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semper_catholicus
Guest
This is why I believe, in the absence of a priest for Sunday mass, there ought to just be no mass, and the parishioners should be notified that they will need to attend mass elsewhere.
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Sirach2
Guest
And if it is a hardship to travel a long distance to another parish? Isn’t it better to let them hear the readings and receive communion as opposed to nothing at all? The OP has not indicated how accessible it is to go elsewhere.
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TomH1
Guest
This needs to be sorted.
A lot of people fulfil their Sunday obligation at the Vigil Mass on Saturday. I think it would be much better if you had no Communion Service on Saturday evening. Some people may attend and mistakenly think they have fulfilled the obligation when they have not.
If you do not feel able to do three Communion Services on a Sunday stop doing it. Our Sunday obligation is to go to Mass. Therefore, your Communion Services do not fulfil this obligation. People will have to travel elsewhere to Mass. It is for individuals to determine whether this is possible or nor for them.
If your priest has been ill for the length of time you imply I am surprised the local dean has not been informed and put something temporary in place.
I am confused why this administrator seems to be acting as if she is in charge. The priest assigned to your parish by the diocesan bishop is in charge and should be the one making these decisions. Unless he is seriously ill in hospital he can be involved in these decisions from his sick bed even if unable to get to church to say Mass.
A lot of people fulfil their Sunday obligation at the Vigil Mass on Saturday. I think it would be much better if you had no Communion Service on Saturday evening. Some people may attend and mistakenly think they have fulfilled the obligation when they have not.
If you do not feel able to do three Communion Services on a Sunday stop doing it. Our Sunday obligation is to go to Mass. Therefore, your Communion Services do not fulfil this obligation. People will have to travel elsewhere to Mass. It is for individuals to determine whether this is possible or nor for them.
If your priest has been ill for the length of time you imply I am surprised the local dean has not been informed and put something temporary in place.
I am confused why this administrator seems to be acting as if she is in charge. The priest assigned to your parish by the diocesan bishop is in charge and should be the one making these decisions. Unless he is seriously ill in hospital he can be involved in these decisions from his sick bed even if unable to get to church to say Mass.
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Beryllos
Guest
Say yes to God but don’t be afraid to say no to people.
I’m praying for you and your parish.
I’m praying for you and your parish.
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Vico
Guest
USCCB
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-wor...y-celebrations-in-the-absence-of-a-priest.cfmWhenever possible, the Mass schedule of nearby parishes should be available to parishioners. If a nearby parish is celebrating Mass on a given weekday, serious consideration should be given to encouraging people to participate in that Mass rather than the parish scheduling a Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Holy Communion.
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Anne1964
Guest
Many EMHCs have no idea that is the correct title. I once used the abbreviation with a priest and he didn’t know what it meant either. They have been called Eucharistic ministers in my Diocese for decades.
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paperwight
Guest
Use that term on CAF, and you will get a crowd jumping on you from a great height, eager to point out that the Eucharistic Ministers are the clergy, and they alone.Many EMHCs have no idea that is the correct title. I once used the abbreviation with a priest and he didn’t know what it meant either. They have been called Eucharistic ministers in my Diocese for decades.
In vain will you protest that the clergy in your neck of the woods use the term to refer to the laity commissioned to help with distributing Holy Communion and that you are just following the custom.
You have been warned.
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Johnakochmanski1
Guest
Thank you all so much for your help and prayers.
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Johnakochmanski1
Guest
Nothing against our priest but he tends to let people do their own thing. I will be addressing her and it was only one weekend where I did 3 communion services. It’s not as bad as last Christmas. I helped do diferent jobs at a 7 PM Saturday night 730 am and 1030 Sunday morning mass and then we had a 7 PM Christmas eve mass that day a midnight mass a 730 am and 1030 am. Not bad for fulfilling my obligations right? Lol
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Beryllos
Guest
Welcome to Catholic Answers Forums! I just noticed you are new here.
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TomH1
Guest
Part I Long Answer
I was not talking about your obligation. I was talking about all Catholics.
