What did I witness? Licit service?

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I was on the road and was in the vicinity of a large Catholic Church at a scheduled morning Mass.

I was in my pew and noticed everyone stand up when a lady walked out. I was confused as I never saw this. The lady then led the service, read all three scripture parts, gave a homily, then distributed Holy Communion.

What did I witness? I know it wasn’t a Mass but simply a Communion service I guess. But I didn’t know that women could do this. I have a hard enough time with alter girls in my archdiocese, but this?
 
This was likely a service for distribution of Holy Communion outside of Mass. These are envisioned to make the Eucharist accessible to areas with severe priest shortages. While I personally question the implementation of these services in many areas, the bishop has the authority to regulate them, so you have no reason to assume the service was illicit.
 
Yes, that sounds like a Communion Service. The first time I witnessed one, I too was completely confused and did not take Communion as I was unsure if it was licit.

Hope the OP doesn’t mind if I too post a question about a “service” I attended Monday morning. It started with the priest entering the chapel, and the congregation reading prayers from the “Inclusive Language” Liturgy of the Hours booklet. At first I thought it was just a prayer service, but then two readings were given, one from Acts and one from the Gospel of Matthew (priest read this one). The service continued from there like a Mass, with the Consecration of the bread and wine, and Communion was distributed. It was definately a Liturgy of the Eucharist with a full Consecration. After Communion, more readings from this booklet and then a dismissal.

Any ideas? I emailed the Pastor but have received no reply.
 
Yes, this was a communion service. Yes, it is completely licit. Yes, any lay person-- man or woman-- can lead such a service if assigned by their pastor.
 
Thanks for the responses and answering my question. Guess I need to get out of my parish more often.
 
I attended one once in a rural part of the most northern area of south east Michigan - if that makes sense. :confused: The parish had a priest only once a month, so a nun came to perform the communion service. It was indeed odd to say the least.

~Liza
 
blessedtoo said:
Yes, that sounds like a Communion Service. The first time I witnessed one, I too was completely confused and did not take Communion as I was unsure if it was licit.

Hope the OP doesn’t mind if I too post a question about a “service” I attended Monday morning. It started with the priest entering the chapel, and the congregation reading prayers from the “Inclusive Language” Liturgy of the Hours booklet. At first I thought it was just a prayer service, but then two readings were given, one from Acts and one from the Gospel of Matthew (priest read this one). The service continued from there like a Mass, with the Consecration of the bread and wine, and Communion was distributed. It was definately a Liturgy of the Eucharist with a full Consecration. After Communion, more readings from this booklet and then a dismissal.

Any ideas? I emailed the Pastor but have received no reply.
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there is a provision for daily Mass with Liturgy of the Hours, and that sounds right, because Acts and Gospel would be for weekdays in Easter season.
 
Harsalter said:
I was on the road and was in the vicinity of a large Catholic Church at a scheduled morning Mass.

I was in my pew and noticed everyone stand up when a lady walked out. I was confused as I never saw this. The lady then led the service, read all three scripture parts, gave a homily, then distributed Holy Communion.

What did I witness? I know it wasn’t a Mass but simply a Communion service I guess. But I didn’t know that women could do this. I have a hard enough time with alter girls in my archdiocese, but this?
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What I would say is that you witnessed an unnecessary and maybe illicit Communion service. Since it was not to my knowledge a Sunday or other Holy Day of obligation. This type of service even though common is only for Sunday and Holy Days in the absence of a priest and no other Mass is available within a reasonable distance. Daily Mass is nice and a good practice but not necessary and doing this every day is bluring the line between the Sacred priesthood and the laity IMO.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
What I would say is that you witnessed an unnecessary and maybe illicit Communion service. Since it was not to my knowledge a Sunday or other Holy Day of obligation. This type of service even though common is only for Sunday and Holy Days in the absence of a priest and no other Mass is available within a reasonable distance. Daily Mass is nice and a good practice but not necessary and doing this every day is bluring the line between the Sacred priesthood and the laity IMO.
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Yes, this is what I was alluding to with my reservations about how these services are implemented. I’ve known priests covering multiple parishes who regularly used these as substitutes for daily Mass at the parish(es) they wouldn’t be at that day, and this even before the bishop ever authorized such celebrations for Sundays! (That diocese is fraught with problems, so this wasn’t exactly a surprise.) Even on Sudnays, these services aren’t really supposed to be used either if there are actual Masses within a reasonable distance (think especially of cities where the next parish might only be another 10-15 minutes away) since communion services are a far cry from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
 
