This from Diogenes. Read on!Thankfully, unlike Cardinal KoolAid, Bishop Tobin is in his right mind, according to what I've seen of his past year as our Bishop. I really like him. If he can avoid scenarios like this picture on the left as Diogenes describes, perfect!
Peace,
BMP
PS: Note the Hawaiian lei on the woman on the right.
8 comments:
I am glad that my bishop is in his right mind, also.
While I don't see scenarios like that happening here, I can see them happening in other dioceses...scary stuff.
What I do disagree with in the article is the apparent opinion that lay pastoral ministers are a bad thing. I believe that lay pastoral ministers can be an integral part of parish administration, so long as they know their boundries and are not ministering in an attempt to be the priest or deacon.
The sound track was jumping about and full of static.s
Domini Sumus - you have hit three key words right on the money: KNOW THEIR BOUNDARIES. Problem is, many of them (at least the ones I've had to deal with) don't. I worked in two parishes with "pastoral assistants". One (female) was just plain arrogant, trying to tell me how to direct the choir. The other one (male) was partly responsible for my being sacked (at the only parish that ever sacked me in 25 years).
They both (and I'm sure many others) have a tendency to confuse "pastoral assistant" with "pastor wannabe".
Peace,
BMP
In our diocese, we're already there. We have Pastoral Associates (Assistants? We just call them PAs) who may sit beside the priest during Mass. Now, they don't wear chasubles or stoles, but I still hear them called 'Father'.
Our Bishop wants these laypeople giving 'homilies'. Now when our priest is here, he relegates those pseudo-homilies to their proper spot of a post Communion reflection. But when he's not here? We're subject to pseudo-homilies.
Last week we had the rather disturbing occurance of a seminarian, who is VERY faithful to the Liturgy, forced to give a 'homily'. The young man warned me before Mass what was going to happen. He was very upset.
I really wish all laypeople would be humble enough to be obedient to legitimate authority.
Homilies by the laity is a no-no - at least here in the States. Up here the only ones who sit beside the priest are the servers and (at the 4:30 Sat. and 9:00 Sun.) the permanent deacon. That is it. That's all there should be.
Another sticking point is funeral eulogies. That will come into another post, and/or perhaps a podcast.
BMP
As someone who is studying theology with the goal of becoming a pastoral associate, I can assure everyone that unlike many others, I do know my boundaries. I have also met many others in my classes who I believe will be very good in their ministries. I hope their heads don't get inflated once they start parish work.
I disagree with laypeople giving homilies, although I can make a concession to having a layperson read a homily written by the pastor in parishes where Masses are not celebrated on a regular basis. However, it should be very clear that the message is from the priest and not the layperson. Now, I don't know how well that will work in pratice, but in my head it works.
As for eulogies...ugh, I won't even get into that disgrace.
Btw, Zenit has an article in it's Liturgy section which says it is improper for servers to be seated beside the priest celebrant.
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=92052
poncho ladies, poncho ladies, ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!
~nb
poncho ladies, poncho ladies, ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!
hehehehehehe someone's been listenin'! ;)
BMP
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