THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Preparing Lay Ministers in Dominica for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Theology and Religious Studies Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Ministry By Reginald La Fleur Washington, D.C. 2011 Preparing Lay Ministers in Dominica for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest Reginald La Fleur Director: Rev. Michael G. Witczak, S.L.D Preparing Lay Ministers in Dominica for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest which is the topic of this Dissertation makes specific reference to Sacrosanctum concilium, which was the first document that was promulgated at the Second Vatican Council (1963). This document called for reform of the liturgy in order to facilitate the full, conscious, and active participation of the people of God in the liturgical life of the Church, particularly Mass. In the Diocese of Roseau, there is a pastoral situation where one priest has to serve as pastor of multiple parishes. Consequently, in some parishes Mass is replaced with a Communion Service every other Sunday. The Mass remains the proper way of celebrating Sunday, but the people must also recognize the presence of important elements of Sunday worship even when Mass cannot be celebrated. This study presents a systematic analysis of the Vatican II and post Vatican II documents that have seeks to explicate the role of the laity. It is intended to design and implement a model of training for lay ministry which incorporates a four-module course that encompasses liturgical, Eucharistic, scriptural, and preaching components. This will support and provide a basic, holistic approach to guide the ongoing formation of lay ministers. This proposal touches only one aspect of liturgical leadership and has a threefold content: the celebration of the Eucharist, the celebration of Sunday, and the role of Lay Ministers. It has been designed to ensure, in the best way possible and in every situation, the Christian celebration of Sunday. This dissertation by Monsignor Reginald La Fleur fulfills the dissertation requirement for the doctoral degree in Ministry approved by Michael G. Witczak, S.L.D. as Director, and by James Wiseman, S.T.D., Kurt Martens, J.C.D, as Readers. _______________________________________ Michael G. Witczak, S.L.D, Director _______________________________________ James Wiseman, S.T.D., Reader _______________________________________ Kurt Martens, J.C.D., Reader ii CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER 1. CELEBRATING THE EUCHARIST . 8 Introduction . 8 Sacrosanctum Concilium . 9 Lumen Gentium . 11 Unitatis redintegratio . 11 Christus Dominus . 11 Optatam totius . 13 Dei verbum . 14 Apostolicam actuositatem . 14 Ad gentes divinitus . 15 Presbyterorum ordinis . 16 Codex Iuris Canonici auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II promulgates (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1983). 19 The Catechism of the Catholic Church . 21 Dies Domini . 23 General Instruction of the Roman Missal . 24 Ecclesia de Eucharistia . 24 Mane Nobiscum Domine . 25 iii Sacramentum Caritatis . 26 1. The Celebration of the Eucharist is Christ-centered . 30 2. Full Concious and Active Participation in Liturgy . 31 3. The Sacrament of the Eucharist : Source and Summit of Christian Life 34 The Significance and challenges of the Eucharist Today . 39 2. CELEBRATING SUNDAY . 42 The Origin and Interpretation of Sunday . 42 Sunday and the Easter Event . 43 The Names for Sunday . 44 Sunday and the Early Church . 46 The Significance of Sunday Today . 48 Directory for Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest . 52 The Situation in the Diocese of Roseau in reference to Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of the Priest . 57 Criteria for Implementation of Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest in the Diocese of Roseau . 58 Introduction . 58 Principles Concerning Communion Services . 59 Criteria for Ongoing Communion Services . 60 Appointment and Term of the Lay Associate in Pastoral Care . 61 Liturgical Roles and Ministries . 63 Music . 63 Particular Concerns . 63 iv Vesture . 64 Lay Associates in Pastoral Care and Preaching . 64 The Structure of the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of the Priest . 65 Commentary . 67 Liturgical Catechists in the Context of the Diocese of Roseau . 68 Why is Sunday the Day of the Lord? . 70 What is a Communion Service? . 70 How does this rite differ from Mass? . 71 An Evaluation of Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of the Priest . 72 3. THE ROLE OF LAY MINISTERS . 74 Introduction . 74 The Meaning of Ministry . 75 The Meaning of Laity . 76 The Ministry of Jesus . 78 Ministries in Paul and Acts of the Apostle . 84 Perspective from Vatican II : Ministry in the Church . 86 Developments since Vatican II . 92 1. Mission . 93 2. Official Positions . 