Motivation of EHMCs Etc

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rwoehmke

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Since I first joined the Forums, there have been a number of occasions when someone impugns the motivation of those who serve at the altar as EMHCs, Lectors, etc. Women in particular seem to be targeted as “prancing about” in the sanctuary and so forth in other derogatory terms. I was asked to be a Lector in our Parish in about 1967. I was one of six men who were asked to supplement the first parish member who took on the job earlier. At that point in time one was expected to announce the feast and theme of the upcoming celebration, lead the responses of the congregation, lead the hymns, read the first two readings and the psalm, and finally serve as EHMC. After a few years the tasks were sorted out and divided among many more people including women. I stepped away from any of these roles after attending Mass at my sisters Parish near Detroit where I observed that all the “ministers” including the choir were older gray heads. I thought to myself that everyone who was qualified and wished to serve should have the opportunity, especially the younger members.
We always recommend to our RCIA members that after coming into the Church that they volunteer in some form of service, parish committees, K of C’s, lectors, choir members, etc. as it really helps one to feel a part of this local Body of Christ. Yes on occasion one or two have had to be reminded to dress more appropriately, but that has been rare. There was one man in forty years whose public moral life became questionable. In the forty years that have elapsed I have yet to speak to anyone in these roles that seemed to be on an ego trip.
I know there are some who feel the Church would have been better without the liturgical changes and are absolutely appalled that the laity, including females, now serve certain functions in the sanctuary. I am saddened but accept that that is what is behind some of our demonstrated lack of charity. It is obvious that ordination of females is not possible, but why not ensure that they have an opportunity to serve in those roles that are legitimate to the laity of both sexes.
 
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rwoehmke:
Since I first joined the Forums, there have been a number of occasions when someone impugns the motivation of those who serve at the altar as EMHCs, Lectors, etc. Women in particular seem to be targeted as “prancing about” in the sanctuary and so forth in other derogatory terms. I was asked to be a Lector in our Parish in about 1967. I was one of six men who were asked to supplement the first parish member who took on the job earlier. At that point in time one was expected to announce the feast and theme of the upcoming celebration, lead the responses of the congregation, lead the hymns, read the first two readings and the psalm, and finally serve as EHMC. After a few years the tasks were sorted out and divided among many more people including women. I stepped away from any of these roles after attending Mass at my sisters Parish near Detroit where I observed that all the “ministers” including the choir were older gray heads. I thought to myself that everyone who was qualified and wished to serve should have the opportunity, especially the younger members.
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I certainly hope you are not saying that EMHC was a ministry of the late 60’s. I may have been only 10 or so then but I do remember that only Priests gave out Communion and that we only recieved on the tongue at that time.

As far as the intentions of EMHC’s, lectors, cantors etc. I too see nothing out of the ordinary in their wanting to serve the Church in whatever way they can. They are not a bunch of puffed up, conceited people!

Brenda V.
 
People who think they “know” the motives of others just crack me up. As a woman reader, I can assure you I don’t do it b/c I have this secret longing to be a priest. I wouldn’t get too bothered by those posts, the people who talk about women “prancing around” are just bitter about something, so take it with a grain of salt.
 
One does not have to be involved in various liturgical functions to feel like they are involved, or being part of the body of Christ. One parish I attend does use the modern day missal, but has no EMHCs, no altar girls, and the lector is used only for the readings and the prayer of the faithful, and no one feels cheated, for lack of a better word, for not being involved in various liturgical functions.
One large reason why people object to such innovations as EMHCs and altar girls for that matter is that it blurs the role between laity and clergy, it confuses many on what the priesthood is, also confuses people on the ordination of women issue. While in some cases EMHCs may be needed(and this role can be filled if instituted acolytes such as the diocese of Lincoln has) in some cases, but the use of such has been badly abused, in many situations that they are clearly not needed, in such cases as daily mass or even many Sunday masses.
 
At our Immaculate Conception mass there were only 30 or so people in attendance, and our priest, for whatever reason, saw fit to call up the EMHC to help distribute to the throngs of people. She stood there in her street clothes, no vestments whatever. She wasn’t needed, especially in her street clothes. Isn’t there something somewhere about being vested to distribute?

S
 
Brenda V.:
I certainly hope you are not saying that EMHC was a ministry of the late 60’s. I may have been only 10 or so then but I do remember that only Priests gave out Communion and that we only recieved on the tongue at that time.

As far as the intentions of EMHC’s, lectors, cantors etc. I too see nothing out of the ordinary in their wanting to serve the Church in whatever way they can. They are not a bunch of puffed up, conceited people!

Brenda V.
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As a matter of fact I have been told that our diocese, the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin was the first in the U.S to move to the vernacular Mass, I would guess, my memory isn’t the greatest with regard to time that the move away from a few men doing it all, including distribution of Communion, probably happened about ten or fifteen years later. When I first started we still had communion rails and an alter boy held a paten. We had a document from the Bishop authorizing us to serve in these capacities. I may still have it tucked away somewhere. I don’t think the communion rail was removed till the mid to late 70’s.
 
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slewi:
At our Immaculate Conception mass there were only 30 or so people in attendance, and our priest, for whatever reason, saw fit to call up the EMHC to help distribute to the throngs of people. She stood there in her street clothes, no vestments whatever. She wasn’t needed, especially in her street clothes. Isn’t there something somewhere about being vested to distribute?

