No homily for 2 weeks

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Lil_M

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I’m quite certain this is inappropriate, but I would like some affirmation on this.
The last 2 weeks at my home parish, the priest has not delivered a homily. In its place, people from other “ministries” have been given the opportunity to wax on for 20 minutes about how underpaid and overworked they are, and how we all need to volunteer to help them. Last week it was the youth ministry women, and kept repeating from the gospel, “The measure you give will be the measure you get back”, like a threat. This week it was our resident Sister talking about what she does.

Now I don’t object to them speaking- no doubt they do need help. But I don’t think they should replace the homily (they sprinkle in bits about the readings to make it relevant to their topic), be given so much time in place of valuable teaching time from the priest. I just had marriage prep this past weekend and I am well aware how much this teaching time is needed! My family members attend different Masses so I know it has been the same at all of the 5 weekend masses we have. This especially surprises me during Lent. And I will be home again next weekend. Can’t wait to see who’s delivering the homily then :mad:

Anyone else have this issue?? I really like our priests and can’t imagine why they would allow this- unless I’m incorrect and it is permissible?
 
Lil_M said:
I’m quite certain this is inappropriate, but I would like some affirmation on this.
The last 2 weeks at my home parish, the priest has not delivered a homily. In its place, people from other “ministries” have been given the opportunity to wax on for 20 minutes about how underpaid and overworked they are, and how we all need to volunteer to help them. Last week it was the youth ministry women, and kept repeating from the gospel, “The measure you give will be the measure you get back”, like a threat. This week it was our resident Sister talking about what she does.

Now I don’t object to them speaking- no doubt they do need help. But I don’t think they should replace the homily (they sprinkle in bits about the readings to make it relevant to their topic), be given so much time in place of valuable teaching time from the priest. I just had marriage prep this past weekend and I am well aware how much this teaching time is needed! My family members attend different Masses so I know it has been the same at all of the 5 weekend masses we have. This especially surprises me during Lent. And I will be home again next weekend. Can’t wait to see who’s delivering the homily then :mad:

Anyone else have this issue?? I really like our priests and can’t imagine why they would allow this- unless I’m incorrect and it is permissible?
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It irks me too when things like this happen. Fortunately it’s a rare occurrence, maybe once a quarter or so. Unfortunately this past weekend was one of those times. In the church where I went growing up, such talks were given too, but at least the priest had the decency to deliver a shortened homily at the appropriate time and leave the guest speaker until the ‘announcements’ portion after Communion.
 
Perhaps Father has some private health issues that he is struggling with and just doesn’t have the strength to give a homily. Maybe cut him some slack and practice tolerance and charity instead of critisizing and getting angry?
 
Unless Father is keeping it very secret, I don’t think that is the case. We have had very elderly priests in the past who could barely croak out the homily 😉 , but we have 2 robust thirtysomethings now. I might not be so quick to complain if it hadn’t happened on 2 consecutive Sundays.
 
This is against Canon Law:
Can. 767 ß1 The most important form of preaching is the homily, which is part of the liturgy, and is reserved to a priest or deacon. In the course of the liturgical year, the mysteries of faith and the rules of Christian living are to be expounded in the homily from the sacred text.
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ß2 At all Masses on Sundays and holydays of obligation, celebrated with a congregation, there is to be a homily and, except for a grave reason, this may not be omitted.
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I have walked out when this happens. In fact, it was strike 2 of 3 of why I left my former parish.
 
Absolutely I support my priests–but even if Father is ill and ailing, it would be better to have no homily at all (meaning, no ‘words from our sponsers’, pep talks from the ministers, etc., which is absolutely forbidden to be done ‘in place of’ a homily) than the above specifically noted lay people speaking in place of, and attempting to do, a ‘quasi homily’. Lay people may never, ever, ever, speak a homily, or speak ‘in place of’ a homily. This is not just some arbitrary rule, to be ‘tweaked’ at the discretion of Father Z or the parish council.

The homily is only to be given by a priest or deacon. Any other remarks or speeches etc. are to be done outside of the Mass or at most with the indulgence of the bishop at a proper ‘announcement’ time.

The real problem with things like this, which look so small and insignificant, is that most people do not start doing evil with great big steps. They start with the little bitty ones. Few people would, to give an example, embezzle 50K out of the blue, especially if they are not in physical want. But–
start making them a little hungry. . .
then worried. . .
nearly desperate.
Give them, the chance to take, not 50 K, but an extra $20 or so from the register that ‘nobody will miss, and I’ll put it right back’.
The next time it’s easier.
Then it’s a bigger bill. And finally–you have the thief on a grand scale.

Just so with abuses. Start with one or two little things that go against those ‘antiquated’ rules. Make sure you think it’s for a ‘good’ reason. You can ‘change it back’ next time.
Then, it will be even easier to justify the next rule you want to bend. . .
then easier to justify breaking it (for the same good reasons). Then more and more rules will start to look bad, and it’s so much easier to break them. It’s become habitual, and people have become accustomed to the idea.