93 3. Liturgical Functions . 94 4. Formation and Remuneration for Church Services . 95 A Survey of Contemporary Developments . 100 v The Four Calls . 104 Lay Ecclesial Ministry . 105 Conclusion . 106 4. DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT IN MINISTRY . 109 Principles of Adult Education . 110 Development of the Project in Ministry . 120 Composition of the Group . 121 The Diocesan Pastoral Centre . 121 Components of the Project . 122 Implementation of the Project in Ministry . 123 Sessions . 123 Lecture/Instruction Component . 124 Faith Sharing Component . 126 Evaluation of the Project in Ministry . 128 Self-Assessment . 128 Presenter . 128 Materials . 129 Sessions . 129 Results of the Self-Assessment . 129 Presenter . 129 Materials . 130 Sessions . 130 vi Academic Test . 130 Some Concluding Thoughts . 133 Key Outcomes . 133 Conclusion . 134 APPENDIX I. FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL . 135 Doctor of Ministry Proposal . 136 Identification and Background in Ministry . 136 Purpose of the Project . 136 Supporting Research . 137 Project Design and Implementation . 137 Evaluation . 137 Contribution to Ministry . 138 II. PRAYER . 139 Morning Prayer . 140 Closing Prayer . 141 III. OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM . 142 IV. STRUCTURE . 144 Structure of the Sunday Eucharist . 145 The Structure of Sunday Celebration in the Absence of the Priest . 145 vii V. ABBREVIATIONS . 146 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 149 viii INTRODUCTION I have chosen to write on the topic “Preparing Lay Ministers in Dominica for Sunday Celebrations in the absence of a Priest” for three reasons. Firstly, it is part of the assignment that has been entrusted to me by the bishop of the Diocese on assuming the responsibility of directorship of the Diocesan Pastoral Center in January 2007. Secondly, it is a reality that exists in the parish where I currently exercise my ministry. Thirdly, the workshop has been designed to cover a wide spectrum of persons, not just in my own parish, but across the whole diocese. Sacrosanctum concilium (SC), the first document emerging from the Second Vatican Council (1963) is a conciliar document, promulgated by Pope Paul VI. The document called for reform of the liturgy in order to facilitate the full, conscious, and active participation of the people of God in the liturgical life of the Church, particularly Mass. Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that full conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as „a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people‟ (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism. In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must zealously strive to achieve it, by means of the necessary instruction, in all their pastoral work (SC #14). As Christians, we share a common vocation because of our baptism and so are called to continue the work of Christ by proclaiming the reign of God to the entire world. Baptism is the beginning of the journey in which we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, strengthened by the sacraments, and called to active participation in the life of the Church to carry forward 1 2 the Church’s mission of evangelization. Ministry is the vocation of all believers.1 When we grow into our baptismal identity, we live out our vocation. Vocation actually refers to a calling. God has given each of us gifts and calls us to use them in a way that pleases and glorifies Him. Our vocation is the way in which we respond to the many gifts God has given us. Not least among the various fields of the lay apostolate is ministry within the Church, in areas such as catechesis, works of charity and, particularly, in liturgy. As the Catholic Church world-wide faces many new challenges today, this topic “Teaching Lay Ministers in Dominica to conduct Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest” undoubtedly can be deemed as an ubiquitous subject of concern, especially in various dioceses where it has been discussed or studied with the specific intention of addressing this problem. Any attempt to alleviate and remedy such a pastoral situation must, of necessity and at all times, take into consideration the particular setting, background, or context of the individual diocese where the situation exists. Clearly, the backdrop here is within the framework of the diocese of Roseau with its particular set of circumstances, together with the current pastoral conditions that characterize events in this particular locale. The diocese of Roseau covers a surface area of 289 square miles, encompasses the entirety of the island of Dominica, belongs to the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Castries, St. Lucia, and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.2 Seventy percent (70%) of the population of seventy-one 1 I will discuss this more fully in chapter three.