[TradicalRC]

In the first instance, it was a deacon that gave the sermon and that had me agitated because it was my understanding that they could assist at Mass but not give the sermon.

That was my understanding as well. However after reading through the GIRM with the Liturgy Commission at our church, I have found that they are indeed allowed. A priest or a deacon may give the homily. That said, homily time is not the time for a nun or layperson to step up to the podium and solicit donations or tell you their life story or whatever, it is really supposed to expound on the gospel.

[sinkspur]

That said, homily time is not the time for a nun or layperson to step up to the podium and solicit donations

There are exceptions.

Our parish has adopted a set of missions in Bolivia, and the nun who administers them comes up once a year to give us an "update", and it's done during the homily. Usually very inspirational.

We also just completed three "Stewardship weekends." On one of them, a layman got up and detailed how he came to become involved in, in his case, the lector program and taking the Eucharist to the homebound. He did this during homily time.