Lay Persons giving Homily and Parish Missions

[Ethernet]

hi,
sorry if this topic has been dealt with before. I know the Church guidelines generally about lay people giving the homily at Sunday Mass.

I found out recently about Richard Lane. The Lutheran (I think) convert to Catholicism. He is a Catholic Evangelist and goes around giving speeches and parish missions.

I heard him speak at a Mass recently as the homilist. The pastor introduced him at the start of Mass as being there for the upcoming four day mission. So did Mr. Lane get a ‘free pass’ as homilist since he was basically pitching his upcoming mission? The priest gave no homily or any spiritual reflection on the readings. Mr. Lane is a very entertaining speaker so for about twenty minutes everyone was entertained and laughing - at Mass.

and what about lay people conducting spritual parish missions? have we run out of priests to do this? Are parishes ‘outsourcing’ this to bring in more dynamic speakers and increase the draw to missions? so that’s a good thing right?

 

[Neofight]

hi,
sorry if this topic has been dealt with before. I know the Church guidelines generally about lay people giving the homily at Sunday Mass.

I found out recently about Richard Lane. The Lutheran (I think) convert to Catholicism. He is a Catholic Evangelist and goes around giving speeches and parish missions.

I heard him speak at a Mass recently as the homilist. The pastor introduced him at the start of Mass as being there for the upcoming four day mission. So did Mr. Lane get a ‘free pass’ as homilist since he was basically pitching his upcoming mission? The priest gave no homily or any spiritual reflection on the readings. Mr. Lane is a very entertaining speaker so for about twenty minutes everyone was entertained and laughing - at Mass.

and what about lay people conducting spritual parish missions? have we run out of priests to do this? Are parishes ‘outsourcing’ this to bring in more dynamic speakers and increase the draw to missions? so that’s a good thing right?

He wasn’t a “homilist”. A homily addresses the readings of the mass, and is reserved to the clergy (bishops, priests and deacon…what he did was akin to a “public service announcement”, or perhaps a sermon. If the priest addressed the readings, even briefly, he fulfilled the homily…even if he didn’t its up to you to decide whether it is a hill worth dying on…I just don’t happen to believe it is.

Lay involvement in parish ministries is not “out sourcing”. The faithful have baptismal obligations to assist in evangelical ministries, which might even require they lead one.

Perhaps the best way to ensure the right person is taking on the responsibilities is for you to volunteer to run one of the parish missions yourself!

Peace and all good!

 

[fide]

hi,
sorry if this topic has been dealt with before. I know the Church guidelines generally about lay people giving the homily at Sunday Mass.

I found out recently about Richard Lane. The Lutheran (I think) convert to Catholicism. He is a Catholic Evangelist and goes around giving speeches and parish missions.

I heard him speak at a Mass recently as the homilist. The pastor introduced him at the start of Mass as being there for the upcoming four day mission. So did Mr. Lane get a ‘free pass’ as homilist since he was basically pitching his upcoming mission? The priest gave no homily or any spiritual reflection on the readings. Mr. Lane is a very entertaining speaker so for about twenty minutes everyone was entertained and laughing - at Mass.

and what about lay people conducting spritual parish missions? have we run out of priests to do this? Are parishes ‘outsourcing’ this to bring in more dynamic speakers and increase the draw to missions? so that’s a good thing right?

Lay persons can be permitted to preach if necessary, or if useful in certain circumstances. This could include preaching in parish missions(see Canon 766 and 770)

The preaching of the homily in a Mass is reserved to a priest or deacon. (see Canon 767)

I don’t find “entertainment” listed as one of the elements to be included in a homily or in preaching in general - but I do realize that such is popular in some circles.

 

[fide]

… If the priest addressed the readings, even briefly, he fulfilled the homily…even if he didn’t its up to you to decide whether it is a hill worth dying on…I just don’t happen to believe it is.

…!

I’ve heard priests say that the Church’s Canon Law is based on the history/tradition of Roman secular laws - which were “suggestions”. I was speechless.

 

[Ethernet]

I was just confused by it, that’s all. And I’m afraid I am woefully unqualified to lead a parish mission

 

[Neofight]

I was just confused by it, that’s all. And I’m afraid I am woefully unqualified to lead a parish mission

Moses thought he was unqualified to lead the Israelites, and God told him he would guide him…God will guide you too!

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Having come from a Protestant background, lay people giving homilies or addresses doesn’t bother me. Lay people give homilies, sermons and lead Bible study groups all the time there.

I had my first “double whammy” (like a breath going through you in waves from head to foot) when a lay person was leading a Bible Study session at what was called a Scripture Union Beach Mission way back in Christmas 1983. The second and third “double whammies” occurred when my old ordained pastor was speaking, but the fact remains God chose to use a lay person’s “sermon” to get across a message to me.

The main thing is the speaker needs to be competent. Entertainment and humour can be part of it, provided they help to get across the message., and isn’t just entertainment for entertainment’s sake. Used properly they can be very effective tools.

I think it was Archbishop Pell in Sydney who wrote or said somewhere that the most effective sermon or homily he’d ever heard about Christ was delivered by a lay person - Malcolm Muggeridge, the former left wing journalist and (rather late) Catholic convert.

 

[pnewton]

Lay people are a great resource that the Church is right to tap. We allow laity to train children, which is arguably more important than training adults. I will even go so far to say that if it is possible, it may even be preferable to have lay missions, as long as the priest makes it clear what needs he wants addressed. They are time consuming. Much of the work of the parish must be on the ordained. Anything that frees up his time, as long as there is no loss of orthodoxy or quality, should be preferred.

 

[Neofight]

My pastor says, “It’s your parish, I just work here!” I like that!