Odette Avalos, 39, of San Jose administers Communion ( Eucaristia) and gives the girl her blessing during the Spanish Catholic Mass at St. Mary Goretti Parish in San Jose on November 18, 2007. (Josie Lepe/SJ Mercury News) (Josie Lepe)
Posted on 01/28/2008 8:20:09 AM PST by NYer
Sid Dumuk got Sunday Mass rolling, instructing worshipers to greet their neighbors before singing the entrance procession. Then Steve Armatis read from the Old Testament, Mary Webb from the New Testament, and the Rev. Art Willie gave the Gospel according to Luke.
Later, 14 people in khakis and skirts fanned out across the church offering communion wafers and wine.
All told, about 20 people actively led Mass that crisp Sunday morning at St. Maria Goretti's parish in San Jose - and only one of them was a Roman Catholic priest.
Lay ecclesial ministers are flourishing throughout Catholic parishes, and the change is transforming the church. Where priests were once the unquestioned authority over nearly every aspect of parish life, today the laity plays an increasingly powerful role.
At St. Maria Goretti, lay leaders hold catechism weekday afternoons in the small classrooms lining the church grounds. They prep fiances for their marriage vows and adults for baptism. They decide the Sunday worship music and visit the sick, bringing along consecrated wafers for communion. And once every month, a council of lay leaders gathers in the parish hall to set the congregation's agenda.
"It's our church, our church, " said Webb, who attends Mass six days a week. "I look at it this way: We're here. The priests move on."
Like so many changes to the Catholic Church, this one has its roots in the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s. Catholics returned to the practices of the early church, where all the baptized - not just the clergy - were responsible for the life of the church.
Many priests and parishioners support the rise in lay leadership, said Zeni Fox, a pastoral theology professor at Seton Hall University's Immaculate Conception Seminary.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Please post your personal experiences with this, if any.
Why is that woman doing that? She can’t give a blessing.
One of the many reasons that I have found, and now attend a Tridentine Mass. I got tired of having to wear a name tag, shake hands three times during the Mass, and ending up with someone elses cold.
There is no doubt that the over-use of lay ministers is “clericalizing” the laity and confusing them about what their proper role is during the liturgy and about what their proper role is in the life of the parish. This parish sounds as though it has really gone overboard in its use of lay people. While it is fine for lay people to teach catechism classes or run pre-Cana groups, they should not be given the authority to “plan” liturgies, to give spiritual counseling, or to run parishes. Unfortunately, some priests aren’t comfortable with the whole idea of the ministerial priesthood and are all in favor of anything that promotes lay involvement, whether or not it is permitted by Church law.
I will prefece this by stating I am Anglican, however we have a number of friends who attend the local Roman Catholic Church, so we have been there on occasion as they celebrate baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals. They usually have laity do just about everything but the the Consecration. The priest sits down after he Consecrates while others administer. I have rarely heard him do a homily. The music STINKS! There is little respect shown for what is taking place at the altar or for others in attendance who might be trying to worship. People are chatting and walking in and out. The first time we went my children even commented on it. A few years ago, my friend showed me a letter to the editor of the diocesan newspaper that their priest wrote. He was opining the fact that his niece can’t be a priest.
Further more the building is a 1970’s architectural nightmare with semicircular seating, no kneelers and a soaring window behind the table(altar) which looks out to a large wooden cross. No altar cross and no candles. Bare, cold, ugly and empty.
I don’t know what I would do if I had to go there every Sunday.
This has the potential to pose very serious problems. In those dioceses where such practices are adopted, the number of youth drawn to consecrated life has dropped and will continue to do so. What is the appeal for any young man to be a Sacramental minister?
In those diocese where this is has been adopted as a band-aid approach until vocations increae, it will be difficult to turn parishes run by LEMs over to pastors. Once you give lay people power, they are reluctant to give it up.
ab01 - like you, many of us have intentionally sought out smaller parishes that are run by holy men of God. I am in a Maronite Catholic parish - no EMHCs and no communion in the hand. The priest pastors the flock ... period.
You are right. Only the priest can give a blessing. And many Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion err in doing so.
**There is no doubt that the over-use of lay ministers **
I believe this will cease as more priests are ordained and go out to the parishes.
Watch for Pope Benedict to say something about it.
Within the US, there are several dioceses and parishes that are run by a more liberal mindset. Your friends have found themselves in such a parish. Judging from your description, I would not attend Mass in such a church either. In every diocese, there are those smaller parishes or Eastern Catholic Churches which provide a more traditional and reverent liturgy. It would be worth your while to investigate these. In the state of GA, there is St. Joseph's Maronite Catholic Church on Seminole Ave. in Atlanta. Unfortunately, their web link is not working at the moment.
You must be one of those people who just stares blankly at a friend who has sneezed.
During the Mass, the priest is the only one who can give a formal blessing to the communicant.
There — did I fix it for you?
Gag.
So when a small child comes up with a parent who is receiving communion, the layperson distributing communion is forbidden to say "God bless you" to the kid? Or could that count as an informal blessing (as in, God wouldn't really have to do it)?
The lay person cannot makes the Sign of the Cross on the child’s forehead and give a blessing.
Since I have been in this position before (no longer), I always put my hand on the child’s shouldler and said something like, “Remember, God love you.”
Those were my instructions as a EMHC.
I find myself bouncing around between parishes these days.
I went to the Parish I usually go to yesterday. Fr. Corcoran gave a brilliant sermon on the Sacrament of Confession and how it’s never too long to go back (using Babe Ruth as an example)...perhaps one of the best sermons I’ve heard this year.
Communion was distributed through intinction on the tongue with the Extraordinary Ministers off to the sides for anyone who wanted to go to one of them instead.
BUT (here is the crux) the Entrance Hymn was by a Unitarian (Marty Haugen) and the Recessional was by a Homosexual Activist (Dan Schutte).
Just can’t win with all this lay involvement.
Alright, I am also going to note that the Ciborium she is using is glass.....specifically prohibited as it is breakable.
What actions at the diocesan level, are being taken to correct them?
Ah yes ... the E.M. brigade. Overused, IMO. Yes, I agree that there are times that are “extraordinary” and the priest needs assistance. But (in my parish and others I’ve attended) even at a Mass that is not croweded, the same amount are called to distribute causing confusion among themselves at times.
This is definitely a step in the right direction. Which lines were longer?
the Entrance Hymn was by a Unitarian (Marty Haugen) and the Recessional was by a Homosexual Activist (Dan Schutte).
Be patient, give it time. If you stay with this parish, consider running for parish council. Pastors are always looking for fresh input. Just remember to be patient. Nothing happens over night.
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