Short Cut Priest

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Justin04086

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A new pastor was assigned to our parish almost 3 years ago and he likes to take short cuts (He isn’t the only priest serving our parish of 7 churches, we have two parochial vicars and then 3 retired priests.) His most common short cut is that he doesn’t read the preface and will say 1 or 2 sentences that he made up in place of it. During the Vigil last night he didn’t read the prescribe greeting or the blessing prayer for the fire. Instead he had this little song/chant that he sung softly in which I heard some words that sounded similar to what is in the preparation of the paschal candle. He did sing the pre-2012 Exultet. He also skipped the prayers that proceeds the liturgy of the word and that follow each reading and psalm. (We only heared 1, 3, 5 & 7) The only one we heard was the last one before the Gloria.
 
I guess I was wondering if I should advise someone about it, or just let it go?
 
If you’re going to advise someone, speak to the priest personally first. Ask him why he does what he does, and mention that it isn’t allowed by the rubrics.
 
  1. Does your parish even have a priest?
  2. Are the elements of the mass present?
  3. No problem.
How many closed parishes would love to have a shortcut priest!
 
I don’t have an issue with only doing some of the Easter Vigil Old Testament readings. That is very common. My concern was mostly with skipping the preface and adding something brief in its place. Our parish is made of 6 merged parishes and a summer chapel. There have been a few times when I’ve been to Mass when he’s been celebrant and the Roman Missal sat on the altar for the entire Liturgy of the Eucharist without being opened.
 
Justin04086 said:
I don’t have an issue with only doing some of the Easter Vigil Old Testament readings. That is very common. My concern was mostly with skipping the preface and adding something brief in its place. Our parish is made of 6 merged parishes and a summer chapel. There have been a few times when I’ve been to Mass when he’s been celebrant and the Roman Missal sat on the altar for the entire Liturgy of the Eucharist without being opened.
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I can certainly see your concern. I would say you are wanting to be sure the consecration is truly happening. We once had a priest who had some health issues and many times there wasn’t a consecration happening.

I know it would be hard, it would be for me, but perhaps in a casual way ask him a few questions and if that doesn’t work perhaps speak to your bishop.
 
I think one answer to shrinking Mass attendance might be even more short cuts. An hour length Mass is too long for busy Catholics!
 
prayerrider said:
I think one answer to shrinking Mass attendance might be even more short cuts. An hour length Mass is too long for busy Catholics!
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Really, even Sundays. Actually we don’t get an hour. 50 minutes exactly every time.
 
Well I admit I have nothing better to do on Sunday than assist at Mass and help out in youth ministry. But it must be a real burden for many who showed up yesterday!
 
Short cut priest? Sounds like the way my family does the Passover Seder. While I’m sure certain things are required, others may not be. My (non-Catholic) advice is to use your discretion if you decide to discuss this. Otherwise, let it go.
 
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Justin04086 said:
I guess I was wondering if I should advise someone about it, or just let it go?
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I think it would be good to speak to the priest first and ask for clarification.

There was an older priest at whose Mass I have attended in the past and who skipped over the words in Eucharistic Prayer II “like the dewfall”. When he was approached and asked why - charitably - “Father, I’ve noticed you don’t say … in the EP II - I don’t understand, would you please explain it to me”.
Due to sight issues, height of Altar and others, he or someone else had pre-typed in larger print from however long ago, the words of EP II and it wasn’t in these pre-typed notes. An oversight when typing it out due to human frailty. So Father wasn’t aware he was skipping any part!
To his credit when this was brought to his attention, he corrected his error and all was good. 🙂
 
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prayerrider said:
I think one answer to shrinking Mass attendance might be even more short cuts. An hour length Mass is too long for busy Catholics!
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Eastern Catholics seem to do well with a minimum of an hour and longer. I’m sure we’re just as busy as everyone else.
 
You never know, with me!
Did I ever tell you I’m from a long line of Irish Catholics? Inchigeelagh, County Cork!
 
You can always ask him if you have some concerns. That would be the place to start.

There are many places in the Missal for the Easter Vigil Mass where is specifically states “in these or similar words.” So there is that option to adjust the language for some of the prayers and that wouldn’t constitute a liturgical abuse.

It’s only obligatory to do reading #3 (from Exodus 14) and two other Old Testament readings. The rest of the Old Testament readings can be licitly omitted.
 
DeniseNY said:
Eastern Catholics seem to do well with a minimum of an hour and longer. I’m sure we’re just as busy as everyone else.
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We’re almost always under an hour, even with the St. Basil liturgy.

It’s not that anything is omitted, but rather that Father is the world’s fastest singer . . .
 
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