Belleville, Ill., Nov 28, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Because of a growing priest shortage in his diocese, Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville Illinois has announced that lay ministers may preside at Sunday liturgical celebrations in certain cases of emergency, where there is no priest.
The ‘celebrations’, which are not Mass, constitute norms established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1994 based on a Vatican document entitled, "Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest."
Bishop Braxton stressed that laity could only perform the celebrations in cases of absolute last resort and only with a written mandate from him.
Special instruction will be offered to those who wish to hold the responsibility, which includes a prayer service and distribution of communion.