It is allowed for some reasons. My parish has a communion service when the priests of the diocese are on their yearly retreat altogether for a few days. When a deacon is available he presides, and when not then an adult liturgical assistant presides.
If you look at this document, it appears to be referring to Sundays (in remote areas or when no Mass is available to the people due to a priest shortage.) My question is, if no deacon is available either, can a single lay person lead a communion service during the weekday? A previous bishop allowed this but I have read that any communion service must be done by more than one lay person in light of the underlined in the quote.
That was weekday.
To the best of my knowledge there is no universal answer to your question.
See: Redeptionis Sacramentum vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter VI
Considering that you’re in Philippines and there are no permanent deacons in Philippines, I’m guess what happened is that a regular weekday Mass was scheduled and Father was unable to make it to Mass time. As many others have said, there may be an existing guideline for a Communion service in the absence of a priest in your diocese. In what diocese are you located? I’m trying to look through the CBCP’s website.
Only reception of Communion is important to them.The document says that it is “preferable” that more than one person conduct the service. That is not an absolute mandate. So the answer to your question is yes, if the pastor and bishop allow.
Unless you are planning to do everything yourself, including the readings and distribution of Communion, it’s not difficult to involve more than one person.
thanks…the key word I missed!
Before “Redemptionis Sacramentum”, in those times when a priest was not available to offer daily Mass, it was allowed to have the Liturgy of the Word with the reception of Holy Communion. However, I believe that the Sacred Congregation For Divine Worship…became aware of what was happening particularly in those parishes without a pastor and having a lay person or a Sister assigned as the administrator. It was as you have described in your parish for the most part. I would think that it would also be difficult having children growing up in such an atmosphere to understand the loss and the difference between attending a Mass and a “Communion Service.” Otherwise I don’t really see anything bad about receiving Holy Communion under those circumstances so long as the people remained aware of their loss.When it comes to a Liturgy of the Word with Communion during the week, this is what Redemptionis Sacramentum says on the topic:
[166.] Likewise, especially if Holy Communion is distributed during such celebrations, the diocesan Bishop, to whose exclusive competence this matter pertains, must not easily grant permission for such celebrations to be held on weekdays, especially in places where it was possible or would be possible to have the celebration of Mass on the preceding or the following Sunday. Priests are therefore earnestly requested to celebrate Mass daily for the people in one of the churches entrusted to their care.
So, if the Bishop of the Diocese allows it, it’s OK.
But note that 164-166 make it clear that Rome doesn’t think it wise to have these liturgies WITH Communion, unless there is no opportunity for Mass for a long time. When Communion is included there is a danger that the community will stop seeing Mass as important.
I can see that happening in my own parish. My own fellow parishioners have expressed their wish for Liturgy of the Word over Mass – because the community is more involved.
Sadly, there are some Catholics who don’t even see a difference, referring to Liturgy of the Word with Communion as “Sister’s Mass” or the "Deacon’s Mass."
Years ago, I too saw this. It is quite disconcerting to see a female come upon the altar dressed in an alb and doing most things except the consecration. The pastor of this parish would even leave a short homily for her to read. This was permitted by a former bishop but since he retired, I have never seen it again and our pastor would never allow it in our particular parish. Speaking just for myself, it offended my *sensus fidei * and it was gratifying to me to read an article a while back written by a bishop in NY who had discontinued all lay Eucharistic services. It blurs the distinction between the common and ministerial priesthood and can very easily mislead those who simply do not know their faith well. The author stated that the reception of Communion should be preceded by participation of the Sacrifice. (Perhaps a minority opinion and may God bless this faithful shepherd.)
While on Sundays I can see the benefit of a communion service if no priest is available and there are no nearby parishes, I think on weekdays it would be preferable to substitute the Office from the Liturgy of the Hours most appropriate for the time of day (e.g. Lauds in the morning, mid-day at noon or Vespers in the evening). It would accomplish many things: it would avoid confusion on the nature of the liturgy; it would introduce the laity to the most worthy prayer of the LOTH and lastly it would avoid the “woman priest” temptation. It is most appropriate that a woman should lead the LOTH, especially a religious sister. After all women have led the Divine Office for millennia in abbeys, women’s orders and women’s congregations.
Now THIS, I could go for.