Finally, you have people who pretty much have reinterpreted every rule to adjust to whatever they want, who are convinced that they are not just ‘right’ for doing so, but a hundred times better than the ‘uptight, hidebound bigots who want to do everything by the book’.

Not to say the OP’s parish or priest is anywhere near the ‘final’ scenario–but they’ve taken a few steps off the path. If they keep on going, they may never find their way back. And that would be a great pity.
 
Father probably introduced the person about to speak to you and no doubt explained why he had asked him/her to speak. There was probably a plea to give the youth minister or CCD head or whomever your full attention due to the importance of the ministry in question.
This suffices to satisfy the canon requiring a homily. There is nothing in the canon that specifies a time limit, either maximum or minimum. There is also no requirement regarding the exact subject matter.
As for a grave reason to omit a homily, it is the responsibility of the priest to decide what constitutes a grave reason, not ours.
Try to do as the pastor exhorted you to do and listen. He needs to provide ministry to a large (and ever growing) number of parishoners and cannot do it alone. If there were more priests, perhaps these extraordinary measures would not be needed. Volunteer to help. It is in saving others that we save ourselves.
In the Father’s love,
Matthew
 
My advice - volunteer for one of these groups! They are begging for help.
 
I would talk to the priest about it, he might have just been influenced by some workshop encouraging experimentation with the liturgy. Be nice and don’t accuse him or put him on the defensive.
Maybe ask when will we have homilies again?
So then you know when to come back to attend this parish.
(you do not have to mention the last sentence)

This is an abuse and should not be done. As for looking for ways to at minimum fullfill the requirements. That is wrong, we should be looking to be obedient, not looking for the minimum requirements or what ways are possible of getting around the stated norm.

Your pastor has the obligation in his obedience to God to not experiment and faithfully present the faith without deviation.

God bless
Scylla
 
The homily may only be omitted on a Sunday or holy day for a grave reason. Perhaps riots in the street or the building being on fire. Or… a very ill priest with no other clergy available.
 
It would be best to have these announcements when the GIRM provides for them, namely near the end of Mass.
Or, Father can speak a brief homily and then turn it over to the folks
But to have them speak exclusively during the homily time I think is a mistake.
 
From G.I.R.M. (General Instruction
of the Roman Missal)
The Homily
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  1. The homily is part of the Liturgy and is strongly recommended,63 for it is necessary for the nurturing of the Christian life. It should be an exposition of some aspect of the readings from Sacred Scripture or of another text from the Ordinary or from the Proper of the Mass of the day and should take into account both the mystery being celebrated and the particular needs of the listeners.64
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66. The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.65 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate.
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There is to be a homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation at all Masses that are celebrated with the participation of a congregation; it may not be omitted without a serious reason. It is recommended on other days, especially on the weekdays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season, as well as on other festive days and occasions when the people come to church in greater numbers.66
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After the homily a brief period of silence is appropriately observed.
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They could have spoken after the final blessing, but before the procession.
 
I spoke with my priest after a layperson was invited up to give a rather lengthy testimonial during the homily. He replied that as long as the priest says a few comments about the scripture, it is okay to have a layperson speak during the homily.
 
I had quite an unpleasant experience on Sunday. At the time of the homily, our priest introduced the chairperson of the parish finance committee. This layperson then went on for 20 minutes regarding the decrease in monies received through collection over the past year. He also went over the complete financial report that was printed in the bulletin.

Sure it’s a significant issue. Sure we were a captive audience and Mass was the best way to get the message to many parishioners, but during the homily??? Inappropriate.
 
  1. The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person. 65 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate.
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The GIRM is clear. My pastor has no trouble understanding what it means and would never permit a lay person to speak during the homily. I would write the Bishop and ask for his clarification. Whether he cares or not, he should know what is going on in his diocese.
 
The various issues raised by the DRE, youth minister, finance director, et al are doubtless important in the life of the parish, and maybe they have something to say worth hearing.

Would it not be better for these speeches to be given at the end of Mass before the dismissal, since they are really more in the nature of announcements?
 
bpbasilphx said:
The various issues raised by the DRE, youth minister, finance director, et al are doubtless important in the life of the parish, and maybe they have something to say worth hearing.

Would it not be better for these speeches to be given at the end of Mass before the dismissal, since they are really more in the nature of announcements?
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Yes, I am sure it would…however, the persons who probably need to here the message are not still present in the church…

They left right after receiving communion…

I am sure this is the case, I see them every Sunday:

It is because they arrived late [just before communion] and therefore had to leave early to make up for it!

Really, we should ask ourselves why the parish must beg for Volunteers and Sunday offerings…we should be contributing and volunteering in abundance…really our parishes should be seeking (name removed by moderator)ut on where [what] social justice issue to apply the excesses …

Why appeals must be made when we are here to receive them…and who reads the bulletins?..

I know I do - but then, I am in church before Mass. I am following the frustrated instructions of a priest from years ago [which I heard because I was already where I was supposed to be] who said emphatically…
The Priest is to be the last one into the church…and the ***first ***one out…
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