Q:  Can a Protestant service (i.e., wedding) be held in a Catholic Church without a priest being present? A:  A Protestant service may take place in a Catholic church building with the permission of a bishop under certain circumstances. The case you propose seems not to fit these permissions. From the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism by the Pontifical Council on Christian Unity (1993): “137. Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community. They are therefore generally reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, …

Q:  I have a new pastor who has suggested that we have two tabernacles. One is already in the church proper and the other used to be in the chapel.  Are two tabernacles allowed? A:  Canon 938 §1 says that a church or oratory should have only one tabernacle.

Last week the following was added to www.paulturner.org The homily given at the Funeral Mass of Alice Turner, his Mother The homilies for the 17th Sundays in Ordinary Time in both English and Español: http://paulturner.org/homilies-year-b-2015/ A new book, Foundations for Preaching and Teaching 2016, was added to “Books with Other Authors”:  http://paulturner.org/with-other-authors/ Scores for the Royals’ pre-game activities:  http://paulturner.org/pre-game-grades/

Last week the following was added to www.paulturner.org A new blog post on the Eucharistic Prayer Workshops for “Language, Culture & Church For International Priests & Religious” at Conception Abbey The homilies for the 15th nd 16th Sundays in Ordinary Time in both English and Español: http://paulturner.org/homilies-year-b-2015/ Scores for the Royals’ pre-game activities:  http://paulturner.org/pre-game-grades/

Q.   The second edition of the English missal includes the following rubric: “In all Masses, the priest may say the Eucharistic Prayer in an audible voice. In sung Masses he may sing those parts of the Eucharistic Prayer which may be sung in concelebrated Masses,” followed by some other rubrics. In the third edition of the Missal in English (2011), the rubric changes slightly and the first sentence disappears completely When I went to look at the Latin typical ed, I cannot find any rubric that corresponds to, “In all Masses, the priest may say the Eucharistic Prayer in an …

Last week the following was added to www.paulturner.org Two new blog posts. The homilies for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time in both English and Español:  http://paulturner.org/homilies-year-b-2015/ Scores for the Royals’ pre-game activities:  http://paulturner.org/pre-game-grades/

Q:  I am planning a Mass on August 5 for my best friend before he leaves the country for mission work and seminary. For a Mass such as this, do I use the readings/collect for the weekday or is it acceptable to use a “Mass for Various Needs/Occasions” (RM 1255, 1256, 1284, 1310 for example)? If I use one of these Masses, what are the readings “prescribed” and how do I determine if a gloria and credo are appropriate? A:  August 5 is a weekday with an optional memorial, so you’re perfectly free to choose readings and presidential prayers from …

Q:  Greetings from Australia! I hope you don’t mind me contacting you with a thorny pastoral issue. I’m seeing two parents who have requested baptism for their daughter – 2 years. Neither are Roman Catholic and after a great conversation and listening to their story – which involves serious illness for her a few years back which resulted in a move toward thinking about becoming an Roman Catholic – and he is supportive and has Roman Catholic grandparents – they’ve been coming to Mass for several months.  Both have expressed a desire to become Roman Catholics and we’ve been discussing how best …

The following have been added during the past week to www.paulturner.org. A blog post on Deacon responsibilities The homilies for a Quinceañera as well as for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, in both English and Español

Q:  We have a little “debate” going on — friendly — about whether a deacon can receive a person into the Church in danger of death.  I don’t see this possibility mentioned anywhere in the ritual books.  I also consulted your book,Celebrating Initiation: A Guide for Priests.  Granted it is a guide for priests, but you don’t mention deacons — and you don’t have a chapter regarding the reception of a person in danger of death.  I think that canon 844 would take care of this — if a priest were present.  I don’t see a deacon having this faculty …