests?

Why do you suppose most OF seminaries are nearly empty or closed and EFs have a waiting list?

how many EF seminaries are there compared to OF seminaries?

 

[choy]

Two assigned. One more in residence.

Well, then, this discussion is moot, isn’t it?

As I said, the laity doesn’t really have the power to stop any of this.

i believe we do. but we have to be right first. we can’t just go making accusations, write to bishops and the Vatican, and get what we wanted

 

[PaulinVA]

i believe we do. but we have to be right first. we can’t just go making accusations, write to bishops and the Vatican, and get what we wanted

I’m not writing to anyone. This is a problem for the clergy to identify, formulate solutions, try the solutions, and then evaluate the solutions.

I can have my opinions, which are great here on the internet, but in the Church what I think doesn’t matter at all.

 

[Ockham]

Look at the first chart presented in the report. Compare 1967 to 2007.

*DENTON, Nebraska, JUNE 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Since the Second Vatican Council, Catholics have been attending Mass said in their native tongue. Today, Latin references are completely foreign to some, and lingering memories to others.

But then there are those who are dedicated to keeping the Latin liturgy alive, and included in this group is the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, a growing community of priests that are devoted to celebrating the extraordinary form of the Mass.

As many religious orders are desperately praying for vocations, this community has young men waiting to get into their seminary program at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton.*
zenit.org/article-29545?l=english

 

[ProVobis]

Here’s an even nicer idea: more priests?

But if the main job of a priest is to say Mass and administer the sacraments, why would there be any interest in spending years in studying to be a priest when the ordinary layperson with little training could easily take over many of your duties?

 

[PaulinVA]

But if the main job of a priest is to say Mass and administer the sacraments, why would there be any interest in spending years in studying to be a priest when the ordinary layperson with little training could easily take over many of your duties?

Ding Ding Ding!

I am not in favor of a return to the 50’s, but I do think that the laity is doing way too much in the sacramental life of the Church in the US.

I think there is a general lack of reverence, almost a secularization of the day to day life in the parish. That comes from the fact that most of the tasks are done by the laity,

 

[Ockham]

Of courese some people are going to chime in with ‘the reason laity participation has increased is the decrease in priests’. Catch 22?

Since the ‘spirit of V2’ changes vocations dropped dramatically.

It will take generations to fix the damage.

 

[Trinity117]

in the Philippines, EMHCs are even reqruied to wear formal clothes, and a stole (not the priest’s stole of course) to signify their ministry. and they sit in a specific location in the church. they are scheduled ahead of time, they do not attend every mass waiting to see if they are needed or not

so far in the parishes i have attended here in Canada, the same is true except for the stole and formal wear. like i said, the EMHCs have to be scheduled ahead of time, you don’t want them all to be attending the same mass, then in the other masses there won’t be anyone there to assist

The stoles are very interesting!

My parish (in Pennsylvania) is very small; one resident priest, two Masses on Sunday, one Mass on Saturday, one daily Mass.

The lectors and EMHC’s wear white robes over our “street clothes” and we are scheduled ahead of time. We sit in the reserved front pew - our last priest told us that there was a rule that nobody is to be seated on the altar before Communion is served. I don’t remember any reference to where that rule originated. Perhaps someone here knows.

For “regular” (non Holy Day) Mass we only have Father and one EMHC serving one species.

 

[choy]

I’m not writing to anyone. This is a problem for the clergy to identify, formulate solutions, try the solutions, and then evaluate the solutions.

I can have my opinions, which are great here on the internet, but in the Church what I think doesn’t matter at all.

what i was trying to say is, i believe the laity can effect changes in the Church. i don’t believe we are powerless at all. but what we want changed should be the right thing and for the right reason in the first place. i believe the Holy Spirit will guide us and guide the Bishops to recognize what we ask for, it the Holy Spirit sees the need for that change in the Church. people can’t just go around saying, “you know what, i think i’m right, therefore we should do what i want.”

 

[choy]

The stoles are very interesting!

My parish (in Pennsylvania) is very small; one resident priest, two Masses on Sunday, one Mass on Saturday, one daily Mass.

The lectors and EMHC’s wear white robes over our “street clothes” and we are scheduled ahead of time. We sit in the reserved front pew - our last priest told us that there was a rule that nobody is to be seated on the altar before Communion is served. I don’t remember any reference to where that rule originated. Perhaps someone here knows.

For “regular” (non Holy Day) Mass we only have Father and one EMHC serving one species.

you parish sounds like mine
very nice to that they have to wear the robes. i think EMHCs must show something that they’re nost just ordinary laypersons during mass. i mean, altar boys wear something, and they’re lay people. everyone who serves in and around the altar should be distinguished.