When priests aren't available, deacon and laity step forward

"In 1995, our pastor was often sick and unable to celebrate Sunday liturgy," said Deacon Peter Sedlmeir. "He wrote an operative agenda for our parishioners to use in his absence if we couldn't get another priest to cover for him,"

The deacon, formerly from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and his wife Margaret joined the parish in the mid-1990s. Services without a priest were already familiar to him because he had been celebrating them for most of his diaconate.

Adjusting

"It wasn't really the format we had to become familiar with," Deacon Sedlmeir said, "but rather training people to feel comfortable leading prayer services and getting the church ready on a moment's notice, which was often all we had. We formed a committee, and nine volunteers came forward. We showed them how to conduct a Sunday liturgy without a priest. It was basically a prayer service that included the Sunday readings."

A book outlining such services has since come out, but the deacon finds it confusing.

"You have to turn the pages to get to certain prayers for certain days, and they are all over the place," he said. To help, he prepared a flow chart that includes specific page numbers and directions on where to turn for services with the Eucharist or without it.

Helpful materials

Deacon Sedlmeir also wrote and provided each volunteer with training materials: a list of the names of items used at services, like the ciborium and the tabernacle; a chart of the liturgical year; directions on how to read the Lectionary and the Ordo; and information about how a liturgy fits together.

In addition, volunteers had to know some nitty-gritty details, like how to turn on the lights and microphone systems, and how to prepare the altar.

"Often, a presider will learn only five or ten minutes ahead that the priest will not be there," he said. "We've actually had the experience where the priest we expected did not show up in time for Mass. So you wait a few minutes, and then announce that there is no priest available and the service will be a prayer service."

Volunteers

Several volunteers are scheduled for the two Masses celebrated at St. John's each weekend, so someone is always present to serve as a lay presider if needed.

Wayne Smith, one of the volunteers, said that "knowing Catholic tradition and ritual is very important. When you're on that altar, you must know what you are doing and what you are going to do next. It really is a performance. A lot of people are counting on you to make that service flow smoothly, and there is a lot of self-imposed pressure to do well."

Deacon Sedlmeir said that each person must feel free to express his or her individuality.

"People do need a lot of practice at this," he said. "They must also know exactly what to do and why when they are called upon. Presiders must be extremely familiar with what's going on; otherwise, it can be quite chaotic."

Said Mr. Smith: "Our deacon shows such confidence in us that our group dynamic has become great. We're all learning at the same time, and we help each other. You're actually preparing for something you hope doesn't ever happen, but I'm sure that, sooner or later, I'll be called upon to preside. The point is, you have to be ready."

(9/6/07)