Master of Ceremonies

[stanthonyserver]

I am in trainging to become an MC at our parish. I have the Peter Elliot books and others including the Ceremonial of Bishops.

I’m wondering if anyone is aware of a guide written specifically for MC’s or that includes instruction for MCs. Or if anyone has written their own and is willing to share I would appreciate it.

Yours,
David

 

[Deacon_Ed]

David,

I’ve served as an MC for many, many years (both before and after ordination). Your best bet is to get together with the regular MCs from the diocese and ask for their help and advice. Note that Msgr. Elliot’s book is not an official guide – it is, rather, his feelings for how to implement the directives from Rome. As a result, some of his suggestions are not universally accepted.

The best thing I can tell you is that the MC should be as nearly invisible as possible. Minimize movement, anticipate the needs of the presider, double and triple check to make sure everything you need is ready and is where it is supposed to be. Work with the other ministers (altar servers, cantors, lectors, etc.) to make sure they know what is expected, Make sure you have the liturgy firmly in your head and that you know exactly what happens and when. If you don’t – write it down; if you do – write it down anyway!

Deacon Ed

 

[rkrispies]

Forgive my ignorance on this, but what exactly is a Master of Ceremonies in the context of the Mass and what does he/she do, how are they trained, etc.?

I have just never heard of this position before.

Chris

 

[stanthonyserver]

The Master of Ceremonies has been most closely associated with the Pope or Archbishops, most often a priest or deacon. Many parishes today, however, are also utilizing this position within the church, most often a lay person.

In our parish the Master of Ceremonies is responsible for the proper and smooth conduct of the various liturgical ceremonies such as the Solemn Mass, Tridduum observances etc.

We are being trained in how to prepare the sanctuary and altar, instruct the altar servers in the liturgy, coordinate with the sacristans, music director, ushers, EMHC’s and others involved in the liturgy.

During the Mass we will be in the sanctuary in cassock and surplice - as discreetly as possible as noted above - to insure the proper conduct of the liturgy.

The objective is to relieve the celebrant from having to concern himself with the logistics of the ceremony and to allow him to focus on the sacramental aspects. Up until recently our rather large parish had 3 priests and 2 deacons. We are now down to 1 priest and 1 deacon full time and 1retired priest and 1 retired deacon helping out. We will be taking upon ourselves some of the more mundane duties that surround the ceremonies.

That’s the best I can describe it.

 

[Stromboli]

The Master of Ceremonies has been most closely associated with the Pope or Archbishops, most often a priest or deacon. Many parishes today, however, are also utilizing this position within the church, most often a lay person.

In our parish the Master of Ceremonies is responsible for the proper and smooth conduct of the various liturgical ceremonies such as the Solemn Mass, Tridduum observances etc.

We are being trained in how to prepare the sanctuary and altar, instruct the altar servers in the liturgy, coordinate with the sacristans, music director, ushers, EMHC’s and others involved in the liturgy.

During the Mass we will be in the sanctuary in cassock and surplice - as discreetly as possible as noted above - to insure the proper conduct of the liturgy.

The objective is to relieve the celebrant from having to concern himself with the logistics of the ceremony and to allow him to focus on the sacramental aspects. Up until recently our rather large parish had 3 priests and 2 deacons. We are now down to 1 priest and 1 deacon full time and 1retired priest and 1 retired deacon helping out. We will be taking upon ourselves some of the more mundane duties that surround the ceremonies.

That’s the best I can describe it.

I once saw our diocesan MC (a layman without a great deal of horse-sense or tact) try to herd Frs. John Corapi, Pablo Straub and Larry Richards and others around at a Mass celebrated by my former bishop at a conference.

It was fairly amusing. He finally gave up.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

We frequently get a seminarian to be Master of Ceremonies for the Easter Vigil. It tends to get a bit complicated with a number of adults coming into the Church by Baptism or Profession of Faith.

 

[Marysann]

Deacon Ed,
Can a Master of Ceremonies be a Mistress of Ceremonies? I nearly fell over at our nephew’s Confirmation ceremony in the cathedral of an upstate New York diocese to see that the Master of Ceremonies was a woman! The bishop was presiding so it must have been approved by him. I was afraid of what I might see at this Mass so I made sure that I sat where I couldn’t see the altar (I’m short). To me the use of a female Master of Ceremonies looks like a push for the ordination of women. Is this allowed?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Deacon Ed,
Can a Master of Ceremonies be a Mistress of Ceremonies? I nearly fell over at our nephew’s Confirmation ceremony in the cathedral of an upstate New York diocese to see that the Master of Ceremonies was a woman! The bishop was presiding so it must have been approved by him. I was afraid of what I might see at this Mass so I made sure that I sat where I couldn’t see the altar (I’m short). To me the use of a female Master of Ceremonies looks like a push for the ordination of women. Is this allowed?

The answer to your question is – yes! Since the position of MC is not an ordained position (although it’s usually filled by a cleric) there is nothing to preclude a woman from serving in that role. In fact, the head of our diocesan office of worship is a woman and she frequently serves the bishop as his MC.

Deacon Ed

 

[John_Lilburne]

I wrote “Ministers in Masses” which is at romanrite.com/mim_cont.html .

