Paul Turner’s Blog

Q: What is the role of the Deacon during the Presentation of Oils during the Holy Thursday Mass?  In our parish […]

Q: Should wooden clappers be used instead of bells during Lent? == A: Although they can be heard in some

Q: When there is no priest available, a lay minister may expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. Is it true

Q: A question from a primary school teacher around her class Mass in March. She was hoping to focus on

Q: I have a question about the imposition of Ashes and the threat of viruses and other sicknesses. Our diocese

Q: I am so grateful for all of the help that you provide to all of us.  I have one

Q: After the proclamation of the gospel at a mass where the bishop presides, the deacon may bring the book

Q: At confirmation, just before he says the confirmation prayer, why does the bishop remove his miter before addressing the

Q: Should the corpus be facing the cross bearer or the altar as the cross is being carried in the

Q: Is October 4, 2020, observed as the Feast of Saint Francis or a Sunday in Ordinary Time? == A:

Q: In my liturgy class, I cover Liturgical Law and I have the students interpret case studies. One of the

Q: I thought the Easter Vigil start time was always 8:00 pm. == A: The missal says this at #3

Q: On Ash Wednesday, are we allowed to receive ashes on top of the head, or is that only for

Q: What is the meaning when a master of ceremonies dips his fingers in holy water and then touches the

Q: Would it be ok for the main celebrant to hand over the holy water bucket to the deacon to

Q: Can we use more than one crucifix for people to kiss on Good Friday? == A: No, only one

Q: Many thanks for your blog and liturgy resources. Is it permissible to use a rite of blessing and sprinkling

Q: I cannot find anything explicit in the RCIA that says an ordained person must preside at the presentations if

Q: We have a couple in a civil marriage, but not a church marriage. They are not therefore eligible to

Q: An adult woman says that she was baptized by her Catholic father. Thefather has died and there is no

Q: As we inch closer toward Lent, I have some issues popping up regarding upcoming preparatory rites for folks participating

Q: Is it appropriate to confer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick during the Penetential Rite at Mass

Q: Greetings, Paul and thanks for your wonderful website. You will be very welcome in Australia.  I have a question

It’s the time of year during RCIA when conditional baptisms come to the forefront.  I have a young woman whose

Q: We’ve been approached by someone who is curious about the church, but not sure if he wants to join.

Q: If you are in a restored order diocese is there any theological or canonical issue if the celebration of

Q: I have a question regarding the process for approval of contemporary religious music for use in liturgical celebrations and

Q: Where might I find authoritative guidance on the proper form for an hour of exposition and adoration of the

Q: I am writing about your blog post of 23 January, “Introductions to the readings”. I posted on 16 January

Q: The ordo suggests that the blessing of throats may take place on Feb. 2.  In the book of blessings

Q: What do you think of this? A priest/deacon begins and concludes a homily and invites someone in the midst

Q: In the 2010 English translation of the Roman Missal it has for the Feast on 2 February: “8. As

Q: My understanding is the Catholic Church does not encourage ashes to be sprinkled outdoors following a cremation. However, for

Q: I was a visitor at a parish during the Christmas season and was stunned when the priest began singing

Q: Is it liturgically correct for a lay reader to give information concerning the reading they are about to do. 

Q: Thank you so much for your insight into celebrating the rites of initiation.  I am the coordinator of the

Q: Kindly comment on the performance element associated with Catholic Liturgies. I am being criticised by certain parishioners for being

Q: Is it permissible for a female Anglo-Catholic priest to robe and sit with me on the sanctuary during Mass?

Q: A question please.  Given that no women in church leadership roles are mentioned during the Eucharistic Prayers when we pray

Q: In the Motu Proprio Aperuit illis of 30 September 2019 the Pope has written: “It is important, however, that in the

Q: While visiting a parish this morning it was odd that the presider omitted the Creed and instead led the

Q: Is there a ruling by the USCCB on addressing communicants by name? == A: No, but the GIRM and

Q:  I have a question re the elevation of a memoriae to a feast. Our bishop is interested in requesting

Q:  New deacon here. Read over instructions in Mass w/ Deacon. Some things not clear.  Does the deacon incense or

Q: How did the term “Eucharistic minister” come to be?  It seems like all of the documentation post-Council has never

Q: A question was raised by one of our Deacons.  Here is the scenario; the Deacon is taking communion to

Q: I really appreciate all of the information you provide on your blog andvia email. Regarding: https://paulturner.org/preaching-while-sitting/ I believe the Bishop

Q: Someone’s asked me if it’s permissible for the priest to sit while giving the homily. GIRM 136 seems to

Q: Thank you so much for all of your great help.  The post about weddings prompted a question about which

