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Services of Word and Holy Communion; commonly called "Eucharistic Services"
Topic Started: Monday, 23. April 2007, 23:55 (2,635 Views)
Paduan
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I am about to head off for morning Mass myself so I'll be quick.

From what I remember, I believe that Services of the Word + Holy Communion are acceptable in the circumstances you suggest. Clearly they don't replace one's obligation, but equally I believe there is something along the lines of a 'long distance rule' whereby one is excused from having to make exceptionally long journeys to attend Mass if your local Mass is cancelled or otherwise unavailable. For those that can realistically manage a long journey then they ought to make it, but for the others - the infirm, disabled, those with small children or relatives to look after, etc, i.e. with a good conscientious reason - a SW+HC will suffice and they are not sinning.

I believe that if the Mass that is cancelled is a Sunday one (and the only Sunday one that is feasible for you to attend is clearly the vigil Mass you speak of) then a SW+HC is acceptable and within the rules.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
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Ned

Anne-Marie
Monday, 22. March 2010, 07:51
* Secondly, as Christians, they should consider themselves duty-bound to assist others by giving lifts when they go on the Sunday;
Sorry, Anne-Marie,

I can't agree there. Maybe now and again.

Driving a car is always a serious thing, and even more so if you're taking on a commitment to pick someone up at a set time and place then deliver them to their destination by a set time. And your also taking on a similar commitment in respect of the return journey.

You have a commitment to get yourself to Mass, but Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest.

The fact that you can see a need for something to be done doesn't necessarily mean that Almighty God has given you the special graces required to do it.

God gives very few people the special graces needed to say Mass; and similarly He hasn't given every Catholic car-driver the special graces required to cope with ferrying other people about.



Regards

Ned
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Paduan
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In this day and age, Ned, there also exists the consideration one needs to make about possible liabilities if one might be said to have a formal arrangement to provide transport services to other people, let alone the bureaucratic hoops one has to jump through if children might become involved...
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
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Anne-Marie

Ned
Monday, 22. March 2010, 14:35
Anne-Marie
Monday, 22. March 2010, 07:51
* Secondly, as Christians, they should consider themselves duty-bound to assist others by giving lifts when they go on the Sunday;
Sorry, Anne-Marie,
I can't agree there. Maybe now and again.
No, no, Ned. Thou must pay attention, sir.

Rose had written:
Rose of York
 
Most of the parishioners would be able to get to Mass elsewhere on the Sunday, and could have offered lifts.

I was addressing the point raised by her about there not being a Mass on that particular Saturday and any need to attend the following day for a Sunday Mass, if others were going to one.
Assuming Mass ain't cancelled EVERY Saturday evening, we are considering the issue as a one-off, surely???
Edited by Anne-Marie, Monday, 22. March 2010, 17:45.
Anne-Marie
FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI
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Rose of York
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Anne-Marie
Monday, 22. March 2010, 17:43

Rose had written:
Rose of York
 
Most of the parishioners would be able to get to Mass elsewhere on the Sunday, and could have offered lifts.

I was addressing the point raised by her about there not being a Mass on that particular Saturday and any need to attend the following day for a Sunday Mass, if others were going to one.
Assuming Mass ain't cancelled EVERY Saturday evening, we are considering the issue as a one-off, surely???
Yes, Annw-Marie so far as I know the situation is a one-off.
Keep the Faith!

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Ned

Anne-Marie
Monday, 22. March 2010, 17:43

Assuming Mass ain't cancelled EVERY Saturday evening, we are considering the issue as a one-off, surely???
Yes, sorry Anne-Marie. I goofed there.

It's just that, when I was a lot younger some (non-driving) friends, one of them in the SVP, were often asking me to give old and infirm parishioners transport on various occasions.

I did so many times but really it was a demanding duty. The blokes asking this of me couldn't have done it themselves.

One Sunday I agreed to take an old chap somewhere for a special Mass, and it was only on turning up at his flat to collect him I learnt I had to bring his oxygen cylinder and folding wheelchair too.

That wasn't the only 'problem' situation I encountered. I was just lucky nothing ever went wrong.

I'd advise anyone to be very careful about getting other people to Mass.
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Gerard

Ned,

I agree it must be left as a personal decision for the driver. But I would also say, to you and Paduan, that doing the right thing frequently involves risk - and the only way to avoid risk is to do nothing.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Paduan
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Please don't think that my argument was to avoid risk no matter what - it is simply that one has to weigh up such risks in the context in which one is being asked to do something. In the example I suggested, it's always worth remembering that were something awful to happen, like a traffic accident while in the process of being a voluntary charabanc, one needs to be sure that one isn't going to end up doubly worse off as a result. It simply means taking appropriate precautions (which could, in this case, be as little as checking with your own insurance company that you're still covered) rather than doing nothing.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
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Rose of York
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For a while I could not drive myself to Mass. A friend used to give me a lift. It was a private arrangement. I cannot see how that would affect insurance, it would be no different from two people going to the shops together. However, if the parish organised lifts, the drivers would be parish volunteers, so I should think the pp would need to check on insurance requirements and if the passengers included children or vulnerable adults, CRB checks. Definition of vulnerable adult
Keep the Faith!

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Ned

A Service of Reflection, from St Mary's, Lowe House in St Helens with Fr Stephen Pritchard, was broadcast on Radio 4 last Sunday.

It's still available for the next few days on the BBC website - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnds

It's worth hearing, if only because non-Sacramental church-services have become so rare; with the shortage of priests they might make a come-back.
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Rose of York
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Ned, I think getting back, regular non-Sacramental church-services will be difficult because of Services of Word and Holy Communion, which are sacramental, they involve reception of the Eucharist.

Regular non-Sacramental church-services were common, and popular, until it became possible to have Evening Masses. From then on it was Mass every evening, where there was a resident priest, and other services were the baby they threw out with the bathwater. Now we have people who normally attend Daily Mass, wanting a Service of Word and Holy Communion whenever there is no priest available, even if it is only for for one day.

There is a way of praying other devotions with others, do it at home, with the help of the internet or TV, but that is not going to help build up a local praying community.
Keep the Faith!

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CARLO
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Very little talk of 'services of the word' these days. Here is the position in 2 different Parishes I know well.

Large Urban
A lot of huff and puff about 5 years ago followed by training of lay individuals to conduct services of the word in the future when Priests get thin on the ground. Not a single service of the word has been held to my knowledge. None of the trained have been called upon. I have even forgotten who they are! Mass attendances now boosted by waves of new immigrant Catholics etc

Small Urban serving large rural area
No services of the word held in recent times. Numbers of Masses have been reduced on weekdays but Sunday Masses maintained. Two Priests reduced to one.


Veritas
Truth


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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PJD

"A lot of huff and puff about 5 years ago followed by training of lay individuals to conduct services of the word in the future when Priests get thin on the ground."

I agree where I am, appears to have been phased out.

PJD
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Rose of York
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CARLO
Monday, 26. July 2010, 16:59
A lot of huff and puff about 5 years ago followed by training of lay individuals to conduct services of the word in the future when Priests get thin on the ground. Not a single service of the word has been held to my knowledge. None of the trained have been called upon.
Has word got around that these services must not be held, in a location that has had a Vigil or Sunday Mass within the past week or, if it has not, is expected to have one the following week?


There are three stages to implementation of the Instruction.

1 Information.
2 Understanding.
3 Obedience.
Keep the Faith!

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CARLO
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Rose

Quite right.

It is nice to see an instruction obeyed for a change!

:angel:

Pax

CARLO
Judica me Deus
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