I am not sure what the Pope’s decree on acolytes and lectors will mean for existing lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Must these positions be filled by “official” lectors and acolytes?
But in terms of the “development of doctrine” but what I believe is merely the development of canon law, can what these ministries now do be expanded where these persons, men or women, can act as pro-deacons?
And having these “deacon like” ministers, men or women, especially women, will it lead to fewer and fewer permanent deacons in parishes because the pastor wants more women who are pro-deacons?
By development of doctrine or canon law as it concerns these two ministries, let’s say this is what becomes an official description of what these two ministries can do:
Act as a sub deacon at the EF and OF Mass
Preach the homily
Offer blessings
Celebrate baptisms in the absence of a priest or deacon (even if the absence is contrived)
Celebrate weddings outside of Mass by the same exception
Celebrate funeral rites (except the Requiem Mass) and preach at any of these with or without the presence of a priest
I can see “pastoral assistants” who are nuns or laypersons hired for this in parishes receiving these ministries to expand their liturgical role, especially that of preaching.
What say you?
5 comments:
I've heard a few very good homilies presented by women. They were as good or better than many I hear from men.
Women have always been able to celebrate the sacrament of Baptism in urgent circumstances - nothing new here.
Women have been witnessing officially the exchange of vows of those being married in a number of places, notably Alaska, when no priest or deacon is available.
Women have presided at graveside servces for ages. Abesses and religious house superiors - nothing new here.
But once installed by their bishop, they will be pro deacons having expanded official roles. I think that is good. As it concerns preaching, hopefully these expanded ministries will require lengthy formation of at least two years (like a associate degree) with preaching classes.
Father, what is a 'pro deacon'? You are letting your imagination run away with you to the extent that you are inventing new ministries and 'expanding' the role of existing ones. Get a grip, for God's sake!
In my progressive diocese I have seen women give homilies from the pulpit during communion service which were held when there was no priest. I have heard from some in that diocese that the bishop didn’t actively try to recruit priests, and when there was a shortage the cry was for the pope to allow for married priests and women priests. Often when a parish didn’t have a priest, a woman became “the parish life director.” Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are almost exclusively women. Finally at one Mass that lacked music because the music director was ill, the women lector decided to perform a cappella. I don’t know what to call it, it wasn’t a chant or song. She decided people needed music while receiving Eucharist. This battle has been going on for over 40-years and certainly has been one reason many churches are now brew pubs.
John I got the term from a comment on another post from a reader in Indonesia. This is that comment:
Father, i've been a longtime reader of yours from Indonesia and to be frank it still shocks me on how lax the liturgical norms in the US is ! Over here, lay lectors, and (in an increasing number of parishes) psalmists are installed by the parish priest to serve for a term of several years and do their part in the liturgy while vested in alb and cincture. Same with EMHC's or as we call them here "prodiakon" (pro-deacon, in the place of a deacon) who are given a period of training to then be installed by the bishop in their respective parishes to distribute communion, lead funerals in the absence of Priests and such for a set number of years. They also perform their functions in alb and cincture. As a further note, it also boggles my mind that in the US there isnt a national hymn & psalm book.
Post a Comment