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Services of Word and Holy Communion; commonly called "Eucharistic Services"
Topic Started: Monday, 23. April 2007, 23:55 (2,642 Views)
Rose of York
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Joseph I am sure there is such a book. In the parish where I used to go, there were such services. There was a person who led various prayers, such as Divine Office and Rosary before and after Mass. When the priest could not be there for scheduled weekday Masses she would invite people to "do" the various parts of the "Communion Service". The format was just the same as the one I have already described, so I assume she had a book.

One day, I was asked to read the Gospel, and I declined because I know that is usually reserved for clergy. I stopped attending weekday Masses there because one never knew in advance whether there would be Mass, or a lay led service, and I felt uneasy about the prospect of an "inner core" of laity dishing out tasks to each other. The bishop found out what was going on and put a stop to it, on the grounds that such services are not permitted if a Sunday or Vigil Mass was available at that location either the weekend before, or the weekend after.
Keep the Faith!

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Deacon Robert
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There is a rite book in the US. It is generally known as S.C.A.P. It is only used on Sunday, but I suppose if a Bishop allwoed weekday services it could be used there.

When I get my wife settled into a care center I wwill try to get more information for you.
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne

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Derekap
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When I was commissioned as an EHMC I was given a pamphlet with suggested formats but I handed it in when I retired from the post. I can't remember the details, but I followed the instructions of someone who had gone into matter more thoroughly than me.
Derekap
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Alan
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There is a very strict order for the services of Word and Communion.

I trained as a leader of such services several years ago.

There are three active participants for such services, Leader, Reader and EMHC.

The service begins with the leader welcoming the congregation. Including reference to the Celebration of the day
This is followed by the Penitential Rite.
Next the Reader Proclaims the Scripture of the day followed by the Psalm.
The Leader then Proclaims the Gospel.
Then follows a period of quiet reflection on the Readings and Gospel.
This is followed by the Prayers of the Faithful. Introduced by the Leader and Proclaimed by the Reader.
The EMHC then takes over and leads the congregation in the Our Father followed by the distribution of Holy Communion.
Once again there should be a period of quiet reflection after Holy Communion.
This is followed by the Post Communion Prayer of the day.
Before the Dismissal the Congregation, following the leader, recite either the Creed or Glory be to the Father
Finally the leader leads everyone in the Sign of the Cross.

We had to attend training courses and the Order for the Services were issued under the signature of our local Bishop.

It is also worth noting that the Leader and EMHC were "commissioned" to undertake their roles.

If Leaders were participating properly They would have prepared by noting "Feast Days and and special requirements for the bidding Prayers.

God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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Joseph

Thanks Alan, that is very interesting.

From what you say then it looks as if these Orders of Service could be devised and issued by Local Bishops, and if so could vary? I would have thought they would be standardised, and even made available on the Internet by now, wouldn't you?
Joseph
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Alan
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Joseph
Apr 29 2007, 11:03 PM
Thanks Alan, that is very interesting.

From what you say then it looks as if these Orders of Service could be devised and issued by Local Bishops, and if so could vary? I would have thought they would be standardised, and even made available on the Internet by now, wouldn't you?

Joseph,

It is quite possible that what we received at Parish Level from our Bishop, may well have been issued by a "Higher" Authority. I am not sure that the local Bishop was allowed to vary the format.

God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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JARay

Well, whatever the rights and wrongs of "Communion Services" the format laid out by Allan, two posts above, is exactly the format I use every Tuesday morning. It is also the format one should use when taking Communion to the sick.
JARay
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Eve
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Jaray what is the situation when taking Holy Communion to a person with dementia, who appears to be unable to understand the prayers and readings? Should the whole service be read?
Howdy Folks. Has anybody seen my husband lately?
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Joseph

JARay
Apr 30 2007, 03:39 PM
Well, whatever the rights and wrongs of "Communion Services" the format laid out by Allan, two posts above, is exactly the format I use every Tuesday morning. It is also the format one should use when taking Communion to the sick.
JARay

Ah! Glad to see you in here and commenting on this topic John. In my confusion over the various Catholic Forums in which we meet, I was not too sure if you were in this one (but I would have been very surprised if you hadn't been).

I thought of you as I opened this topic, since I clearly recall you telling us about the services you celebrate in your parish on weekdays, when your priests are playning golf or something wasn't it? :) What I remember is that you celebrate them as an Instituted Acolyte, that you read the Gospel at them, and I believe you also give what amounts to a Homily don't you?

The sum total of all this being that, apart from there being no Consecration and no priest, there is little to distinguish them from the Holy Mass - is that not so?
Joseph
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Alan
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Joseph
Apr 30 2007, 11:46 PM
The sum total of all this being that, apart from there being no Consecration and no priest, there is little to distinguish them from the Holy Mass - is that not so?

Joseph,

You absolutely astound me with your above comment.

For a service of Word and Communion you require the services of the appropriate Lay members of the Parish.

For the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass you require an Ordained Priest.

A very great difference I believe.

Your suggestion implies that the laity have a greater involvement than what is the reality.

JaRay can answer the query concerning the "Instituted Acolyte" That is not the case in the UK.


God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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Derekap
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If you have a form of Penitential Rite, Readings (including, why not?, the Gospel). Bidding Prayers, The Lord's Prayer, the distribution of Holy Communion and a few more prayers then the similarity to Holy Mass minus the Offertory and Consecration is inevitable. How can one avoid it?

In any case all the Holy Communion Services I have experienced, the lay leader has worn normal clothing, not vestaments or even cassocks and cottas - and certainly not Birettas!
Derekap
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Rose of York
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Communion services took place in my home, years ago, once a week for a few months. There was a congregation of two.

I was unable to go anywhere outdoors, for health reasons. An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion called, directly after Sunday Mass. Everything necessary was set out in readiness for the service. She would ring the door bell, my husband would let her in, we would all be quiet and reverent. She invariably found everything necessary had been prepared in advance. Neither of us was under any illusions that the service was a substitute for the Holy Mass. After I had received Holy Communion, there was a period of sweet, blessed silence.

To this day I am grateful to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, who gave sterling service, often travelling up to fifteen miles to get to people who lived outside the city. Also, I was grateful to her husband, who was not a Catholic but gave her every possible support - including preparing a Sunday dinner, which he would put on the table when she got home.

Keep the Faith!

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JARay

Eve raises the point of going through all of the format when a sick person is suffering from dementia. I fully appreciate that such a person is not going to "participate" in the surrounding liturgy. I cannot give a definative answer to this. I suppose that to such a person the essential is the actual reception of Communion but I cannot get out of my mind the fact that this reception ought to be carried out with all the respect due to the fact that this is the reception of Jesus himself, Son of God, King of Kings. Ceremony is not just to fill in time. Ritual has a right and proper place in the lives of each of us. It affects the Acolyte (in my case) just as much as it affects all the recipients of Communion. I think that, on balance, I would carry out the ritual even if the person receiving is suffering as Eve describes.
And "Hello" to Joseph too. I know that I have not been as active as I have been in the past. I just haven't felt full of things to say.
Regards to you all nonetheless.
John
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Alan
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Not beig an EMHC I do not have a definitive answer concerning the visit to a person with Dimentia.

Like John I believe that it would be incorrect to shortcut the Service because of particular conditions.

In addition the purpose of the visit is to support all the family/carers who would be in attendance.

God Bless all who visit this forum,

Alan.

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Derekap
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In my humble (though some may disagree) opinion, a person giving Holy Communion to a person suffereing from dementia should, naturally, say the prayers, but I doubt if there is any point in saying the readings. After all the ceremony is not a Holy Mass.
Derekap
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