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RodBod
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 8th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised SDA, Generic Christian, Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 01:11 am |
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Father has "insisted" that I take the training for "Lay Presider". While I can be heard in a group (No comment necessary here, Rick!) I have considerable concern about doing something wrong and/or becoming a stunbling block to another person. Has anyone else been a Lay Presider? If so, how did it go? What are the problems to watch out for? How did you get used to doing funerals (I am a little on the sensitive side)? AND, feel free to add anything else you would like to share regarding the ministry.
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Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi; miserere nobis.
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1805 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:08 am |
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| Hmm… maybe you could first tell us what a Lay Presider is and does? I’ve never heard of such a post.
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StephenC
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Dallas, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 51 |
| First Name: | Stephen | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, SBC, Nothing, Back home in 2006 |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:48 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: Hmm… maybe you could first tell us what a Lay Presider is and does? I’ve never heard of such a post.
Just remember google (yahoo in my case) is your friend. I found this.
http://www.dow.org/documents/LayPresiderGuidelinesrightorderpages.pdf
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 03:13 am |
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RodBod wrote: feel free to add anything else you would like to share regarding the ministry.
"Lay Presider" is not an 'official' Church title, but I'll take it to mean a lay person who presides in the absence of a priest in those areas where it is permitted. If that is the case, then I began my ministry as a lay presider in the mid-80s, when my pastor was hospitalized for several months and I presided over daily communion services, wake services, dismissals, and other prayer services. At that time, such functions were authorized but the rituals (books) had not yet been updated to indicate the forms that should be used. It is much easier today.
The rituals are very clear in what lay person can and cannot do. For example, a blessing is given by a priest or deacon: "May almighty God bless you..." while a lay person requests a blessing on himself and others: "May almighty God bless us...". A priest or deacon blesses with the blade of his hand in the familiar motion; a lay person crosses only himself. Get your own copy of the rituals you will be using. If necessary, cover those areas for priests alone with postits or tape and highlight the areas that you will be using. The rituals are available from Liturgical Press. (Anyone may buy them, and you can find some of them elsewhere at reduced prices.)
It is a serious ministry. I wear an alb (but without stole, chasuble, or dalamatic) as authorized by our bishop, and of course I always correct people who call me "father" or "deacon". Read through the rituals and you will find exact instructions on what you may and may not do.
Personally, funerals have never been a problem for me. I always make it clear to friends and family of the deceased that we are welcoming their personal saint into God's glory. I remind them that through the communion of saints, we do not lose a spouse/parent/child/friend, but gain a witness in heaven on our behalf who will be waiting to escort us to God's throne. Read the funeral liturgy very carefully and you'll see virtually those exact words.
It is a good ministry, Cliff, even if it isn't always easy.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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RodBod
Member
| Joined: | Fri Feb 8th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised SDA, Generic Christian, Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 03:51 am |
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Thanks. I have yet to see any activity that went exactly by the book which is why I asked the questions. They did show us a collection of books, which would total almost $300 if I bought them all. I think I will start out with 3 or 4 books and see if I need any more after that.
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Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi; miserere nobis.
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1805 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 03:54 am |
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'Lay Presider' is not an 'official' Church title.
Indeed, this is why I asked. I know about installed acolytes and lectors (our Rick is an installed acolyte, by the way), but “lay presider” is not in the official vocabulary of the Church.
David
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