S
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Our first “Lector”, a local doctor, wore cassock and surplus. The next six men enlisted including myself, wore a suit or sport coat and tie. Over time this has morphed into neat, clean street clothes. That happened in my office job as well, When I started in 1964 it was suit and tie every day. Then it was dress down on Friday, By the time I retired some 36 years later, it was neat, clean street clothes unless meeting with customers. It didn’t just happen in our churches, it has happened across all of soceity and in some cases is absolutely obscene. Outside of the priests, deacons, and altar servers I have not seen anyone “vested” in almost 40 years except that first “lector.” Oh, and some of our choirs have gowns for both men and women members.
 
I cannot speak to the real motivation of most who take on this duty. I even understand that given the way the Mass is set up these days, there may actually be a valid reason for them. Note I said may be, in certain cases, and I believe that is the way the Church intended that they be used, as needed, not always… I don’t and never have seen why you need to have the numbers of them that you usually have. I mean do you really have to get through communion so quickly that you need 6-10 of these people for a several hundred person congregation? At the Indult that I attend, there are usually 4-500 people and communion is distributed by two priests only, and it doesn’t take that long. As far as lectors, readers, I see no justification at all. Those were obviously just stuck in to give the laity more participation.

Just an opinion.

As an aside, the Extraordinary Ministers have stopped congregating around the altar at my parish, now waiting until after the Priest has communed, so I guess things are improving. It used to be you couldn’t even see the priest because they were crowded all around the altar from the arrival of the gifts until communion started. Oh, and I have never seen an Extraordinary Minister in vestments of any kind, usually just in casual street clothes, tee shirts, jeans shorts, just about what everybody else wears to Mass. Nothing special.
 
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aurora77:
People who think they “know” the motives of others just crack me up. As a woman reader, I can assure you I don’t do it b/c I have this secret longing to be a priest. I wouldn’t get too bothered by those posts, the people who talk about women “prancing around” are just bitter about something, so take it with a grain of salt.
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Ya know, I have to say that it is not the attitude of the people on the Altar but the attitude after. Being one of the women who launder Altar Linens at my old parish, I must say that some of the EMHCs there have attitude a plenty OFF the Altar. I don’t know about other parishes but at this one, when I first started and asked questions, it was as if I were JUST the hired help. Geez.
In my parish now (no Altar Boys, EMHCs for E&C only) the readers don’t seem to have the same smarmy demeanor.
 
The readers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at my parish have a dress code. The ladies are to wear a dress or skirt and blouse, the color and style of which should be modest; and the men wear suits and ties.

It is allowable to be more casual at weekday masses.
 
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rwoehmke:
Since I first joined the Forums, there have been a number of occasions when someone impugns the motivation of those who serve at the altar as EMHCs, Lectors, etc. Women in particular seem to be targeted
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I was surprised by the level of complaints against EMHC, especially the female ones, to be found on internet forums. Perhaps that is just human nature at work. However, the Eucharist is near and dear, so the incidents surrounding it will pull more complaints, naturally.

At first, I thought the internet was skewed, and that the average parishioner was far more complacent about the whole thing. But I am not so sure. We need Gallup to poll us all to see!🙂

Anyway, I see how people end up as EMHC. They want a way to be helpful, and they don’t have a ton of time, so they look in the bulletin one day and see that the parish is calling for EMHC (or they get directly hit up for it by the pastor), and they say, well, I’m already at mass, so it doesn’t call for extra time. I’ll do this!
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
Ya know, I have to say that it is not the attitude of the people on the Altar but the attitude after. Being one of the women who launder Altar Linens at my old parish, I must say that some of the EMHCs there have attitude a plenty OFF the Altar. I don’t know about other parishes but at this one, when I first started and asked questions, it was as if I were JUST the hired help. Geez.
In my parish now (no Altar Boys, EMHCs for E&C only) the readers don’t seem to have the same smarmy demeanor.
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Whew! I’m sorry to hear that. I guess there are prideful, not so nice people everywhere. It really bothers me that people would undertake any of these tasks and have such an attitude. It should be all about God, not them.
 
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Dorothy:
The readers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at my parish have a dress code. The ladies are to wear a dress or skirt and blouse, the color and style of which should be modest; and the men wear suits and ties.

It is allowable to be more casual at weekday masses.
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Now that sounds like a brilliant idea…for all the men who help out during the week as altar servers too. No more shorts or sockless feet with moccasins please…It isn’t only the women who can be underdressed in my parish. If they are going to serve up there, please let them add to the reverent tone not detract from it. Although the priest’s colorful beach T shirt showing through his alb (he often does without the chasuble) isn’t perhaps setting the best example…
 
I think people have a right and duty to question the motives of those who do not faithfully follow the liturgical books.

According to the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) n. 101:

“In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture.”

Men can be instituted as lectors, but women cannot be, according to the Motu Proprio of 1972 Ministeria Quaedam and canon 230.

So if an instituted lector is present, a women should not do the readings. But at the 2004 Midnight Mass a women proclaimed the first reading and an instituted lector the second. (See romanrite.com/kenneth.html ). And at the funeral of John Paul II the first reading was proclaimed by a woman, Alejandra Correa. The second reading was proclaimed by an instituted lector, John G. McDonald (See romanrite.com/funeral.html ).

Regarding vestments the 1981 General Introduction the Lectionary for Mass, n. 54 has: “During the celebration of Mass with a congregation a second priest, a deacon, and an instituted reader must wear the distinctive vestment of their office when they go to the lectern to read the word of God. Those who carry out the ministry of reader just for the occasion or even regularly but without institution may to to the lecturn in ordinary attire that is in keeping with local custom.” But at these Masses the instituted lectors did not wear vestments.

So perhaps the issue is whether the “male only” instituted ministries are being properly respected. It will be interesting to see whether there is a change in this year’s Midnight Mass.
 
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