Paul Turner’s Blog

Q: I’m writing to you about a question one of my confirmation student asked me, (I am teaching confirmation class […]

Q: I am facilitating a six-day retreat and will preside over a Second Rite of Reconciliation for retreatants. Am I

Q: I see you have had some responses to paschal candle questions recently. I have a twist on one. Someone

Q: We plan on moving out of our Church for two months this summer in order to do some repairs

Q: For many years at the beginning of the Easter Vigil, as the Easter candle is brought into the church

Q: Many times I hear these prayers as being  too wordy or lengthy, emotional and even verging as petitions. I

Q: Can an adult be baptized on some other day besides the Easter Vigil? == A: Yes, but RCIA 34/2

Q: We have had the practice to not have torchbearers accompany the gospel procession and flank the ambo during the

Q: How do you explain the collect for Tuesday in the Octave of Easter? == A: I think that that

Q: No one was baptized at our  Easter Vigil this year.   #40-The  introductory statement the priest used was under the

Q: I have a question that was brought up to me by a transitional deacon this morning.  He stated that

Q: This year the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist falls on the day after Corpus Christi. Are

Q: What is church teaching on Mary Magdalene?  Were there 2 Mary’s : Mary of Bethany, and sister to Martha

Q: GIRM 120 states “… the priests and ministers, wearing the sacred vestments, go in procession to the altar in

Q: Thank you for being such a great resource for so many in the Church. When the parish significantly overestimates

Q: I appreciate your answers to Liturgical questions on your blog.  It gives me confidence in my role as Liturgy

Q: Much appreciation for your advice as well as your blogs on liturgy. They are resources which we, the people

Q: Can a dying man who is sometimes alert receive the Blood of Christ as a Viaticum ? He cannot

Q: Do those receiving sacraments at the Easter Vigil need to be registered parishioners? Should they be? == A: There’s

Q: I so appreciate the wisdom you so generously share with those of us in liturgy.  I recently started a

Q: We will be hiring a Liturgist very soon.  We were discussing qualifications and responsibilities for the position, but we

Q: May a non-Catholic proclaim a reading at a wedding without mass? I know that a non-Catholic cannot read at

Q: Thanks for your blog and your writings.  They have become valuable resources for me.  A brother Deacon, now on

Q: Members of  our RCIA  group have indicated a prior baptism in a Christian denomination but are unable to locate

Q: Our parish has a custom of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday after the evening Mass. Some people travel

Q: When you have only a full profession and no baptisms at.the Vigil do you do the sprinkling of the

Q: If we are baptizing an infant at the Easter Vigil, may the priest use the oil of catechumens? ==

Q: Yesterday I was asked a question about the history of choosing a confirmation name and, do other countries have

Q: My daughter’s wedding is on Saturday during the Easter Octave, so my question is this: Do we need to

Q: I see that an upcoming Saturday in Ordinary Time is listed as a memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Q: Once again thank you for your wonderful ministry which is so helpful for so many of us. We are

Q: Our parish celebrated Confirmation this week,  It was a ceremony rather than a Mass. Should the altar candles have

Q: ‘Must’ the deacon carry the paschal candle?  Or may it be carried in procession by another person(s) who is

Q: I received the following question and thought you would have a perfect answer for this! The Roman Catholic Church

Q: In #55 of the RM is the rubric for the assembly standing with lighted candles to renew the promises

Should holy oils be locked up? == Holy oils are not required to be locked in the same way that

Q: I just found out that we have never done Mass intentions for Holy Thursday or Easter Vigil. Is this

Q: The scripture texts for the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church on Monday after Pentecost as well as

Q: Should the procession of gifts be led by the cross and candles? == A: I covered this in my

Q: My question relates to the Gospel procession at the Easter Vigil. Since the Gospel Book is not carried in

Q: This year 2nd Sunday of Mass is March 17 , also the Feast day of St Patrick.  I noticed

Q: Can you tell me where in church documents I can find information on the red cross on the corporal? 

Q: I was wondering if you have a book or can recommend a book that lays out the various steps

Q: May ashes be distributed on days other than Ash Wednesday? == A: The best I can tell you, “There

Q: Can a confirmation student choose a saint name that is not a saint yet but is blessed? == A:

Q: We have two baptized, uncatechized Catholics ready for confirmation and communion at the Easter Vigil this year, but no

Q: I recently came across your answer to the question of children above the age of reason, baptized as infants

Q: Could you please advise if the Children’s Eucharistic Prayers’ II and III should contain the usual memorial acclamation in

Q: Should a bishop kiss the altar at the beginning of the Rite of Election when it is celebrated without

Q: When the GIRM says that the deacon should carry the book of the gospels “slightly elevated,” does that mean

Is there any instruction on the posture for the Sequence? Some priests have told us to sit and others have

Q: I believe that Sacramentary suggested no Gospel Acclamation before the proclamation of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

We have been discerning with our Christian Candidates when they are ready and what their situation is, for instance, this

Q: I continue to appreciate your posts and wisdom, but I have a question about your last sentence in this

I just wanted to let you know that we DO hold a Children’s Rite of Election separately from the adults.

