Q: I thought the Easter Vigil start time was always 8:00 pm. == A: The missal says this at #3 for the Easter Vigil: “The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil must take place during the night, so that it begins after nightfall and ends before daybreak on the Sunday.“ The start time may vary, as long as it honors that.

Q: On Ash Wednesday, are we allowed to receive ashes on top of the head, or is that only for the main celebrant? === A: Ashes may be distributed on the top of anyone’s head. 

Q: What is the meaning when a master of ceremonies dips his fingers in holy water and then touches the Bishop’s fingers and makes the sign of the cross before the procession begins for the mass? === A: The passing of holy water to the bishop is a pious custom. It saves the bishop from walking closer to the font. It’s more meaningful if the bishop dips his own fingers into the water.

Q: Would it be ok for the main celebrant to hand over the holy water bucket to the deacon to sprinkle the choir in the loft because he cannot walk upstairs? == A: A deacon could sprinkle in the loft, but the liturgy presumes that the celebrant does all the sprinkling. Another solution is not to sprinkle those in the loft. There’s no requirement that every single person be sprinkled.

Q: Can we use more than one crucifix for people to kiss on Good Friday? == A: No, only one cross may be used for adoration.

Q: Many thanks for your blog and liturgy resources. Is it permissible to use a rite of blessing and sprinkling of water during Lent?  The Missal provides prayers for the Sundays of Easter and also other texts if outside of the Easter season. There is no specific instruction about restricting this to other seasons of the liturgical year. == A: The blessing and sprinkling of water is permissible on any Sunday, even during Lent. The very last rubric indicates the moment to begin singing the Gloria “when it is prescribed,” which implies that the sprinkling may take place on Sundays …

Q: I cannot find anything explicit in the RCIA that says an ordained person must preside at the presentations if they are celebrated outside of Mass. Does such a rubric exist? Or can a lay minister preside in, for example, a retreat setting? === A: The ritual implies that the presider of the presentations is an ordained person, though I admit that when you read it today, it’s hard to see. In Latin the OICA uses the word celebrans for the leader of the various rites, including baptism. It identifies separately the deacon – even in the presentations. I surmise that the …

Q: We have a couple in a civil marriage, but not a church marriage. They are not therefore eligible to receive the sacraments, but may they serve as readers and communion ministers? They want to stay active with the church. == A: If I were in your shoes, I’d visit with them first to learn more about the marital situation. If I could help resolve it through opening an annulment case, I’d like to get that started. To keep them active in parish life, I see no objection to them serving as readers. However, the Norms for the Distribution and …

Q: An adult woman says that she was baptized by her Catholic father. Thefather has died and there is no record of the baptism. Is this a casefor conditional baptism? Or, do you take the word of the woman? Howwould this be recorded? == A: If the woman’s word is credible, then I would accept it. Perhaps she can enlist the testimony of other family members to back her up. The parish in whose boundaries the baptism took place should be notified.

Q: As we inch closer toward Lent, I have some issues popping up regarding upcoming preparatory rites for folks participating in our RCIA program.  Rite of Election: I have an adult Catechumen who cannot get off from work on February 29th. Does it make more sense to omit that rite for him or to ask for delegation from my bishop pursuant to RCIA Nos 12 & 121 to elect this Catechumen at Mass?   There is also a child of catechetical age (who is scheduled to be admitted to the catechumenate in two weeks) who will be out of town on the …