I've put myself between a rock and a hard place!

[JanetF]

I think you need to call your diocesan office and get direction from them.

 

[Marysann]

W

no

I am from New York State so I hate to ask what diocese you are from. You need to go right to the bishop ASAP!!! In some of our upstate dioceses people have been so poorly taught for so long that we have a large population who don’t know what the Church teaches, yet they are people of good will. I know that a couple of upstate dioceses have new bishops who want to turn things around, but they are trying to be sensitive and not alienate these people. This situation is above the pay grade of a young layman. Please turn this over to the bishop.

 

[Joe_5859]

Someone needs to speak with the Diocese, with the Office of Clergy or the Chancery, to inform them that the priest is facing a long lasting illness. They would also then ask if Communion Services are allowed.

This times a million.

This isn’t something you should have to decide on your own. If your pastor is too ill to be making these decisions, you need to receive guidance from the diocesan office.

 

[Johnakochmanski1]

I think it’s best to leave my dioceses name anonymous, our bishop is getting loads of flack right now and although this is something that should be taken care of it seems like it’s not a priority for him. Incall honestly I can understand it not being priority for him with how much is going on.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

What would happen if you simply told the administrator your opinion? That you don’t want to do it anymore, and in fact you think it is in error to schedule these kinds of services in competition with Mass. I guess the question is how would you react if she throws a hissy fit? Can you change parishes if you need to?

 

[Johnakochmanski1]

After all these comments to read I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to call our diocese and see what they say as an anonymous parishioner and then I’ll talk to tg he administrator and try to address her. If I changed parishes and disinvovlved myslef in out parish it would cripple everything
We would lose a pillar in the choir, a confirmation teacher, a director of altar servers, a master of ceremonies and a few other unofficial jobs

 

[Beryllos]

Yes! Continue to serve the parish, and do what you can to make things better. God bless you and your parish. I pray also for healing and health for your parish priest.

 

[Joe_5859]

I am glad to hear you are planning on contacting the diocese.

Even if your bishop is dealing with other things, this is still important, and there are a number of other people within the diocese that you could speak with (Vicar General, Vicar for Clergy, Chancellor, Director of Worship, etc.). As this has to do with the health of one of their priests and the ministry to his parish, they need to be informed as to what is happening on the ground.

 

[TheLittleLady]

If I changed parishes and disinvovlved myslef in out parish it would cripple everything

Ehhh, this sort of thinking does not do you nor the parish any good.

If your job required you to move into the boundaries of a new parish, this parish would not collapse.

 

[paperwight]

Johnakochmanski1:

If I changed parishes and disinvovlved myslef in out parish it would cripple everything

Ehhh, this sort of thinking does not do you nor the parish any good.

If your job required you to move into the boundaries of a new parish, this parish would not collapse.

Well, yes, indeed. Perhaps a temporary difficulty, but I have learnt from observing what happens when ‘irreplaceable’ people have died in our parish.

Here is a poem which comes to mind. I’ve probably changed the words over the years as I misremember bits, but the sad lesson it teaches remains true.

"Next time you feel irreplaceable, with always so much to do,
Just fill a bucket with water, and place it in front of you.
Now plunge your hand in the water, right in, right up past your wrist,
Take it out, and the hole that’s left there
Will show just how much you’ll be missed.’

 

[eagerbeaver]

Before you approach the Diocese you should ask your Pastor about this - he has the responsibility for the organisation of Services.

If he is so unwell that he can’t, then the Administrator [ appointed / approved by the Diocese ] is the one who should make decisions.

Yes you should take the problem to the Diocese but only after you have tried to get a reasonable outcome at Parish Level.

 

[Mi_Rose]

If you called our diocese anonymously your complaint would not be passed on. Don’t know the ru l es in other places.

 

[Joe_5859]

Right. I don’t think it’s necessary to be “anonymous”. But I also don’t think it needs to come across as a “complaint” so much as an involved parishioner looking for guidance on what to do in these unfortunate circumstances. It’s not that the OP is trying to get the parish administrator in trouble. But considering he’s being asked to lead these Communion services, I think he has every right to ask the diocese how and whether this type of service should continue in his parish.

 

[Joe_5859]

And not to make the OP feel unneeded. We do all have our part to plat. And I have seen it happen plenty of times where a particular ministry flounders and goes to the wayside when a particular parishioner leaves or dies. But the parish does continue on.

A couple months ago, my pastor left suddenly. And even he was replaced. For my parish, I oversee children’s faith formation, RCIA, adult faith studies, the parish library and more. But I know if I was gone, things would move forward without me as they did before I got here. It might look a little different and some things might fall through the cracks, but the parish would move on and probably 95% of the parish wouldn’t even realize I was gone.