Paul Turner

Q: If multiple couples are getting married in one ceremony (in this case, multiple convalidations), what would the presider do? […]

Q: Regarding the answer to this post, that’s very interesting.  I didn’t know that ONLY the presider wears a chasuble on

Q: In past years, our Veneration of the Cross used a cross with Corpus — a full crucifix.  This year,

Q: Does the Assembly stand for the prayers that follow the responsorial psalms which follow each of the readings during

Q: This year, we are not going to have baptisms at the Easter Vigil and, checking in the Missal, the

Q: Though we are ending the Lenten season, I am sure it is not late to ask this question. Are

Q: After Palm Sunday, can palm arrangements remain in sanctuary until Good Friday? == A: I suppose you could, but

Q: Can you tell me the words that the bishops and priests use to reverence the processional cross at the

Q: Is it advisable, appropriate, permissible to break up the celebration of the Rite of Baptism for Children so that

Q: Let me ask… about reading the Gospel. What do you think about splitting up a Gospel for two readers

Q: The recent question https://paulturner.org/confession-during-mass/ prompted me to some research. Misericordia Dei #2 and the document from the Congregation for the Clergy

Q: Greetings father Paul, I’ve been working at this Parish for about a year and a half in music ministry

Q: More and more I see priest celebrants even bishops encensing the statues of the Patron Saint of the Parish

Q: Our Latin Rite liturgical books appear to have two rites for blessing oils for healing. The first is the

Q: Hi Father, I understand both Acolyte and EMHC are extraordinary and not ordinary ministers, with Acolytes being EMHC by

Q: We have recently received the ashes of a deceased priest of our Institute who had donated his body to

Regarding your recent post on Feasts of the Lord, I think all anniversaries of church dedications are Feasts of the Lord,

Q: During an ordination here in Africa, I witnessed a very emotional moment. After the ordination, the hands of the

Q: Greetings, Our diocesan liturgist mentioned that in anointing of the sick venial and grave sins are forgiven.  However, our

Q: Hi! Can a child have his two aunts as his godparents? Or can’t two godparents be of the same

Q: The General Introduction to the Lectionary n. 12 says: “In the celebration of Mass the biblical readings with their

Q: Is there any ‘concelebration’ for Good Friday?  == A: Additional priests may assist wearing either alb and stole or

Q: Should we include the Penitential Act for a “Memorial Mass?” (Mass for the Dead, no body.) Should we have

Q: We have a teen who is baptized Catholic, never received any further sacraments of initiation. They are having a

Q: I have a question regarding the Easter Vigil liturgy. A member of the congregation mentioned that, in the past,

Q: What is the posture of the Assembly during the Litany of Saints before the Blessing of Water and Baptismal

Q: Greetings Fr. Paul and thank you for all you do. Our parish is experiencing an increase in the number

Q: For the last several years at this parish, the candles held by the faithful during the Lucernarium at the

Q: During the Seven Last Words Service on Good Friday, is it Ok to bring the candles that are normally

Q: When the pastor and I were discussing the Psalmody for the Easter Vigil, we discovered that we had different

Q: When an abbot presides at Mass, and there is no deacon, and a concelebrating priest is to proclaim the

Q: Hi Father. Hope your Lent is going well. I have a scheduled communion service on Holy Thursday morning. My

Q: We have our “Altar of Repose” at a side altar where the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated.

Q: Is there  provision for a priest/deacon ( bishop) to contribute to a homily which the ordained commence and finish (thus

Q: There seems to be some confusion as to who is actually dismissed when we dismiss the Catechumens after the

Q: Good evening, Fr.  Turner.  We have two priests and two deacons at our parish.  Should we decide the washing

Q: Whenever I bless a deacon before he proclaims the gospel, I hold my hands over his head before making

Q: Hello, Fr Paul. I have a couple of questions re Palm Sunday described in your book, “Glory in the

Q: I received the following from a fellow deacon- At Palm Sunday gospel I take the part of Jesus, we

Q: In our parish, the paschal candle, outside of Eastertide, stands next to the baptismal font. When should that paschal

Q: Another OCIA question. I’ve looked at the OCIA book at the Ephphatha Rite, trying to understand #104-105 and the options

Q: We know that GIRM forbids flowers during the Lenten Season with exception of feasts and Laetare Sunday.  Here in

Q: A brother seminarian inquired whether a 3-month Memorial Mass for his uncle can be celebrated (with a Mass for

Q: One of my great honors is the proclamation of the Gospel and the subsequent reverencing of the Book of

Q: The matter of holding the Sacrament of Reconciliation in church WHILE Mass is being celebrated. I presume that many of us

Q: May the Chrism Mass be celebrated on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph? It seems that would pose

You may already be aware but all those things you mentioned in the post about Catholics sitting at the back,

Q: Is it permissible for a woman to participate in the reading of the Gospel of the Passion of the

Q: Greetings, deacons in my diocese use a white stole with the diocesan coat of arms as the “Diocesan Stole.”  We

Q: When anointing the Catechumen with oil is it always placed on the hands or is that just a preferred

Q: I have a question about the Scrutinies in the OCIA.    The rite indicates in #156 that after the dismissal

I read with interest the blog entry on “Old Books” concerning the disposal of old, liturgical books. The USCCB’s Committee

Q: I’ve noticed that some priests are leaving the corporal on the altar after Mass. Obviously, I think this is

Q:  During the Lamb of God, I’ve noticed some priests fracturing the bread, then praying the silent prayer (bowing profoundly),

Q: There are 6 “Feasts of the Lord”: Apparently, Feasts of the Lord (#5) are ranked above OT Sundays (#6).

