“It strikes me as nothing less-than an clerical overstepping and unnecessary demarcation of the clergy and laity. What are these pastors (by which I mean the Canonical notion of pastor) thinking? It seems, at least superficially, that it is an ‘in’ and ‘out’ club — who is and who is not permitted to receive from the cup. Seriously, we have more important things to be concerned about.” – Br. Daniel Horan, OFM
Archive for category Lay Ministry
Save the altar girls!
Sep 30
“Is it wise to re-enforce the sense of the priesthood as a clerical caste? Is the acolyte supposed to be like the page who serves Sir Galahad until King Arthur dubs him a knight?” – America editorial
… to promote vocations to the priesthood.
The Chrism Mass
Apr 19
The way the Chrism Mass is celebrated in some dioceses distorts its ecclesiology. Even though the entrance antiphon refers to all of the baptized as priests (”Jesus Christ has made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father: glory and kingship be his for ever and ever. Amen.” [Rev. 1:6]—also the second reading of the Mass), the procession is often made up of clergy only.
Bishops with opinions
Sep 23
How many ministers in the Catholic Church, bishops or priests or deacons or lay ministers, feel they must say things they don’t believe, or not say things they do believe, out of obedience?
The rights of girls and Catholic lay faithful to carry out certain roles on the altar are not prescribed as “rights” within the Church, according to the Church’s top legal authority, Archbishop Raymond Burke.
CNS reports on this piece in the August 7th edition of the Vatican newspaper.
The planning meeting began in Collegeville yesterday for the 2011 national symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry.
Serving in the Diocese of Salt Lake City has opened my eyes to many challenges, especially the celebration of Sunday in the absence of a priest. Our mission diocese of 300,000 Catholics covers 84,889 square miles, has fewer than 50 priests, and is around 80% Hispanic. We have 48 parishes and 19 missions spread across the state.
Ashes
Feb 3
Preparing ministers to assist in the distribution of ashes is a spiritual opportunity as well as a practical one.