In the time it takes to ceremoniously distribute both species to all the EMHC's..

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Couldn’t the priests just make their homilies about 5 minutes shorter? I mean some of these guys go on for like 15 minutes.
 
In my parish, how many EMHC’s are used depends on the number of priest and deacons present. They are assigned stations first, and then we make up the rest. Our sanctuary seats roughly 1200 people on two levels. We have 2 priests, a third who is in residence, 2 retired priests (both well north of 80) and, 6 deacons. We run 5 masses every weekend, the 3 Sunday morning masses are spaced 2 hours apart. The 8 and 12 o’clock masses aren’t as full as the 10, but they are nearly full. Durning the 10, not only is the main sanctuary full, but the overflow is as well. There is no way all those people could get served in a reasonable amount of time without EMHC’s. As it is, it takes about 15 minutes tor so to serve everyone. That’s a guess. I’ve never actually timed it. At any given Mass, there is usually 1 priest and 1 deacon. I don’t know how large our parish is “on paper”, but the reality is, even during a daily Mass, EMHC’s are needed. And thank God they are used, because otherwise I would have to habitually leave Mass early so I could get to work on time. That said, we only use the bare minimum necessary to cover the stations. Even then, there is usually only about 30 minutes between the end of one Mass and the start of the next. Just enough time to get everything set up again for the next Mass.
Kris
 
With regard to the length of a Sunday morning Mass, many parishes schedule their children’s religious education classes after one of the Masses. If the Mass ends past the hour mark, the classes begin late. The children need to be dismissed 10 minutes before the next hour, because half their families attend the next Mass. I personally wish the Mass times could be changed, so that the classes could be longer than 40-45 minutes, but what is, is.
 
GangGreen said:
Couldn’t the priests just make their homilies about 5 minutes shorter? I mean some of these guys go on for like 15 minutes.
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With respect…no. Personally, I try to preach for about seven minutes, but often times I wish it could be longer. The Sunday homily is the only opportunity I have to catechize 99% of my flock that week. Every minute counts!

Somewhere (don’t know exactly where…perhaps Presbyterorum Ordinis) the Magisterium has told us that the primary role of the priest is to preach the Word of God.

In our parish, we have nine weekend Masses, two anticipatory Masses on Saturday evening as well as seven other Masses on Sunday. We have two priests, plus a third in residence. Plus one who is retired who covers one Mass each weekend. We do not distribute the Precious Blood and usually only need one, sometimes two, EMHCs.
 
thistle said:
Can’t you read? I said (not the Church) EMHC’s are essential at our Church or are you suggesting 10,000 people each Sunday be forbidden to receive Communion even though the Church specifically strongly recommends that the faithful regularly and as often as possible receive Communion.
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Does your Parish Church REALLY have 10,000 people at Mass?

Plus, the Sunday obligation is to attend. There is NO obligation to receive.
 
Kevin812 said:
Does your Parish Church REALLY have 10,000 people at Mass?

Plus, the Sunday obligation is to attend. There is NO obligation to receive.
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So, in the interest of time, they should not receive? Honestly, though, I don’t think you quite meant that the way it reads. 😉
Kris
 
klm120861 said:
So, in the interest of time, they should not receive? Honestly, though, I don’t think you quite meant that the way it reads. 😉
Kris
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The real question is; how are all these people getting to the Confessionals?
 
Kevin812 said:
More Mass times does not equal greater attendance. Catholics need no such encouragement to attend to their obligations and duties.
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GangGreen said:
Couldn’t the priests just make their homilies about 5 minutes shorter? I mean some of these guys go on for like 15 minutes.
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So an extra 5 minutes looking at the back of people’s heads as you inch your way up the communion line is more important than 5 minutes of hearing the word of God preached by the priest or deacon?

Interesting set of priorities there 🤷
 
Kevin812 said:
The real question is; how are all these people getting to the Confessionals?
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How many of them need to go?

How many do you know for a fact meet all the necessary conditions of being in mortal sin (grave matter + full knowledge + full consent)?

How easy is it to access confession at other parishes in the area?

How long is a piece of string, in short.
 
klm120861 said:
Our sanctuary seats roughly 1200 people on two levels. We have 2 priests, a third who is in residence, 2 retired priests (both well north of 80) and, 6 deacons.
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You have four priests and six deacons and yet you have a church with a sanctuary which seats 1200? I mean, wow, talk about optimism. And if the sanctuary seats 1200 how many do you have space for in the pews? Those are some crazy numbers. Are your communion lines on moving sidewalks, or do people catch buses from the back?
 
LilyM said:
So you know for a fact that every single one of your fellow parishioners is currently in a state of mortal sin? :eek: I hope I never come to that parish then.
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See…that’s why we need the extra 5 minutes for the priests homily…to help keep us out of mortal sin:D

or to help us learn the value of reconciliation…or both…😃

Or maybe to help us learn not to judge everyone else’s sins but worry about our own…😃
 
No offense intended, but it always makes me laugh when other Catholics complain about how long Mass is. When I was a Pentecostal, at one church I attended our services would run from 2-4 hours. Yes, that’s right. 4 hours. The first time I went to Mass and it was just under an hour, I was shocked it was so short!
 
LilyM said:
So an extra 5 minutes looking at the back of people’s heads as you inch your way up the communion line is more important than 5 minutes of hearing the word of God preached by the priest or deacon?

Interesting set of priorities there 🤷
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You look at the back of peoples heads instead of quiet contemplation of the miracle you are have been invited to partake in? To quote you, Interesting set of priorities there 🤷
 
Armor_of_Light said:
You look at the back of peoples heads instead of quiet contemplation of the miracle you are have been invited to partake in? To quote you, Interesting set of priorities there 🤷
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Quiet contemplation is a given - as is the lloking at the backs of heads, which cannot be avoided without closing one’s eyes. But it is equally possible, indeed sometimes more possible, before or after Mass rather than during Communion. Unlike the homily.
 
LilyM said:
Quiet contemplation is a given - as is the lloking at the backs of heads, which cannot be avoided without closing one’s eyes. But it is equally possible, indeed sometimes more possible, before or after Mass rather than during Communion. Unlike the homily.
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Your neck does not move? That sucks.
 
LilyM said:
Maybe you can walk without actually looking where you are going? That, sadly, is a talent I don’t possess.
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You gotta use your peripherals!

It’s late and I’m feeling a little squirelly…you know I’m just teasing you, right? I have to work all night…aren’t you tired?
 
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