[Bigg Red]

I want this priest in my parish!!

[Bigg Red]

All of what he has said is so true. (I wish he wouldn’t call himself “Fr. Mark”, though.)

[maryz]

Does expediting the distribution of Holy Communion really constitute grave necessity?

Actually, in merely practical terms, what would expedite it would be to go back to using the Communion rail. Priests used to move along pretty fast, even though they had to say the longer prayers. It slows things down when each person has to wait for the person ahead to get out of the way.

So they create one problem by having lines to stand for Communion, and "solve" it by introducing EMs!

BTW, I think he's right about having some kind of vestment for anyone serving as a server, lector or EM -- especially since standards for appropriate dress for church have grown, well -- shall we say "lax"?

[PCBMan]

This is all *so* true - it’s this behavior that finally drove me completely away from the church I attended growing up. I actually had nightmares where I’d go to Mass there, and all everybody did was mill around and chat with each other - including the Priest! Fortunately, there was a nearby church where people still had a clue about being reverent. We knew it wouldn’t last long, as the Monsignor there was getting up in years. Sure enough, when he passed away, a priest was put in charge who used to be at my original church. It didn’t take long before the statues were removed, etc., etc. Another church ruined, but at least the locals still act somewhat reverently.

[Patriotic1]

Not all N.O. masses are this way. My workday parish is VERY reverent and acts like Fr. expects. My weekend/home parish is still relatively reverent.

I think that Church architecture (and I mean much more than a communion rail) has a lot to do with it.

[livius]

Great post! I’m sending this article off to a (very beleaguered) priest in my parish.

[A.A. Cunningham]

In the church where I offered Mass last Saturday there were four Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, all of whom were women. Three were wearing casual slacks and one was showing cleavage. They could have been serving lemonade at the parish garden party. It was frightfully inappropriate.

Father Mark hopefully realizes that he is under no obligation to use EMHCs if he does not want to and at the very least the one exposing herself should have been told to go and sit back down.