Q:  When a deacon presides for a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, may he use the presider’s chair? A: Yes.  If a layperson presides, he or she does not use the priest’s chair, according to Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest 24, but a deacon does use it according to SCAP 19.  

Q:  When a baptism is taking place outside Mass, do the prayers of the faithful have to be used from the ritual book or can we solely use prayers composed by the family? A:  The family may write their own prayers. The Rite of Baptism for Children says just before #216 that “Petitions may be added or omitted at will, taking into consideration the special circumstances of each family.”

Q:  When a baptism is taking place outside Mass, the Rite for Baptism with Children (no. 81) speaks of choices for Gospel readings—but then it also speaks to “other passages which meet the wishes or needs of the parents.” Is it mandatory that a Gospel passage be read? If the Gospel passage MUST be read, can a lay person (a person from the family) read the Gospel or does it need to be read by the priest? A:  The RBC was one of the very first rituals out of the starting blocks following Vatican II, and the rubrics are not …

Q:  What is the basis of the use of a “priest’s” chalice distinct from “communal chalices” used at Mass. It seems to counter the idea of communion itself. Are there norms that require this practice or that encourage the whole community to share from the same vessels? A:  The rubrics that appear in the missal’s Order of Mass do not account for communion under both kinds. Those permissions and instructions are found elsewhere. So the Order of Mass continually gives instructions about “the chalice” as if there is only one. Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under …

Q:  May the priest mix the water with the wine in a large pitcher from which all the wine is poured—for the priest and for the assembled community? The Missal speaks of the water being poured into the chalice (not a pitcher or any other communal vessels). A:  The USCCB clarified this on page 19 here: http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2012-05-and-06.pdf. However, it did not address your specific practice. I generally add water to one chalice. However, your practice would probably not be considered an abuse through a broad interpretation of this clarification.  

Q:  Our sacristans pour the unconsecrated wine into the communal chalices at the altar after the priest pours the wine into his chalice. Is this okay for the sacristan to do? Since wine can be poured in to the communal chalices before Mass—I would presume that a lay person could do this during Mass as well—wrong? A:  I think that your practice does not conflict with the US Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under both Kinds. See #36 here: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/norms-for-holy-communion-under-both-kinds/. It allows “servers” to help deacons prepare the altar, and your sacristans are basically acting like servers …

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Q: In our parish, there is Exposition Tues, Wed and Thursday from early morning till late evening.  We have many people that are regulars and have specific hours that they pray during those days.  However, there are some hours that are “open” because the person cannot be there that day or week; or we just don’t have enough people to fill all the time slots.   When there is an open hour or if the next person after you doesn’t show up as scheduled, the adorer reposes the Blessed Sacrament without ceremony.  Then an hour or two later, when the next adorer …

Q: Is there a limit to the number of times a parish can have the Eucharistic benediction in a day. A:  Yes. Twice. According to the instruction Eucharistiæ saramentum (Congregation for Divine Worship, 1973), “Where there cannot be uninterrupted exposition because there is not a sufficient number of worshipers, it is permissible to replace the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle at fixed hours that are announced ahead of time. But this may not be done more than twice a day, for example, at midday and at night.”

Q:  Following the Examination of Conscience at night prayer, and when using the Confiteor is it required or even permissible to use the ” May almighty God have mercy on us …” formula when a priest is not present?  Thanks. A:  The penitential act is to be done as at mass, and it should include the formula you cite. In the preconciliar liturgy both the priest and the servers recited the formula to each other. It’s called “absolution” but it is not sacramental. Q:  Thanks for the response, but can this non-sacramental “absolution” be used at Night Prayer?  Must it …