Catholics are obliged to go to Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. They can fulfil that obligation on the day in question or on the evening of the previous day. The obligation can only be fulfilled by Mass. A Communion Service, a Liturgy of the Word, Lauds, Vespers, Rosary etc. may be admirable things to attend on a Sunday for all of us if we cannot fulfil the Sunday obligation, they do not fulfil it.
I was pointing out the potential danger of some people thinking that a Communion Service on a Saturday evening would fulfil their obligation. Therefore, the simplest way to avoid that confusion is not to have these services.
Your administrator’s suggestion to have a Communion Service on Christmas Day is also a bad idea. It will fulfil no one’s obligation to go to Mass on Christmas Day. Two things could happen if a Communion Service were to happen on Christmas Day. People may attend it thinking it fulfils their obligation. Alternatively, possibly no one turns up because in addition to going to Mass and all the family events that happen on that day they are unlikely to go to a service they do not need to attend.
I was not talking about your obligation. I was talking about all Catholics.
Catholics are obliged to go to Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. They can fulfil that obligation on the day in question or on the evening of the previous day. The obligation can only be fulfilled by Mass. A Communion Service, a Liturgy of the Word, Lauds, Vespers, Rosary etc. may be admirable things to attend on a Sunday for all of us if we cannot fulfil the Sunday obligation, they do not fulfil it.
I was pointing out the potential danger of some people thinking that a Communion Service on a Saturday evening would fulfil their obligation. Therefore, the simplest way to avoid that confusion is not to have these services.
Your administrator’s suggestion to have a Communion Service on Christmas Day is also a bad idea. It will fulfil no one’s obligation to go to Mass on Christmas Day. Two things could happen if a Communion Service were to happen on Christmas Day. People may attend it thinking it fulfils their obligation. Alternatively, possibly no one turns up because in addition to going to Mass and all the family events that happen on that day they are unlikely to go to a service they do not need to attend.
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TomH1
Guest
PART II Long Answer
I do not know how you resolve the issue of a priest who lets people do their thing and an administrator who it appears from your description acts as if she is in charge. I have no reason to doubt she does a sterling job, but she is not in charge.
Instead of getting this administrator to understand go straight to the priest. He is in charge of the parish. These things are his responsibility. Tell him how you feel. Advise him what the administrator is doing, but be factual and objective, do not editorialise or give your opinion. That may not resolve the problems. You will then need to spend time in prayer to decide your next step. It will have to be to accept things as they are and find a way to live with them. Your alternative is to raise these issues with your diocese.
A the end of the day you do not have to volunteer as much as you do. You may not be aware of what impression other parishioners form of you. They may not be leaving it all to you and not volunteering because they do not want to volunteer. They may not volunteer because they have mistakenly formed the impression you do everything and they would be given no opportunity to do anything. Step back and let the priest do what he is there to do - run the parish.
I may be wrong about the following and it is not a criticism but an observation of an understandable behaviour. Perhaps you think that doing all this in your parish may encourage a diocese or institute to accept you for the priesthood. I do not know why you have not been accepted, I do not need to know and I do not want to know. However, when candidates are considered a lot of factors are taking into account. How involved you are with your parish is not the only factor. I doubt throwing yourself into all this parochial work is going to alter things.
I would not discourage you from trying again. God knows we do not have enough priests. Surely, you were given feedback when you were not selected. I strongly suggest you give it serious consideration.
I will pray things get quickly resolved at your parish and that things do not prevent you and the rest of your parish from enjoying a happy and blessed Christmas.
I do not know how you resolve the issue of a priest who lets people do their thing and an administrator who it appears from your description acts as if she is in charge. I have no reason to doubt she does a sterling job, but she is not in charge.
Instead of getting this administrator to understand go straight to the priest. He is in charge of the parish. These things are his responsibility. Tell him how you feel. Advise him what the administrator is doing, but be factual and objective, do not editorialise or give your opinion. That may not resolve the problems. You will then need to spend time in prayer to decide your next step. It will have to be to accept things as they are and find a way to live with them. Your alternative is to raise these issues with your diocese.
