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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 1:11pm | IP Logged
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Today there was a "mass" or non-Mass at our parish, and I was wondering if any of you know anything about it as I am clueless.
It was a lady that was at the altar, wearing what looked to me like acolyte clothes (I could be wrong, I had left my glasses in the car). She wasn't sitting in the priest's chair, but the chair beside it. At any rate, the readings were read, then she read the Gospel. Afterwards she asked us to sit and reflect on the readings. We did this in silence for a few minutes. Then she got up, we did the intercessions, said the Our Father, then she went to the Tabernacle and got the (I assumed) consecrated Communion wafers. Said a blessing over them, and people lined up for Communion. After Communion she read a blessing and the "Go in peace.... "
I didn't go to receive Communion because I was totally bewildered and wasn't sure if I should or not. A couple of the other regulars were looking around them throughout the Mass as if they were bewildered too -- but the rest of the folks seemed to be fine with what was happening.
This is the first time I've attended such a "prayer service" (?), so if you could tell me what it was and if this is perfectly normal -- I wasn't comfortable asking questions after Mass since none of our homeschooling family friends were there -- I'd appreciate it!
Thank you!
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stef
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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From what I understand that sounds rather like what a prayer service with communion is.. only seen it once when our priest was really sick. But the liturgy of the word preceeded fairly normally and then you recieved communion but didn't have the liturgy of the eucharist.
I don't know about the woman dressed as an acolyte or whatever and how that works or what.
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KC in TX
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
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We've had that too, but it was a man who led the service. It was a bit freaky at first too. Our priests were all gone as well as the deacon.
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 1:37pm | IP Logged
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That's referred to as a "Communion Service" and I found this in my quick search...I'm about to take a walk with my boys. 
I just was visiting outside of Harrisburg, PA and the parish there has the extraordinary ministers wear white acolyte garb to distinguish themselves, but not as priest substitutes.
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MarieC
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 3:40pm | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
| That's referred to as a "Communion Service" |
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Yep, that's what it sounds like. Unfortunately we've been to more than I like to think about. My parents parish has them every Monday and we used to go to daily Mass there.
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Erin
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 4:15pm | IP Logged
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Our parish has them nearly every weekday despite the fact that our Bishop has asked that they only be held under extreme necessity.
I have never heard of a woman conducting them.
After discussion with a good priest friend I decided to not attend as I felt it could be too confusing for the children.
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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We have Communion services here as well when a priest is not in town for Daily Mass. The Communion services have always been conducted by a Deacon, though.
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 5:07pm | IP Logged
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At another parish where we were married, it was called a "Communion Service" too and held on Mondays when the priest had the day off. Many times it was with a woman leading.
Interesting.
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Kristi
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| Posted: April 22 2008 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
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Up at our cabin the local parish has a special dispensation from the bishop to hold a Communion Service on Sundays. A priest comes and says Mass on Saturday and consecrates enough hosts for Sunday. I believe they only do this in the summer when the population explodes and the priest can't cover all the Masses necessary. Sister Virginia presides (?) at the Communion Service.
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asplendidtime
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 8:10am | IP Logged
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We have these ever increasing in frequency in Canada. My dad is on a team in his parish and they do this because of the shortage of priests. They do a "reflection" after the reading of the Gospel.
This is more of a necessity in more remote or less populated areas, as some priests don't want to be stationed so remotely from brother priests. Besides driving in winter can be an issue.
As far as it goes here, it isn't a conspiracy to undermine the faithful but an effort to bring Jesus to the people in the Sacrament, and help not overwork our very overworked priests. Nobody calls this ideal but reality born out of necessity I think.
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Mary G
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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This happened to us one time in Austria -- we went to the village church for Anticipatory Mass on a Saturday evening and our landlord was officiating (if that's the right word) ... as it was in German, we didn't quite get WHY he was doing a communion service ...
We went to Mass the next morning, just in case! 
Communion services are completely legitimate but do through you for a loop, don't they?
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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Oh how horrible, what suffering for our Lord. I cannot imagine seeing this 
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stefoodie
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 9:08am | IP Logged
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Well, I'm more than relieved that it was at least legit. But wow, so sad that this is necessary. 
Thank you for the info, everyone! That really helps.
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LucyP
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 1:22pm | IP Logged
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This makes me just literally fall to my knees and beg God for more priests.
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Willa
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| Posted: April 23 2008 at 2:51pm | IP Logged
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We used to have Communion Services almost every week up here in the mountains, and you described the procedure exactly. Recently our parish priest (we're in a "station" church 50 miles away from the main parish) has made it a priority to have priests up here.
But yeah, it is a shame how short we are on priestly vocations in this country. It is getting to the point where priests have to be imported from Africa, India and other places with less of a vocations crisis, so in effect we have become a mission country in some ways. Keep praying!
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Topic: Weird non-Mass today -- info please
