Non-Catholics serving Liturgical Roles

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StThomasMore

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I have seen non-Catholics fill liturgical roles at a Catholic school Mass, including:

Lectors (readings, psalm and prayers)

Bringing up the Gifts

Usher

They have not been extraordinary ministers of holy communion, but my gut tells me that having them fill these other roles isn’t right either. Can someone point me to where it says that only baptised Catholics or something like that should serve liturgical roles? I’ve looked in the GIRM and Canon Law but can’t find anything.
 
StThomasMore said:
I have seen non-Catholics fill liturgical roles at a Catholic school Mass, including:

Lectors (readings, psalm and prayers)

Bringing up the Gifts

Usher

They have not been extraordinary ministers of holy communion, but my gut tells me that having them fill these other roles isn’t right either. Can someone point me to where it says that only baptised Catholics or something like that should serve liturgical roles? I’ve looked in the GIRM and Canon Law but can’t find anything.
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That is correct, Readers (not Lectors) Bringing up the gifts and Usher are to be filled by MEMBERS of the Catholic community.
 
StThomasMore said:
I have seen non-Catholics fill liturgical roles at a Catholic school Mass, including:

Lectors (readings, psalm and prayers)

Bringing up the Gifts

Usher

They have not been extraordinary ministers of holy communion, but my gut tells me that having them fill these other roles isn’t right either. Can someone point me to where it says that only baptised Catholics or something like that should serve liturgical roles? I’ve looked in the GIRM and Canon Law but can’t find anything.
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It seems strange that non-Catholics even attend a Catholic Mass, at school or otherwise.
Bringing up the gifts is wrong, not following the Roman Missal’s Order of Mass: “It is desirable that the participation of the faithful be expressed by members of the congregation bringing up the bread and wine for the celebration of the eucharist or other gifts for the needs of the Church and the poor.” (From The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 370).

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“107. The liturgical duties that are not proper to the priest or the deacon and are listed above (cf. nos. 100-106) may also be entrusted by a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or rector of the church.”
The term “lay person” indicates a Church member. Nos. 100-106 include a reader (in the absence of an instituted reader) and usher.

But for those who are baptised, but not Catholic, there are instructions from the The Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism at vatican.va/roman_curia/po…menism_en.html :

For Eastern Christians it has:

“126. Catholics may read lessons at a sacramental liturgical celebration in the Eastern Churches if they are invited to do so. An Eastern Christian may be invited to read the lessons at similar services in Catholic churches.”

Then for “Christians of Other Churches and Ecclesial Communities” it has:

“133. The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is to be done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the Bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader.”
 
I have seen this too. The family brings up the gifts during Sat. vigil Mass and the husband and children are Catholic and the wife is not.

:heart:Blyss
 
Thank’s for your replies.

Br. Rich,

They are indeed called Lectors as an FYI. From #99 in the GIRM:

“The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful and, in the absence of a psalmist, proclaim the Psalm between the readings.”

John,

Thanks for the link to the document from the Vatican, very good info!
 
StThomasMore said:
Thank’s for your replies.

Br. Rich,

They are indeed called Lectors as an FYI. From #99 in the GIRM:

“The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful and, in the absence of a psalmist, proclaim the Psalm between the readings.”

John,

Thanks for the link to the document from the Vatican, very good info!
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Lectors can in fact INSTITUTED into that ministry by a Bishop. (Someone said here that only one Bishop actually Institutes Lectors in his diocese in the United States).

The others are Lay Readers and they are COMMISSIONED on a temporary basis, usually one year, depending on the diocese.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Lectors can in fact INSTITUTED into that ministry by a Bishop. (Someone said here that only one Bishop actually Institutes Lectors in his diocese in the United States).

The others are Lay Readers and they are COMMISSIONED on a temporary basis, usually one year, depending on the diocese.
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Canon law requires institution as lectors before ordination as deacons or priests. So virtually every bishop in the USA institutes lectors.
Bishop Vasa has recently written about the importance of instituting lectors who are not seminarians. I believe Bishop Bruskewitz also does this.
 
John_Lilburne said:
Canon law requires institution as lectors before ordination as deacons or priests. So virtually every bishop in the USA institutes lectors.
Bishop Vasa has recently written about the importance of instituting lectors who are not seminarians. I believe Bishop Bruskewitz also does this.
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I don’t remember who said it, but I meant a lay man on a permanent basis.
 
I have seen this as well. I think this kind of activity is borne out of the idea that, by doing these things you will encourage participation of the non-Catholic, and that out of that they will somehow want to be more Catholic and may draw them to the Church or RCIA, it is done in a proselytistic spirit. Either that, or the particular parish has no interest in encouraging participation within their own ranks. I don’t think it (having non-Catholics participate in this way) should be done.
 
Sean;

With regard to ushering (not the other two things) would it make a difference to you if they were already participating in the RCIA?

I know that the Conference for the Catechumenate is asking for us to find volunteer opportunities for the RCIA participants, even those who are still in Inquiry, and I’m wondering what would be suitable.

I was thinking that ushering might be a good one for them. (I know that you have to be Catholic in good standing to be a reader - I don’t know about bringing up the gifts, but I would have assumed that the people doing this were in full communion with the Church, anyway - maybe that’s just me.)
 
What about non-catholics serving as cantor’s? I’ve seen this at very orthodox parishes.

Is this allowed?
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
That is correct, Readers (not Lectors) Bringing up the gifts and Usher are to be filled by MEMBERS of the Catholic community.
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What is the reference for this? I couldn’t find anything in the GIRM or canon law, either.
 
I have seen non-Catholics fill liturgical roles at a Catholic school Mass, including:
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This is not a problem at our school. Currently we have pre-k through 11 and will add a senior class next year. We have well over 500 students.
First: All of our teachers MUST be practicing Catholics.
Second: All of our boys are taught to serve (sorry we have no altar girls)starting at 4th grade level except the non-catholic boys and we have quite a few non-catholics. The parents are made aware that since it is a Catholic School all the students whether Catholic or non-Catholic will be taught the Catholic Religion, Catholic prayers including the Rosary, and attend mass daily. They do go up to the communion rail and cross their arms over their chest to receive a blessing from the priest or the deacon.
 
Ham1 said:
What about non-catholics serving as cantor’s? I’ve seen this at very orthodox parishes.

Is this allowed?
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Cantors are also usually the psalmists and if so, the GIRM excludes non-Catholics.

Nevertheless, Father, I’d appreciate a backup on this one. This happened at one of our school masses, where a music teacher cantored with me (because she has a pretty voice), but she is Baptist. I was silently appalled, but the music director put us up there together. She didn’t even bow at the alter before getting to the ambo! Ugh.

Help!

Peace,
DS
 
jmcrae said:
Sean;

With regard to ushering (not the other two things) would it make a difference to you if they were already participating in the RCIA?

I know that the Conference for the Catechumenate is asking for us to find volunteer opportunities for the RCIA participants, even those who are still in Inquiry, and I’m wondering what would be suitable.

I was thinking that ushering might be a good one for them. (I know that you have to be Catholic in good standing to be a reader - I don’t know about bringing up the gifts, but I would have assumed that the people doing this were in full communion with the Church, anyway - maybe that’s just me.)
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Anything not involving the liturgy would be fine for Inquirers or those in RCIA as Catechumens or those who are candidates for full communion.
 
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