Letters

1. John Lilburne's Letter of 4 July 2000.

2. John Lilburne's Letter of 14 September 2000.

3. John Lilburne's Letter of 13 October 2000.

4. Very Reverend Gerard Dowling's Letter of 25 October 2000.

Tuesday 4 July 2000

Very Rev. Gerard Dowling OAM
The Office of the Dean
St Patrick's Cathedral
Cathedral Place
EAST MELBOURNE 3002

Dear Father Gerard,

I am hoping to become a reader at St Patrick's Cathedral. I am no longer a seminarian at Corpus Christi College, but having been instituted to the ministry of reader by the Archbishop on 27 February 2000, I remain an instituted reader.

The Ceremonial of Bishops emphasizes the role of instituted readers: "Whenever necessary, the reader should see to the preparation of any members of the faithful who may be appointed to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture in liturgical celebrations. But in celebrations presided over by the bishop it is fitting that readers formally instituted proclaim the readings and, if several readers are present, they should divide the readings accordingly." (CB 31).

I regard the observance of liturgical laws as important in carrying out my ministry. I see the following as particularly relevant:

A bow of the head is made at the name of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saint in whose honor the Mass or the liturgy of the hours is being celebrated. (Ceremonial of Bishops 68).

During the celebration of Mass with a congregation a second priest, a deacon, and an instituted reader must wear the distinctive vestment of their office when they go to the lectern to read the word of God. (General Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, 54).

In the procession to the altar, when no deacon is present, the reader may carry the Book of the Gospels. In that case he walks in front of the priest; otherwise he walks with the other ministers. Upon reaching the altar, the reader makes the proper reverence along with the priest, goes up to the altar, and places the Book of the Gospels on it. Then he takes his place in the sanctuary with the other ministers. (General Introduction to the Roman Missal, 148-149).

At present I am a "full time" student, having classes at Catholic Theological College at 6.00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Apart from this I could be available to read for any of the Masses at the cathedral.

My attempts to make an appointment with you have been unsuccessful. It would be appreciated if you could contact me so we could discuss whether I should become a reader at at St Patrick's.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN LILBURNE

Thursday 14 September 2000

Dear Father Dowling,

I am writing to remind you of my availability to read at the Cathedral (particularly for the 11.00 am Mass on Sunday) as we discussed on 10 August and I wrote in my letter in July. At the meeting I gave you a copy of page xxix of the Lectionary Volume 1. Here I present further material.

Canon 230, Section 3:

When the necessity of the Church warrants it and when ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply for certain of their offices, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion in accord with the prescriptions of law. [Footnote1: Code of Canon Law Latin - English Edition (Washington, Canon Law Society of America, 1993) 77. This is also quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 903.]

In the General Instruction to the Roman Missal (1975 version) the Functions of the Reader are described, replacing the "Functions of the Subdeacon" in the 1970 version:

148. In the procession to the altar, when no deacon is present, the reader may carry the Book of the Gospels. In that case he walks in front of the priest; otherwise he walks with the other ministers.

149. Upon reaching the altar, the reader makes the proper reverence along with the priest, goes up to the altar, and places the Book of the Gospels on it. Then he takes his place in the sanctuary with the other ministers.[Footnote 2: Documents on the Liturgy (Minnesota, Liturgical Press, 1982) 500.]

On 28 July 2000, a new General Instruction to the Roman Missal was published. These two paragraphs are numbered 194 and 195, and are similar to those above.

The Ceremonial of Bishops, n 31, gives special emphasis to the role of the instituted reader:

Whenever necessary, the reader should see to the preparation of any members of the faithful who may be appointed to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture in liturgical celebrations. But in celebrations presided over by a bishop it is fitting that readers formally instituted proclaim the readings and, if several readers are present, they should divide the readings accordingly.[Footnote 3: Ceremonial of Bishops (Minnesota, Liturgical Press, 1982) 25. Caeremoniale Episcoporum (Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1995) 19. The Latin text is: "Curet insuper, quatenus opus sit, fideles praeparare, qui in actionibus liturgicis Sacram Scripturam legere possunt. Nihilominus, in celebrationibus, quibus Episcopus praeest, decet lectores rite institutos legere atque, si plures sint, lectiones inter se distribuere."]

I have noticed that some Masses in the Cathedral have no minister. According to the General Instruction to the Roman Missal (1975 GIRM, n 77; 2000 GIRM, n 115) for Mass with a Congregation:

As far as possible, and especially on Sundays and holydays of obligation, this Mass should be celebrated with song and with a suitable number of ministers. But it may be celebrated without music and with only one minister.

During the week (at least at the 7.00 am Mass) the Alleluia verse is said. According to the General Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, n 23: "The Alleluia or verse before the gospel must be sung and during it all stand."[Footnote 4: Lectionary Volume 1, Study Edition (Sydney, Collins, 1983) xxiii.] The 1975 GIRM, n 39, is not as absolute: "If not sung, the Alleluia or verse before the gospel may be omitted." This is also in the 2000 GIRM, n 63(c): "The alleluia verse before the Gospel may be omitted if it is not sung."[Footnote 5: Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani - An English Language Study Translation (Washington, Secretariate for the Liturgy, 2000) 15. Latin text: "Alleluia vel versus ante Evangelium, si non cantantur, omitti possunt."] But clearly it would be preferable to have readers who are willing and able to sing the Alleluia.

The cathedral church "should be regarded as the centre of the liturgical life of the diocese"[Footnote 6: Ceremonial of Bishops , n 44.] and "a model for the other churches of the diocese in its conformity to the directives laid down in liturgical documents and books with regard to the arrangement and adornment of churches."[Footnote 7: Ceremonial of Bishops , n 46.] Hence I see it as important to contribute to improving the liturgy there.

I am also writing to Father Portelli about reading at the Sunday Mass. I am most willing to meet and discuss these issues.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN LILBURNE

13 October 2000

Dear Father Dowling,

According to a letter from Bishop Hart, which I received yesterday, Archbishop Pell regards the decision on who reads at the Cathedral as yours.

Thus, if Canon 230.3 is being breached, you are the one to be held responsible.

In deciding whether to allow an instituted reader to read, you may find the enclosed essay of interest. It describes some of the issues and recent history regarding instituted ministers.

I would like to discuss the matter with you again and will ring to try and organise a time for this.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN LILBURNE

25 October 2000

Dear John,

I acknowledge your second letter to me, and I explain that the absence of a reply is due to the fact that I am really not able to discuss your inclusion as a reader.

Two reasons create this situation. First, we have no vacancies. Second, we already have a waiting list.

So, as soon as there is a vacancy I will be happy to contact you.

I am

Yours fraternally in Jesus

Very Rev Gerard Dowling

Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral