Q: I searched your blog archive and found nothing that answered this question, but I apologize if I missed something.
The rubrics of the RCIA ritual book (still used in my country) indicate that the presentations of the Creed (144) and of the Our Father (165) indicate that they “should preferably be celebrated in the presence of a community of the faithful, within Mass”.
I can find no indication of how to carry out the presentations outside of Mass, other than by presenting the Our Father on Holy Saturday (172.2), although I know that it is possible, though not desirable, to omit them altogether.
If celebrating the two presentations during Mass is not possible, and it will also not be possible “to bring the elect together on Holy Saturday for reflection and prayer” (172.2), is there still some way that both presentations can be done?
Does the new OCIA change things at all?
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A: In Canada, look at the dismissal formulas at RCIA 149. These provide for the circumstance when the Rite is celebrated without Mass, and the last of the formulas (149C) shows that everyone is dismissed with a song when the Eucharist is not celebrated.
In the OCIA, the same circumstance is found for the US at 162D.
As an FYI, these instructions for the dismissal are missing from the typical edition. The US translation cites the instructions that conclude the scrutinies. This was approved by the Vatican.
So, yes, the Rites of Handing On may be celebrated outside Mass, at least in our conferences of bishops.
Canada’s RCIA 132 permits a deacon to preside for the scrutinies (as does OCIA 145). The presider for the Rites of Presentation/Handing On is called the “celebrant”, so in my opinion a deacon could preside for these outside Mass.
That said, during Mass is preferred.