Q: I’m contacting you about the singing of the Gloria at a wedding during the lenten season. Our wedding will

Q: I work in a hispanic community, and sometimes a member of the parish comes to me in the minutes

Q: I understand that it’s permissible to accept more than one mass intention for a mass – with restrictions. One

Q: With the Rite of Acceptance this Sunday, we omit the penitential act, but the Gloria?  == A: The last

Q: Christmas Season greetings! Just a brief question about the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. I know that

Q: Would it be the better part of discretion to ignore the following?  Like many parishes, we use a mix

Q: Is it ok to ring the bell during the Gloria at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day masses? ==

Q: If there is no concelebrant or deacon, may a lay leader carry the book of the gospels in the

Q: The O Antiphons from evening prayer of December 17-23 are repeated at mass as the verses for the gospel

Q: It just dawned on me that you are probably not supposed to light the Advent wreath when it is no

Q: Is it necessary to have a nuptial blessing at a convalidation? == A: Yes. The nuptial blessing is part

I am trying to figure out what Mass to use (and which readings) for the celebration of the anniversary of

Q: Regarding Masses on the anniversary of a death, GIRM 381 permits a Mass for the Dead on the First

Q: The Prefaces for Advent include the rubric that those Prefaces are to be used “in Advent and have no

Q: I understand that whenever there’s some service, ritual or rite before the Mass, the Penitential rite is omitted, like

Q: Can a priest celebrate two masses for the same intention on the same day? == A: This is a

Q: An elderly man in my parish is slowly dying. He has never been confirmed. May I confirm him? ==

Q: The elderly Methodist mother of a Catholic in my parish has dementia. The Catholic daughter says that her mother shares

Q: If the celebrant uses the Penitential Rite which begins with the Confiteor must the Kyrie/ Lord Have Mercy be

Q: In a nearby parish the DRE leads all the preparation for the catechumenate. There is no team. I am

Q: Is it absolutely necessary during Benediction for the presider to wear a cope or use the humeral veil?   Thank

Q: I have a question regarding full reception into the Church of already baptized adults.  I recall reading in one

Q: Paul, thank you again for the indispensable font of liturgical knowledge and support that you provide for the Church!

Q: Does a crucifix in the sanctuary have to have INRI at the top? == A: No. The only requirement

Q:  I have a question on celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this year when it falls on Monday,

Q: I have a question about substituting readings at Evening Prayer on Sunday. It’s been my practice to substitute the

Q: Can I offer a votive mass for the dead for a gathering of our Knights of Columbus on a

Greetings! I was wondering if you can clarify on a recent statement by Pope Francis regarding Permanent Deacon when he

Q: I was recently in Slovakia and noted  that a concelebrating priest, when no deacon is present, invites the congregation

Q: I started serving at my current parish six months ago. Upon my arrival, the pastor removed the announcing of

Q: I have a question about baptisms I hope you can give me some insight on:  I am working with

Q: Our pastor just had a ‘miniature’ tower built to display the first bell from our original church building. It’s

Q: Thank you for your clarity with regard to liturgical issues.  I share these with my staff who are appreciative

Q: I have two “simple” questions. First, how would you recommend a liturgist to proceed when asked to deviate from

Q: Blessings on you and your ministry which I find most helpful. What guidance is there in the liturgical documents

Q: All Saints Day falls on a Sunday in 2020. When is it to be celebrated? Does the obligation transfer

Q: Thank you for your blog.  It is so helpful to me (and I am sure to many others too).

Q: After 15 years of saying the Liturgy of the Hours with some guests to our community, one visitor came

Q: Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us! I recently received the next installment of the Lit

Q: Is it possible to have a funeral mass or even a service on All Soul’s Day? The Ordo’s instruction

Q: Thanks for your efforts! I am also keen on resource materials about the various scripture references embedded within the

Q: Does the Church condone PowerPoint aids or even play music or song to illustrate a homily? We have many

Q: What are your thoughts regarding the appropriate time during the All Souls Day liturgy to have the “Rite of

Q:  I enjoy your blog. There is always something to be learned!  Thank you for doing this. I am new

Q: Recently a couple left our Catholic parish for a neighboring protestant community suggesting they wanted more insights into the

I was recently asked about the practice of having confessions during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. A number of recently

Q: We have weekly school Mass for our K-4 students and we are currently using the Children’s Lectionary. My pastor and

The pastor at the parish where I serve has asked me to celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Q: This past Sunday after mass a couple asked me to bless their child in the womb. They specifically wanted

I got news in the mail about the coming publication of the new Baptism Book.  Anything we need to know

Q: Is a deacon able to receive the bread and wine on behalf of a priest from those processing the