 

[Joannm]

I really don’t see the purpose of an MC at a regular parish Mass. The only time we have ever had an MC is when the Ordinary comes for Confirmation and he brings his secretary. Auxilaries never use an MC. Even Masses at our Cathedreal don’t have one unless the Bishop is presiding.

If a parish has good liturgical coordinators then by the time mass starts everyone know where they are going and what they are doing and no one extra is needed to be running around the sanctuary. Even during the Triduum, if you have a good rehearsals before hand and write out in detail the movements in the presider book, then there are no problems. I often stand off to the side, outside of the sanctuary, to see if anything is needed. The sacristian does all the set up before mass (We don’t let anyone in the sanctuary less than 10 minutes before Mass except to light the candles).

 

[Chatter163]

I really don’t see the purpose of an MC at a regular parish Mass. The only time we have ever had an MC is when the Ordinary comes for Confirmation and he brings his secretary. Auxilaries never use an MC. Even Masses at our Cathedreal don’t have one unless the Bishop is presiding.

If a parish has good liturgical coordinators then by the time mass starts everyone know where they are going and what they are doing and no one extra is needed to be running around the sanctuary. Even during the Triduum, if you have a good rehearsals before hand and write out in detail the movements in the presider book, then there are no problems. I often stand off to the side, outside of the sanctuary, to see if anything is needed. The sacristian does all the set up before mass (We don’t let anyone in the sanctuary less than 10 minutes before Mass except to light the candles).

But that’s just the point, there are different individuals with different roles, often trained separately. Their movements must be coordinated and one person needs to see that the different parts flow smoothly and that all happens when it is supposed to. The priest should not have to monitor this.

 

[Tonks40]

We just started using MCs at my parish. They are very, very discrete…one would think he or she was an adult server. We usually use them at important feast days and some solemnities. It’s worked out pretty well at my parish.

 

[Joannm]

But that’s just the point, there are different individuals with different roles, often trained separately. Their movements must be coordinated and one person needs to see that the different parts flow smoothly and that all happens when it is supposed to. The priest should not have to monitor this.

Our priests never monitor the movements in the sanctuary. They just know everything will run smoothly since everyone knows before Mass begins what they are to do and don’t need anyone to remind them. The readers know when to go to the Ambo, the servers know what they need to do, the EMHCs know when to come up and which station to go to, and concelebrants, if we have any, know exactly what to do. We don’t need another person running around the sanctuary directing people as they are all well trained…and yes, they are trained separately since they are different ministries. Why does an EMHC need to be trained with readers or servers since they do not serve in that role. I just can’t see the point in having another person in the sanctuary when they are not needed if everyone knows already what they are supposed to do.

 

[Jimzz12]

Nifty Trivia: The Strombolo was invented in Pennsylvania by an Italian-American. Good name Stromboli… just wondering though… why plural? how are you one person or two?

 

[Stromboli]

But that’s just the point, there are different individuals with different roles, often trained separately. Their movements must be coordinated and one person needs to see that the different parts flow smoothly and that all happens when it is supposed to. The priest should not have to monitor this.

That “coordination” is best done away from the actual Mass if at all possible.

 

[Stromboli]

Our priests never monitor the movements in the sanctuary. They just know everything will run smoothly since everyone knows before Mass begins what they are to do and don’t need anyone to remind them. The readers know when to go to the Ambo, the servers know what they need to do, the EMHCs know when to come up and which station to go to, and concelebrants, if we have any, know exactly what to do. We don’t need another person running around the sanctuary directing people as they are all well trained…and yes, they are trained separately since they are different ministries. Why does an EMHC need to be trained with readers or servers since they do not serve in that role. I just can’t see the point in having another person in the sanctuary when they are not needed if everyone knows already what they are supposed to do.

 

[Stromboli]

We just started using MCs at my parish. They are very, very discrete…one would think he or she was an adult server. We usually use them at important feast days and some solemnities. It’s worked out pretty well at my parish.

In very practical terms how does an MC differ from a server at your parish?

 

[Chatter163]

That “coordination” is best done away from the actual Mass if at all possible.

Not when a server, no matter how well trained, forgets to do something, or the priest loses the place in the missal, or the . That is why the Church has used MCs at High Mass for many centuries.

 

[Joannm]

Not when a server, no matter how well trained, forgets to do something, or the priest loses the place in the missal, or the . That is why the Church has used MCs at High Mass for many centuries.

Does this happen often in your parish? Perhaps at an EF Mass where there is so much to do and it is in Latin so priests may lose their place if they are not proficient in the language and servers have so much to do that they forget, but I can’t see it as necessary in the OF except at large diocesan Mass, which is the only time I see an MC.

 

[Stromboli]

Not when a server, no matter how well trained, forgets to do something, or the priest loses the place in the missal, or the . That is why the Church has used MCs at High Mass for many centuries.

You don’t seem to get it. How is it that an MC necessarily has a better memory than well-trained servers or a better feel for Sacramentary than the priestly celebrant?

For big Masses, particularly with visiting clergy they can certainly make sense. More often then not they get in the way and sadly their services seem to come with attitudes, at least around here.

Better yet, rather than MCing, why don’t they simply serve the Mass? There aren’t many things an MC does that a server does not.

An MC is no substitute for well trained celebrants, con-celebrants, deacons and laypersons.