What is the average depth of liturgical knowledge by EMsHC in your parish?

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Duesenberg

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What is the average depth of liturgical knowledge by EMsHC in your parish?
  • Superior. They not only know what they are doing in practice and the underlying theory behind it, they can also readily adapt on the fly when the celebration of the Mass encounters a curve ball or two, or when something new is introduced. They can also detect and point out problems and offer correct solutions.
  • Considerable. They not only know how to correctly carry out their ministries, they know WHY they are doing WHAT they are doing.
  • Acceptable. They know how to correctly carry out their ministries but they have limited foundational knowledge of WHY they do WHAT they do.
  • Minimal. They know how to carry out their ministry from a rote standpoint.
  • Unacceptable. They struggle carrying out their ministries. They really don’t understand even the basics and have really no foundational knowledge of WHY they do WHAT they do.
0 voters
 
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Maximilian75 said:
What makes you ask, dusenberg?
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EMsHC are mentioned regularly on these forums. I wanted to get an idea of how liturgically knowledgeable the average EMHC is at a variety of parishes which people discuss.
 
why would need to be liturgically knowledgeable to carry out such a function, to just stand in one place and serve someone doesnt require anything special. They are not teaching anything.
 
I don’t think many lay people can really estimate the “average” liturgical knowledge of this group. How many have had liturgical discussions with the majority of people in any parish?

These are largely strangers, but I think it would be a difficult question to answer even in the old school days when people were a lot closer to their neighbors and interacted with a lot more their fellow parishioners on a social level during the week.
 
Our one EMHC is actually a Chaldean Subdeacon, so his knowledge of liturgy (both Chaldean and Roman) is excellent.
 
I haven’t interviewed them, but I somehow doubt they are as knowledgeable as the deacons or priests unless they also engage in other ministries (e.g. some of the Sisters who help as EMHC’s as well as other ways).

Then again, I don’t think they need deep liturgical knowledge as long as they perform the task correctly and with reverence, which they all do.
 
Dh and I were EMHCs at a former parish and had classes

Our sons were altar servers, and are more of the family experts.

So for dh and I I would vote considerable
 
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I don’t go around interrogating the EMHC’s. What I do know – is that when I have received from an EMHC – the person does the job reverently.
 
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Walking_Home said:
I don’t go around interrogating the EMHC’s.
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Do you ever have liturgical discussions with EHMC’s, in the break room at work, at the bar in the K of C hall, at the neighborhood store or on the bus?
 
Augustinian said:
Do you ever have liturgical discussions with EHMC’s, in the break room at work, at the bar in the K of C hall, at the neighborhood store or on the bus?
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Odd how you chose work break room, a bar, a store and a bus. Were you trying to make a point with those choices? To answer your question, I have not either, but I have had discussions with EMsHC in:
  • The sacristy.
  • The sanctuary (well before or after Mass.)
  • Outside of the church building following Mass.
  • In the parish hall following Mass.
  • In conference rooms at my parish.
 
superblue said:
why would need to be liturgically knowledgeable to carry out such a function, to just stand in one place and serve someone doesnt require anything special. They are not teaching anything.
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That should be axiomatic – in order to carry out the ministry well.
 
Duesenberg said:
Odd how you chose work break room, a bar, a store and a bus. Were you trying to make a point with those choices? To answer your question, I have not either, but I have had discussions with EMsHC in:

The sacristy.
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Actually I was making a point. Someone that you know outside of the church I think it would be easier to have a discussion. On church property , with someone they really don’t know well, the tendency is to feel them out and repeat their understandings back to them, rather than a real “discussion” of give and take. People aren’t usually ready for controversy in the formal setting.
 
I really couldn’t care less 😒 I go for the sacraments not to interrogate, interview, poll, or question. I’m sure the Diocese has everyone trained well enough.
 
Augustinian said:
Actually I was making a point. Someone that you know outside of the church I think it would be easier to have a discussion. On church property , with someone they really don’t know well, the tendency is to feel them out and repeat their understandings back to them, rather than a real “discussion” of give and take. People aren’t usually ready for controversy in the formal setting.
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You seemed to be choosing odd locations (in this context) to denigrate this thread. Who said anything about “controversy.” It seems like your posting may have been agenda driven.
 
Unless it was the parish of a small village in which everyone has known each other all their lives, I would find it nothing of short of remarkable that laity would first attempt to undertake such an analysis of those assisting with the parish’s ministry in principle on the one hand or, on the other, would have such a broad knowledge of the person’s entire life to know either their previous educational or experiential background to say nothing of their present educational pursuits.

I know laity who have obtained a Master’s in theology, inspired by their ministry involvement in their parish with no one beyond their family and the parish priest being aware that they had undertaken this commitment, one course at a time.
 
They could be men who attended seminary or diaconal formation and withdrew before ordination and therefore have an exceptional background to draw from that is unknown in their present circumstance. I have had seminary students choose to leave; they marry and have children and to anyone else would appear another family man. I see them as such, too, when I encounter them today – but I also remember their accomplishments in their studies which others may not know or be in any position to assess.
 
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