Knowledge Base

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Knowledge Base

Sacred Worship

Sacred Worship

What are the Holy Days of Obligation?

Why do we celebrate Holy Days of Obligation?

Mass

How do I get a certificate to be a parish lector and/or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion?

May the priest baptize an infant at the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist?

Is it proper to bring gifts for the poor during the Presentation of the Gifts? Where should they be placed?

Where should the manger be placed in church during the Christmas Season?

May an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion give blessings during the Communion procession?

Can a person receive the consecrated host and then dip it in the chalice to receive the consecrated wine?

Is the Funeral Mass allowed during the Octave of Christmas?

The new Roman Missal does not contain Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children. Can we still celebrate Masses for Children?

Are Funeral Masses allowed in funeral homes?

What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand?

How many intentions may there be for any particular Mass?

I have always been under the impression that the practice of "intinction" is not an acceptable way of receiving the Eucharist. Is this no longer the church's position?

Is the Gloria sung at a wedding Mass?

Is it necessary to have a Cross with a corpus (an image of the body of Christ) at the entrance procession of the Mass?

Order of the Mass

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Special Circumstances

Are there any resources available for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who bring Communion to the Sick in homes, hospitals, and nursing homes?

How does a parish record the Reception into Full Communion?

Sometimes it happens that those severely affected by gluten intolerance are also not able to consume wine. Does that mean that they cannot receive Holy Communion at all?

When can a pastor administer the sacrament of Confirmation?

May the Stations of the Cross be prayed during Eucharistic Adoration? May the Stations be ended with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament?

May the body of the deceased lie in state in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the parish?

We have children in our school/religious education process who have been baptized in other Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite. Is there anything we need to be aware of when preparing them for First

Can Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament be used to conclude the Divine Mercy Novena?

Who supplies the special host when a person has celiac disease?

May a baptized Christian be a sponsor at the baptism of a child? How is this recorded?

I will be having a serious operation and I am preparing an Advance Directive for the hospital. Are there any specific directives of the Church for end-of-life issues that I should be aware of?

Recently I became aware that the Archdiocese has a form that can be used when a person does not have and/or cannot obtain a baptism certificate. May I have a copy of this form to keep at the parish so

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RCIA

Is it necessary that baptized, uncatechized adults preparing for Confirmation and Eucharist celebrate the Rites preceding their reception into full Communion?

May a divorced or remarried person be accepted into the Order of Catechumens? What about a person married to someone who has been divorced?

Are there any changes in the Rite of Confirmation?

Who from the RCIA group should be part of the dismissal from Mass?

At the Easter Vigil may the pastor confirm Baptized Catholics completing their initiation through the RCIA process?

Where is it stated that candidates in the RCIA process should receive the sacrament of reconciliation before the Vigil?

If a child was confirmed at baptism may they be presented for a blessing at the celebration of Confirmation of the class?

Is it possible to have two godmothers or two godfathers at the celebration of Infant Baptism?

Can a white stole be used at the baptism and/or confirmation of a child or adult as the white garment called for in the Rite?

Is there flexibility in 4th grader in RCIA only receiving the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist at East Vigil? The mother would like her daughter to receive Confirmation in 9th grade with classmates

May a parent be a sponsor at Confirmation of their son or daughter?

Are the scrutinies for the Elect only?

Is it proper to include the candidates in the Rite of Presentation of the Creed and Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer?

Who can be a godparent?

At a baptism, is it permitted for the priest or deacon to pour the water and another person to say the words of baptism?

The husband of one of our catechumens has been coming to the RCIA sessions. He has been away from the Church and is accompanying her in hopes of growing in his faith. Can he make profession of faith?

We have a mother who is returning to the Church. Her 11 year old has never been baptized. She is just beginning the RCIA process. Is it necessary for her to be in the Catechumenate for a year? Why?

We have a woman who is Catholic but has been away from the Church for many years. She has been studying with the RCIA each week. Can she be part of the Rite of Election?

We have a man who is a foreign exchange student. He expressed interest in becoming Catholic at Christmas but will not receive his sacraments until the summer. Can he be part the Rite of Election?

If we do not have elect can we celebrate the Scrutinies with the candidates?

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Christian Funerals

Pastoral Letter

Who can be buried from the Church?

Can those who have died as a result of suicide be buried from the Church?

May someone who has not been able to attend Church for a few years because of living in a nursing home still be buried from a parish church?

Why does the Church not sacramentally anoint bodies after death?

At the time of death, whom do we call to set things in motion?

What are the funeral rites?

Are Catholics allowed to be cremated?

What Scripture readings are allowed?

Can we have a eulogy?

What do we do with the cremated remains after the funeral?

Can we plan our funeral arrangements months or years in advance?

What is the difference between a Funeral Mass and a Memorial Mass?

Why can’t we schedule the funeral in the parish when we want it?

Are there some days were funerals are not allowed by the Church?

Who can read the readings at the Funeral Mass?

What music is allowed?

What do we do with the cremated remains after the funeral?

Are Funeral Masses allowed in funeral homes?

Is there a fee to the church?

Why are we encouraged to pray for the dead?

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Lent Questions and Answers

May Baptisms and Weddings be celebrated during Lent?

What are the formulas to be used?

Is it permissible for people to self-impose ashes on Ash Wednesday?

Is it proper to empty baptismal fonts during Lent?

Is there an age limit for abstaining?

May infants be baptized during Lent?

Who can impose ashes?

Are the rules for fasting and abstinence different during Lent than they are during the rest of the liturgical year?

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Liturgical Calendar Regulations

Epiphany and The Body and Blood of Christ

Sundays of Lent and Easter, the Octave of Easter and the Sundays of Advent

Weddings & Funerals

Ash Wednesday

Church Terms

All other solemnities (Joseph, Husband of Mary; Annunciation of the Lord; Most Holy Trinity; Sacred Heart; Peter and Paul; Birth of John the Baptist; Christ the King) and All Soul's Day.

Holy Week

Lenten Observances

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Differences in Major Religions

Presbyterians

Episcopalian/Anglican

Lutherans

Baptists

Sacred Worship

Liturgical Resources