WelCom August 2019:
Steph Grantham
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North. Photo: WelCom
On Sunday 2 June Cathedral of the Holy Spirit parishioners celebrated the Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion at the 7.30am and 9.30am Masses. Both services were led by laity due to a priest being unexpectedly unavailable.
Peter Hurly led the Liturgy of the Word, Ann Austin proclaimed the Gospel, Chris Reilly led the Rite of Communion, while Graeme Siddle supported us as coordinator. Parishioners were supportive and positive about this collaborative ministry initiative.
Over the last five years, on Mondays at 12.05pm, we have become familiar with a Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion as a Service, enabling our priests to have a day of rest.
It is appropriate for us to use the format of Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion where there are some gaps in our Mass rosters. This allows the Faithful, in the absence of a priest, to offer praise and worship and be nourished by the Eucharist. It doesn’t replace Mass yet fulfils our Sunday obligation.
Sacrosanctum Concilium of Vatican II called the whole community to be fully, actively and consciously involved in our worship; through Baptism we share in Jesus’ mission, which is ‘priestly, prophetic and royal’. We are empowered to lead lives of prayer that share the good news in word and in loving service of others.
Steph Grantham is parish coordinator.