Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan
The Vicariate of the Queen of Apostles
Outside Places of Worship
POLICIES
The Eucharist celebrates the paschal mystery of Christ, that mystery of his suffering, death, resurrection and second coming. It is a celebration of the community, the assembly gathered in faith to meet the Lord and be nourished by his body and blood. In the Eucharist, we celebrate also the Christian people’s hopes and frustrations, joys and trials and all their activities whereby they participate in the death and resurrection of Christ in their lives as individuals and as community.
The following are the guiding principles for liturgical services and celebration of Mass outside places of worship:
- 1. Churches, chapels, oratories, or other sacred places remain to be the normal places for liturgical celebrations.
- 2. When necessity requires it, a liturgical celebration can be carried out outside a place of worship, provided this is a fitting place, i.e., where the sacred service can be conducted with proper decorum, dignity and reverence.
- 3. The arrangement of this celebration should foster active participation of the community of the faithful.
- 4. Liturgical celebrations outside places of worship, especially with particular groups, must direct the participants to unity in the ecclesial community, local and universal. Hence, it is a must that a catechetical instruction should always be given regarding the actual occasion.
- 5. In some instances and occasions, the following are permitted for the celebration of the liturgical celebrations and Mass outside the normal places of worship:
- 6. The mass celebrated outside places of worship should not be seen as belonging exclusively to a particular group. Hence, this way of celebrating the Eucharist may not be allowed on Sundays and holydays of obligation so as not to deprive the parish liturgical assembly of the ministry of priest and participation of the people which would benefit the life and unity of the community.
- a. Masses for the dead can be celebrated in the
homes or funeral parlors or similar places only
when the dead body is present.
b. Silver and Golden Wedding anniversaries may be celebrated outside places of worship provided the above general principles are followed. Other occasions, such as birthdays, death anniversaries, for instance lumpos or bakas, and other wedding anniversaries are not therefore covered by the permission.
c. Masses can be celebrated outside the places for worship for a religious activity, a pastoral meeting by a small homogenous community like the communities in the school or university, hospitals, Charismatic groups, the Neo-Catechumenate and other similar groups, for the community of workers or employees in institutions or offices, but not exclusively for a family only. The Parish priest makes the pastoral discernment and evaluation of the above occasions and groups.
d. It would be more appropriate for those communities, institutions or offices located within or adjacent to the premises of the church to celebrate the Eucharist in the church.
e. Mass can be celebrated in a home if there is
a sick person present who is incapable of joining the community in the
parish, provided that the general principles mentioned above are strictly
followed.
- 7. To avoid jealousies and perceived discrimination, except when the family of the bereaved is related by blood or affinity to the Priest, or when the deceased has given valuable and special service to the Church, the Parish Priest or his vicars are refrained from celebrating mass in the homes of the deceased members of his own parish.
- 8. Permission should be asked from the Parish Priest or from School Director or Chaplain by the priest himself before he will celebrate the mass in the parish or school concerned.
- 9. Some basic reminders regarding celebrating mass outside places of worship:
- 10. Other guiding policies:
- a. There should be no sort of banquet or meal
before the eucharistic celebration. If the mass is to be followed by one,
it should not be on the same table where the Eucharist has been celebrated.
b. Celebration in a bedroom is prohibited, unless the sick is bedridden.
c. The Eucharist, as far as possible, is not to be celebrated in refectories or on tables normally used for meals.
- a. Weddings and baptisms should be celebrated
only in the church, or chapel.
b. Only one funeral mass a day is allowed to be celebrated during a wake.
c. Any funeral mass and final committal to be done in memorial parks can be celebrated only after a permission from the parish priest is obtained and the parochial duties to the Parish of Origin of those concerned are fulfilled. In this regard, a fee of Ph. Pesos Two Hundred Fifty (P250.00) shall be remitted to the Parochial Office as parochial fee.