A the end of the day you do not have to volunteer as much as you do. You may not be aware of what impression other parishioners form of you. They may not be leaving it all to you and not volunteering because they do not want to volunteer. They may not volunteer because they have mistakenly formed the impression you do everything and they would be given no opportunity to do anything. Step back and let the priest do what he is there to do - run the parish.
I may be wrong about the following and it is not a criticism but an observation of an understandable behaviour. Perhaps you think that doing all this in your parish may encourage a diocese or institute to accept you for the priesthood. I do not know why you have not been accepted, I do not need to know and I do not want to know. However, when candidates are considered a lot of factors are taking into account. How involved you are with your parish is not the only factor. I doubt throwing yourself into all this parochial work is going to alter things.
I would not discourage you from trying again. God knows we do not have enough priests. Surely, you were given feedback when you were not selected. I strongly suggest you give it serious consideration.
I will pray things get quickly resolved at your parish and that things do not prevent you and the rest of your parish from enjoying a happy and blessed Christmas.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
That is what is so jaw droppingly astonishing.
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Vico
Guest
In your parish does anyone know that the ordinary minister is the bishop, priest, or deacon and that the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are instituted acolytes or a deputed person?Many EMHCs have no idea that is the correct title. I once used the abbreviation with a priest and he didn’t know what it meant either. They have been called Eucharistic ministers in my Diocese for decades.
CIC 230 §3. When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside offer liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.
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Anne1964
Guest
In my parish, yes. In other parishes it varies.
I am certainly aware of the difference between ordinary ministers of the Eucharist and EMHCs and I gently correct people when they use the wrong terminology. It is one of those things that drives me up a wall. I particularly dislike seeing announcements in bulletins asking for volunteers to be Eucharistic ministers. And I am really surprised at the number of people who don’t know this and are not taught the difference when they are appointed as EMHCs.
I am certainly aware of the difference between ordinary ministers of the Eucharist and EMHCs and I gently correct people when they use the wrong terminology. It is one of those things that drives me up a wall. I particularly dislike seeing announcements in bulletins asking for volunteers to be Eucharistic ministers. And I am really surprised at the number of people who don’t know this and are not taught the difference when they are appointed as EMHCs.
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JimG
Guest
A communion service is not Mass, and it does not and cannot fulfill one’s obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holydays.
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tweedlealice
Guest
God, this cherished servant of yours, is a delight. Give him Your Wisdom & Spirit in dealing w these responsibilities. A good, kind spirit. Bless his comings & goings.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up w wings as an angel. They shall run & not grow weary. They shall walk & not faint. Teach us Lotd, to wait.
In Jesus name. Amen
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up w wings as an angel. They shall run & not grow weary. They shall walk & not faint. Teach us Lotd, to wait.
In Jesus name. Amen
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InThePew
Guest
If you’re not comfortable doing it because you think it’s leading people astray then stop (after giving notice of course). Ultimately your parish priest is responsible for the parish not the administrator so make it his problem. If he’s missing in action contact the parish priest of a neighbouring parish and ask them for help.
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Johnakochmanski1
Guest
Thank you for your long answers. My service to the church is something I’ve done for years. I am not doi g this to make myslef look good to orders or dioceses it is just something I do because there is a need .where there is a need I always try to fill it and do what I can do to help the situation. Thank you
Tis_Bearself
Patron
This is what I would think, also.Shouldn’t the parishioners be informed that they are welcome to attend the communion service but attending the communion service will not fulfill their obligation to attend Mass and, if they can attend Mass, they are obliged to do so?
Attending Saturday night Communion service doesn’t fulfill one’s Sunday Mass obligation, ever.
If there were no Masses scheduled on Saturday night or Sunday, then people might be dispensed from their obligation if they couldn’t reasonably get to another church, but the Communion Service doesn’t fulfill anything in any event.
OP, someone needs to inform the parishioners of this, if they are somehow mistakenly thinking they can go to your Communion service and then just skip going to the Sunday Mass. I would suggest that you take this up with the parish administrator and, if s/he isn’t helpful in getting the word out, talk to whatever priests are filling in.
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