Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

(From the Sept. 11, 2003 edition of the Inland Register)

Certainly one of the most important documents of the Second Vatican Council has been the Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy. That importance is reflected early on in the document when the council fathers state that “the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all of her power flows.” (#10)

The impact of this constitution on the Church has been tremendous. We are still striving to follow through on implementing the spirit of the document. The recent encyclical of Pope John Paul II, Eucharist of the Church, about which I wrote a few weeks ago, challenges all of us to grow in Eucharist “amazement” and appreciation. The changes in the liturgy have gone remarkably well. Still, however, there is the constant need to see how we can celebrate with greater fervor and make what we celebrate integral to our daily living.

At Sunday Mass during the weeks of July and August we heard selections from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. The words of Jesus are very clear and direct: “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you shall not have life within you.” In the last 100 years, the age for receiving communion has dropped to the age of reason, and with the Second Vatican Council, the fasting regulations before receiving communion have been relaxed. When I was a child, almost no one went to Communion during the later Masses on Sunday morning. Everyone had to fast from food and liquids from midnight on. I remember my pastor at home writing to the bishop to request permission to drink coffee before the late Sunday morning Mass. He promised the bishop he would not abuse the privilege.

Thankfully, times have changed. The opportunity for participating in Eucharist and receiving Communion is more frequent that it has even been. In addition, Saturday late afternoon and evening Masses now provide opportunities for fulfilling the Sunday obligation. Mobility because of the modern automobile has also added to the convenience, even if we have to travel some distance. Rural pastors on a weekend can cover much greater distances because of this mobility. There are several pastors in the diocese who celebrate Mass every Sunday in four different parishes. In almost all instances, a lot of driving is involved. Every parish community has the celebration of Eucharist available every weekend.

Any pastor will tell you that one of the more sensitive issues in parish life is the attempt to rearrange the times for celebration of Eucharist. Understandably, we get into comfortable patterns. Yet as our priests take on more responsibility to make Eucharist available to all, there has to be flexibility. Sometimes convenience of Mass times in the city takes precedence over commitment to a particular parish.

There are other complexities as well. Of the 81 parishes in our diocese, we have only two parishes which have regularly assigned parochial vicars (assistant pastors). Funerals and weddings add to the regularly scheduled Masses. A single pastor, with his parish staff, might serve 1,500 families. In Pasco, two priests and parish staff serve over 4,000 families. Situations of this type make for busy and demanding schedules.

Recently, the popular 6:30 a.m. daily Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes has been temporarily suspended because of the lack of the availability of a priest presider. In addition, houses of Religious women have had some difficulty in finding a daily priest presider for Eucharist.

All of this speaks to the need for us to be grateful for Eucharist, this great gift in the Church, but also to be flexible as we do our best to serve everyone in the best way possible. We must constantly evaluate how well we use the times available in good stewardship. Several years ago, a bishop of a diocese in the mid-West made a regulation that unless there was parish church over half full or unless the Mass was the only one available for the weekend, a serious effort should be made to combine Masses. 

Frankly, some pastors in the city hesitate to change Mass times under these conditions because parishioners will go to another parish where the time might be more convenient for them. That’s when we all must examine our motivation about commitment to a particular faith community. Eucharist in the faith community should be more about commitment than convenience. All of us need to be stretched by community. Community demands sacrifice and consideration just as every good marriage and ministry to God’s people.

Finally, I must say how edified I am by so many who have a tremendous dedication to the celebration of Eucharist. I am profoundly inspired by those who have made part of their spiritual lives the daily attendance at Eucharist. We have also work to do with those who don’t place a high value on faithful Sunday attendance. We encourage, invite, and strive to be communities of faith who know how to celebrate well and who are warm and welcoming.

The liturgy of our Church should be a source of profound gratitude and rejoicing. We have much for which to be grateful, even when we are inconvenienced.

May God grant you joy and peace.

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