Q: Should our Abbey celebrate the Anniversary of our Cathedral’s Dedication? One monk proposes: Like every parish in the diocese,

Q: Tomorrow we are starting the Lenten season. I am puzzled by what I have seen today in different parishes

In a recent post https://paulturner.org/more-on-recessional-hymns/, someone shared, “My experience is that other denominations process out to music not singing.”  I wanted

Q: I have a couple of questions I am hoping you can give me guidance on.  I have a candidate

Q: Fr. Paul, I am sure you have addressed this, or something like this in the past. We had our

Q: A colleague has told me that if someone reads the Responsorial Psalm, then the Alleluia/Gospel Acclamation must be recited

Q: Paul, One of my biggest frustrations is that people like to sit in the back half of the church

Q: Greetings in Christ, Father Turner. We are studying the Eucharistic prayers at our church led by our Pastor and

Q: You posted in https://paulturner.org/readings-on-a-weekday-feast/on 29 August 2018: “You use all three readings on a weekday feast of the Lord if

Q: Our local Knights council has asked about purchasing a funeral pall to be employed for funerals of council members

Q: A local catechumen is returning to their home state to care for an ailing parent. She intends to return

Q: Thank you for being such a wonderful resource of liturgical wisdom! We have at our church several old (out

Q: Ceremonial of Bishops n. 99 has the bishop giving a kiss of peace, with the word “osculum”.  Then n.

Q: There’s a video that shows a priest carrying a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in it through the halls of

I thought i would send a couple of thoughts on recessional hymns. The Jesuit liturgist Andrew Cameron Mowat once suggested

Q: In reviewing the new Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of Their Pastoral Call, I note that the

Q: Regarding the sacred vestments, the GIRM 339 says that: “Acolytes, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb

Q: OCF 205 describes the 2 forms of rite of Committal – with and without commendation. Looking at those rites,

Q: Ceremonial of Bishops has: “99  After the deacon has said, Let us offer each other a sign of peace,

Q: Someone is arguing with me that when I’m the presider for Mass, my priestly duties include proclaiming the first

Q: Please advise if the presider joins in parts of the Mass that he introduces or intoned. For example,  does

Q: Hi Father Turner, thank you so much for all the guidance you provide. I’ve done some research on this

If we celebrate Tết on a Sunday in Ordinary Time, may we use a special Mass for the lunar New Year or

Q: Dear Paul, I always gain a lot of insights from your blog. The entrance ceremony at a Catholic school

Q: A colleague wrote to me last night asking if we are obligated to use the translation of Tantum ergo published by

Q: In the Order of Baptism for Children, 2020 edition, chapter 1 is about Order of Baptism for Several Children

Q: The GIRM makes no mention of recessional or exit song. However, there is, in many places, the custom of

Q: I totally agree with you about using incense throughout the funeral Mass  https://paulturner.org/incense-at-burial-masses/.  It always seemed anomalous to me

Q: I have not been to LA Congress in a decade, but I have attended many of your workshops there.In

Q: Paragraph 61 of the GIRM–are we not allowed to do slight paraphrased metrical settings of the lectionary psalms for

Q: Recently, in response to a class discussion about the nature of private revelation, a parishioner asked why it is

Q: Our parish Feast day on February 11th. Is it permissible to celebrate the Mass on the weekend before or

Q: If incense is to be used for the gospel, when does the alleluia begin? Before the incense is prepared

Q: I received the new ritual for the Anointing of the Sick yesterday, so I thought I’d run a couple

Q: I visited my former parish where I was pastor, and I was surprised that the big cross at the

Q: My main question is whether baptisms are permitted/encouraged outdoors in nature? I’m exploring outdoor creation centred liturgies and Eucharist

Q: Hi Paul from Down-under –  and Christmas Time (Tide?) and Epiphany Time blessings (I’ve not heard of Epiphany Time

Q: Can women be formally admitted to Acolytes and Lectors? == A: Pope Francis approved this:  https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20210110_spiritus-domini.html View All Blog

Q: Thank you for sharing your calm, reasonable, thoughtful approach to liturgy.   I was taught as a priest to make

Q: Does the GIRM anywhere require them to purify their fingers after distributing Communion?  If it does not, then is this practice

Q: When I (fairly frequently) see the pall “pre-arranged,” covering about 90% of the casket, with the presider then just pulling down

Q: I’m of the school that says ‘all or nothing.’  In other words, if it is used, then go all the way –

Q: When you do that, do you greet the body with the ritual text before the eulogy time space, or after…how do

Q: In the following post, you wrote: “However, GILH 261 presumes that a priest is present when incense is used

Q: Thanks, Father, for everything! Can a bishop change the liturgy as he deems fit for the diocese? For example,