Q: Fr. Paul,
Our pastor would like to start lay-led Adoration in the context of Morning Prayer (without Benediction) on the morning of the one day of the week when there are no clergy present in the parish and that there is therefore no liturgical opportunity for the faithful.
To accomplish this, I asked a dedicated member of our extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who regularly attends our Adoration with Benediction if he would be willing to learn how to do it. With his consent, I began training him. I started with a long one-on-one meeting where we discussed the spiritual aspects, reviewed how to do Morning Prayer, and taught him the mechanics of exposing the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance on the altar. I gave him the worship aid we would use for the appropriate prayers, hymns, and of course Morning Prayer.
I then led our first Thursday Adoration with Morning Prayer without Benediction so he could watch the process and follow along in the worship aid.
I followed that the following week with him leading the service and me sitting in the front row ready to assist him if he needed it. He did an excellent job. The following week was his first day “soloing.” I was in the building and watched from the the gathering space, but he did the Adoration and led Morning Prayer on his own. Again, he did a wonderful job.
I was accosted by a parishioner who insisted that if a member of the clergy is present they MUST lead the service. That is not how I read the instructions in the rite book. She was adamant that I was disrespecting the Real Presence of Jesus. I got permission from our pastor before I started the process. I have also reached out to the director of our diocesan office of worship and our bishop. They all agree that it is preferred for a clergy to lead the Adoration, but it is not required especially in the context of training.
I was wondering if you would have an opinion and if you have references that I can review.
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A: HCWEMOM 91 says an extraordinary minister of holy communion may expose the Blessed Sacrament “in the absence of a Priest or Deacon, or if they are prevented for some good reason.”
In my opinion, you had a good reason.
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