Q: Should certain prayers from the missal replace those in the RCIA? In particular…conclusion of Litany before baptism; blessing of water; baptismal promises? Should the prayer for confirmation in the RCIA be replaced with the prayer from the Rite of Confirmation? Can you use all of the prayer directly from the RCIA or replace the prayers that have been re-translated in other liturgical books? Thanks for all your great posts!! == A: The way I understand it, you may continue to use the liturgical books that are in force until they are replaced. But you may replace the parts that …
Anointing
Q: We plan 2 baptism the weekend of Pentecost: an infant Baptism outside of Mass, and Baptism of a child of Catechetical age that participates in RCIA. I realize that anointing with Oil of Catechumens may be omitted. My understanding is that the anointing with Chrism can not be omitted. May the celebrant wear a glove or use a cotton swab when anointing? Certainly we will sanitized hands prior to baptism and anointing. I ask because of other information I have seen that indicates that the minister of Confirmation must use a bare thumb when anointing. == A: I haven’t …
Initiation in these times
Q: My pastor and I wanted to seek your wisdom/guidance regarding the ‘how-to’s’ of Initiation during these unprecedented times & all the safety precautions. We both think that you are best to seek out some guidance and thoughts on this matter. We have talked about having Initiations (Candidates & Elect) at the Vigil of Pentecost but how will that look and carry out? Also, wondering if we should spread out each individual or family receiving of Sacraments through multiple Masses or do them privately? We have some individual adult Candidates to be received into the Church, Candidates that have children …
Initiation at Pentecost
Q: Could you outline for us how we would initiate candidates and the elect at the Pentecost Vigil or on Pentecost Sunday during the pandemic? == A: Here are some guidelines for those who would like to initiate at Pentecost. They apply to most any other day, too. The books needed are the Roman Missal and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). For the Roman Missal:* Use the presidential prayers assigned for Pentecost.* For the eucharistic prayer, add the proper intercessions from the Ritual Mass for the Conferral of Baptism. The presidential prayers of that mass may not …
Initiation rites at Pentecost
Q: Now that the stay at home order has begun to be lifted and we plan to return to Mass, I’d like your opinion on how you would structure the Mass for initiating the catechumens and candidates. We are looking at Pentecost. Could you provide some guidelines? It would be nice if the Mass could at least resemble something of the Easter Vigil. I would love to have your suggestion on some things we can do to make this different besides the obvious Baptism, Confirmation and first Communion. == A: Basically, you follow the rite as it appears in the …
Bishop’s miter
Q: At confirmation, just before he says the confirmation prayer, why does the bishop remove his miter before addressing the people? Shouldn’t he have it on while talking to the people, and off while talking to God? == A: I’m not sure why, but that is what paragraph 464 says in the Ceremonial of Bishops. The bishop removes his miter before addressing the people, and it remains off while he addresses God. It mimics the opening rites, where he leaves the miter off until after the collect, then puts it on for the readings.
Omitting the Creed
Q: While visiting a parish this morning it was odd that the presider omitted the Creed and instead led the assembly in a renewal of baptismal promises followed by the Universal Prayer. While I can see how one could be enticed to use this approach on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I was under the impression that this is not allowed except for Easter Sunday in the US and when Baptism or Confirmation is celebrated at a regularly scheduled weekend Mass. Am I correct? == A: You are correct. The same question came up in our diocese …
Eligible for sacraments
Q: I need your advice: We have a young woman here at the parish who was in the RCIA class. She did not go to the Rite of Election last year as she is divorced, not annulled and in a relationship (with the sweetest guy who was only 38!) Last week, he was killed in a bicycle accident. Is she now ‘eligible’ for confirmation and Eucharist? == A: This is heartbreaking. Yes, she is eligible for sacraments. And for a whole lot of pastoral care. God bless you for doing what you can to assist her.
Greek Orthodox to Catholic
Q: I have an RCIA question. We have a parishioner who was baptized and raised Greek Orthodox. She also attended Catholic school growing up and is now a mom and teacher at our parish school. This year she approached me about RCIA. I invited her to attend RCIA classes if she simply wants to learn more about the Catholic tradition. She has expressed a desire to become Catholic and I promised that I would look into the appropriate ritual and that she could be received at any given Mass…I think our weekly all-school Mass would be lovely. I’m pretty sure …
Deacon baptizing
Q: Why would a deacon baptize an adult? If confirmation and first communion should normally immediately follow baptism of an adult, and if an adult who has been baptized by a deacon may not be confirmed by a priest, then when would it make sense for a deacon to baptize an adult? At the vigil, if the bishop is present to confirm? == A: It would not be ideal. There are some circumstances when, due to the unavailability of a priest, a deacon baptizes an adult. For example, in parts of the world where priests are scarce or in a prison system. …