Q: What is the appropriate liturgical color for the Rite of Election? == A: I’m going with purple, though the

Q: Thank you, as ever, for your blog posts, which provide so much guidance, wisdom, expertise, food for thought, and

Q: I have a question about initiation. I have 3 children above the age of reason, who were baptized as

Q: Is the Rite of Election for Children Optional? It seems to say so at paragraph 281. == A: That

Q: A parish has a large number of catechumens and candidates so the candidates will not celebrate Confirmation and Eucharist

Q: Do you have any insight regarding the re-translation of the RCIA? Has there been any serious talk/plan for any

Q: If one were to do a “song after communion” do you feel one could make a case to sing

Q: Do you set out the rite in any of your books for doing a convalidation ceremony? == A: Well,

Can a four-year old participate in the Rite of Election? == Is the four-year old also receiving confirmation and first

Q: Thank you for your patience, time and insight answering our never ending liturgical questions! If we celebrate Confirmation on

Q: On the day we have our school Mass next week the Gospel reading is kind of harsh for kids.

Q: Are the candidates for the call to continuing conversion only those 18 years and older? We have some young

Q: Do godparents need to be/should be present for the rite of election in the cathedral? == A: Yes. The

Q: Recently, a bishop in our region announced that the posture in his diocese after the Agnus Dei would go from standing,

Q: I am trying to access your bulletin inserts, but don’t see how to do that. If this is a

Q: Lately, I’ve noticed that priests presiding at funeral Masses have been blessing the assembly after the Prayer of Commendation. 

Q: Last evening we had a tragedy at the confirmation mass. The father of one of the candidates died suddenly

Q: What texts should one follow for the anniversary of the Dedication of an archdiocesan cathedral? There are only the

Q: My bishop is coming on Sunday for Mass. I presume he is the presider and I am a concelebrant.  Is

Q:  I’ve been getting increasing requests that a woman speak at homily time. Some would like her to address the

Q: Do teenagers in Confirmation class who have not yet been baptized and will receive the Sacraments at the Easter

Q: I have a very smart and inquisitive CCD class  and I was asked a question that left me stumped. 

Q: Given your experience how long ‘should’ a Sunday and a weekday homily last? I ask this given my experience

Q: The columbarium at our parish has just completed and the building committee has been searching for blessing of columbarium

Q: Out of curiosity, would you be willing to share your homily from Sunday? The readings were two of my

Q: In some parishes, I have noted that extraordinary ministers of communion wash their hands after distributing the Body of

I have been asked to prepare a workshop on the baptized Catholic and the RCIA process. In searching for material

The rubrics say that the priest washes feet on Holy Thursday (if he elects to do this).  Can/should deacons assigned

I recently had the opportunity to read your book, “Whose Mass Is It?” and thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the many

Q: What is the current liturgical viewpoint about visual material/images/slide show being projected during the Liturgy of the Word that

Q: I am looking for some clarification regarding the Rite of Distribution of Communion in the absence of a priest

Q: My daughter will be married in October 2019 at a Nuptial Mass on a Sunday afternoon.  The Mass is

Q: Are altar servers supposed to wear a cincture that matches the liturgical color of the priest’s chasuble? == A:

Q: Our second grade teacher asked me why we shouldn’t teach the children to bow from the waist (more than

With reference to your recent questioner on the sign of the Cross and blessings, I attach an extract from the

Q: At the funeral of a deacon, should the body be set in the coffin with the head closer to

Q: Is it permitted to have last year’s paschal candle in our chapel?  This would facilitate baptisms and funerals, as

Q: Is it all right for our parish to host a Seder meal during Holy Week?==A: Um, no. Here’s a

Q: Our parish has no priest available on Ash Wednesday. Can we have a prayer service with distribution of blessed

Q: The Respect Life Ministry has arranged for a procession with roses carried by individuals representing each birth year since

Q:  Are the extraordinary ministers being taught in their training to give blessings (sign of the cross on the forehead)

Q: Our Knights of Columbus Ladies Aux. are going to buy some altar linens. We did not know if there

Q: A question for you: Since the Gospel according to Matthew says that the Magi came to the “house,” where

Q: A person found a (presumably consecrated) host on the floor of a church during the week.  (BTW – The

In 2018 the Luke Emmaus story (Lk 24:13-36) was an option for the gospel on Easter Sunday.  In 2019 that