Q: One of the local high schools is looking to do the best in answering the need of both their students and some faculty members who wish to come into the Catholic Church ( OCIA). The bishop is currently leaning that this be done in conjunction with the parish closest to where the student resides, or failing that, using the church closest to the school as the default ‘home parish’.
The idea has been floated that the Candidates after sufficient formation could be brought into full communion during a school wide Mass ( no issues here with the understanding of proper faculties being granted or a Bishop presiding).
In terms of Catechumen: What does the Ordinary have in terms of discretion to allow for either an Easter Vigil to be held at the school ( on the correct date) or at an alternative date ( my understanding is that this is only to be done under extreme need i.e.: extreme illness, military duty etc) ?
Also: would the Ordinary need to give permission for things like all the other Rites of the OCIA ( Scrutinies/ passing on of the creed/ exorcisms/ immediate Rites of preparation) to be done at the school?
Would the high school need to make allowances for dismissal for those Catechumen at school wide masses?
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A: OCIA 34 §2 allows the bishop to permit celebration of the order of initiation at times apart from the Vigil. In that case, the Mass does not repeat the Easter Vigil. The presider uses the Ritual Mass for Baptism in the back of the missal (as long as the selected date does not impede Ritual Masses—see GIRM 372.)
OCIA 26 says that when this happens, then the rites of election and of the period of purification and enlightenment take place within the previous weeks. OCIA 29 says election is preferably 6 weeks before initiation. OCIA 30 gives direction for the scrutinies.
OCIA 27 prefers Sundays for the rites of initiation.
Dismissals are recommended but not required.
If it were me, I’d try to get the baptisms in parishes at the Easter Vigil. I can’t envision a scenario where that would be impossible. But the preliminary rites could take place at school with the bishop’s permission.
In my diocese, the bishop does allow priest chaplains at high schools to receive previously baptized candidates into the full communion of the Catholic Church at a schoolday Mass. I think this can be fine if the student agrees.