Was this acceptable (RCIA question)?

[Karen1996]

Today at the 9:00 am Mass, we had the Rite of Acceptance for candidates and chatechumans. After the homily, when the priest asked them and their sponsors to spread across the church, so the sponsor could make the sign of the cross on their forehead, eyes, ears, etc, he asked that people from the congregation participate. So several people sitting on the ends of pews got up to help make the sign of the cross on the candidates. I thought it was awkward and strange. Have any of you ever seen this? If so, what do you think? Was this okay?

Also, sometimes when it’s time to send the candidates forward for their studies/reflections, after the homily, the priest or deacon will ask us to extend our hands to bless them.

And on pastor appreciation weekend our deacon asked us to do this to our priest to give him a blessing.

Are any of these things acceptable by Church laws?

(by the way, I probably don’t need to tell you, my parish is one of those Our Father hand-holding ones)

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Karen1996:

Today at the 9:00 am Mass, we had the Rite of Acceptance for candidates and chatechumans. After the homily, when the priest asked them and their sponsors to spread across the church, so the sponsor could make the sign of the cross on their forehead, eyes, ears, etc, he asked that people from the congregation participate. So several people sitting on the ends of pews got up to help make the sign of the cross on the candidates. I thought it was awkward and strange. Have any of you ever seen this? If so, what do you think? Was this okay?

Also, sometimes when it’s time to send the candidates forward for their studies/reflections, after the homily, the priest or deacon will ask us to extend our hands to bless them.

And on pastor appreciation weekend our deacon asked us to do this to our priest to give him a blessing.

Are any of these things acceptable by Church laws?

(by the way, I probably don’t need to tell you, my parish is one of those Our Father hand-holding ones)

I personally do not see anything wrong with some people in addition to the Sponsor signing the Candidates or Catechumens. It is the whole Community who is praying for and guiding these people. You won’t find it in the Rite.

Extending hands for a public blessing is reserved to clergy. I can extend my prayer intention, without extending my hands.

 

[Elzee]

Br. Rich SFO:

Extending hands for a public blessing is reserved to clergy. I can extend my prayer intention, without extending my hands.

Our priest has the congregation extend their hands several times throughout the year to bless various groups he calls up to the sanctuary (first communicants, catechumens, etc.). I find it very awkward and never knew it was just reserved for clergy. If the whole congregation is doing this and we’re told by our pastor to do it, would it be wrong for me not to?

 

[asquared]

All of the actions you describe are not only acceptable but are recommended. Having some parishioners participate in the signing of the catechumens underscores the point that the sponsors represent the parish and the whole Church in helping them prepare for the sacraments and welcoming them into the life of the Church.

The same thing for joining in the blessing at the dismissal. There are specific times during several rites, not only in RCIA, where the congregation extends its hands in blessing. In the Rite of Acceptance, the priest or deacon recites the first blessing, in words appropriate only for the ordained, and the congregation joins in a second blessing, in words appropriate for them. next time really listen to the words of the blessing and you will see the difference.

What seems to be lacking is a catechesis for the whole parish on the nature and meaning of RCIA and the active role the entire parish plays in this process. If you were confused, so were others, and it sounds like the pastor missed a great teaching opportunity.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Elzee:

Our priest has the congregation extend their hands several times throughout the year to bless various groups he calls up to the sanctuary (first communicants, catechumens, etc.). I find it very awkward and never knew it was just reserved for clergy. If the whole congregation is doing this and we’re told by our pastor to do it, would it be wrong for me not to?

I don’t. It is not proper for a layperson to extend a public blessing in a liturgical context except where it is specifically noted in Church documents.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

asquared:

The same thing for joining in the blessing at the dismissal. There are specific times during several rites, not only in RCIA, where the congregation extends its hands in blessing. In the Rite of Acceptance, the priest or deacon recites the first blessing, in words appropriate only for the ordained, and the congregation joins in a second blessing, in words appropriate for them. next time really listen to the words of the blessing and you will see the difference.

Could you give the paragraph reference for the “Community” blessing and dismissal? I have searched th Rite of Acceptance and from #95-96 I find no participation of the community.
It only references the celebrant doing or saying anything.

 

[Celia]

Br. Rich SFO:

I don’t. It is not proper for a layperson to extend a public blessing in a liturgical context except where it is specifically noted in Church documents.

Uh Oh. My priest does this all the time.

 

[mosher]

asquared:

All of the actions you describe are not only acceptable but are recommended. Having some parishioners participate in the signing of the catechumens underscores the point that the sponsors represent the parish and the whole Church in helping them prepare for the sacraments and welcoming them into the life of the Church.

The same thing for joining in the blessing at the dismissal. There are specific times during several rites, not only in RCIA, where the congregation extends its hands in blessing. In the Rite of Acceptance, the priest or deacon recites the first blessing, in words appropriate only for the ordained, and the congregation joins in a second blessing, in words appropriate for them. next time really listen to the words of the blessing and you will see the difference.

What seems to be lacking is a catechesis for the whole parish on the nature and meaning of RCIA and the active role the entire parish plays in this process. If you were confused, so were others, and it sounds like the pastor missed a great teaching opportunity.

As Br. Rich stated I have looked also at the Rites book for RCIA and I see no provision for any of this. Thus, it is not acceptable nor recommended.

 

[Akanke]

mosher:

As Br. Rich stated I have looked also at the Rites book for RCIA and I see no provision for any of this. Thus, it is not acceptable nor recommended.

What is the “Rites book for RCIA”? How may I get a look at a copy?

 

[cleofet]

I was just wondering if Karen1996 is talking about a Church in Belle Chasse.