Harsalter said:
I was on the road and was in the vicinity of a large Catholic Church at a scheduled morning Mass.

I was in my pew and noticed everyone stand up when a lady walked out. I was confused as I never saw this. The lady then led the service, read all three scripture parts, gave a homily, then distributed Holy Communion.

What did I witness? I know it wasn’t a Mass but simply a Communion service I guess. But I didn’t know that women could do this. I have a hard enough time with alter girls in my archdiocese, but this?
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While I seriously question these services, it was probably not illicit. Although I dont like the idea of a lay woman leading it.

Personally, I am of the opinion that when no priest is available then the community must go without Communion. Afterall, no priest no Eucharist.
 
Thanks. Thought so.

But I agree with the other poster. If I knew it was only a communion service, I would have probably not attended.
 
1ke said:
Yes, the Hosts are consecrated at a prior Mass.
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It is important to remember the reason we have Hosts reserved in the tabernacle is so that those who might face death in the next week will have Viaticum available to them. Not so that there can be Communion services on M-Sat. Technically there should only be a few Hosts left after Sunday Mass in the Tabernacle.
 
Harsalter said:
Thanks. Thought so.

But I agree with the other poster. If I knew it was only a communion service, I would have probably not attended.
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When is receiving the Lord in the Eucharist ever an error to be avoided?

When rubrics become more important than purpose, you’ve seen the decline of Christ as the center and the focus shift to us.
 
thechrismyster said:
When is receiving the Lord in the Eucharist ever an error to be avoided?

When rubrics become more important than purpose, you’ve seen the decline of Christ as the center and the focus shift to us.
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Not to be avoided. But a lay women handling a service didn’t feel right. This wasn’t my parish, I sort of went out of my way while on the road.

When my priest at our parish can’t make a Mass, he cancels and doesn’t schedule a communion service. I think he is right to do so.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
It is important to remember the reason we have Hosts reserved in the tabernacle is so that those who might face death in the next week will have Viaticum available to them. Not so that there can be Communion services on M-Sat. Technically there should only be a few Hosts left after Sunday Mass in the Tabernacle.
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The OP did not state it was a weekday.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
What I would say is that you witnessed an unnecessary and maybe illicit Communion service. Since it was not to my knowledge a Sunday or other Holy Day of obligation. This type of service even though common is only for Sunday and Holy Days in the absence of a priest and no other Mass is available within a reasonable distance. Daily Mass is nice and a good practice but not necessary and doing this every day is bluring the line between the Sacred priesthood and the laity IMO.
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I thought that only a Priest or Deacon can read the Gospel and give a Homily. I have only ever seen a communion service presided over by a Deacon but I would question a lay person reading the Gospel and giving a homily. Please correct me if I am wrong, maybe there is a different set of rubrics for a communion service?
 
DallasCatholic said:
I thought that only a Priest or Deacon can read the Gospel and give a Homily. I have only ever seen a communion service presided over by a Deacon but I would question a lay person reading the Gospel and giving a homily. Please correct me if I am wrong, maybe there is a different set of rubrics for a communion service?
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Your correct except that for a Communion service in the absence of a priest or deacon a lay person can read the Gospel but they cannot give a “homily”. It says that they may give a short reflection on the readings.
 
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