RCIA is crazy!

[51olds]

Hi everyone, I know there are previous posts about RCIA but I am still fairly new to this site and wanted to "vent" a bit if you will.
I went to RCIA class last night with my girlfriend and one of the speakers was touching on some good subjects but mostly asking rhetorical questions. Afterwards two ladies who are "eucharistic ministers" came up to speak about their experiences. They went on to "explain" what it is like to be an EM. I started making faces and scoffing of course, and I had told my girlfriend that I would not be conflicting or start any bad discussion. So they went on to talk about communion, in the hand of course, and that it somehow fills them with the Holy Spirit to be doing this "thing" as one of them so eloquently put it. That people need to be careful because sometimes people drop the sacred host, and that they should put it in their pockets, return to their pews and consume it there. I was like "WHAT"?? oh man.....then they actually started to encourage the people in the group to consider becoming EMs too (and these are people that have recently been baptized or confirmed; many do not know even basic doctrine, but yet they are encouraged to put their hands on the host!) It got worse as they started talking about a satanist group that likes to take the hosts and then do I dont know what because I had to cover my ears and stop listening to this nonsense. My girlfriend finally said "do you want to leave" and I said yes. I felt bad because I should have stood up and said something but I didnt.... :(
My girl is new to this, and she sort of understands, I just hope it ends soon and we can go to the TLM only.

[miss_fluffy]

Sounds like the kind of concerns you ought to write to the bishop about.  If this particular parish is pushing to recruit EMs as soon as they graduate RCIA, it's no wonder they think it's fine to put Our Lord in their pocket.

[dsewing02]

So they went on to talk about communion, in the hand of course, and that it somehow fills them with the Holy Spirit to be doing this "thing" as one of them so eloquently put it. That people need to be careful because sometimes people drop the sacred host, and that they should put it in their pockets, return to their pews and consume it there. I was like "WHAT"??

Why on earth would they recommend people to put the host in their pockets? If you placed the host in the pocket, you would get particles all over the pocket! If they're afraid that people would drop the host, then why don't they recommend people to receive communion on the tongue? If people did that, then the host wouldn't fall on the floor.

[51olds]

Well she said to put it in your pocket after you pick it up from the floor. I guess to not make a scene or something, I really have no idea where that came from. It seems that people are now just coming up with their own ways of doing things and telling others its ok to do this or that.

[AndreasAngelopolitanus]

That people need to be careful because sometimes people drop the sacred host, and that they should put it in their pockets, return to their pews and consume it there.

In keeping with the insanity, that was your cue to say: "It used to be only a consecrated hand could touch the host... How do I get my pocket consecrated?" 

[51olds]

Well I live in Los Angeles, so in this case would I have to write to Archbishop ROger Mahoney? because I doubt that he would have an answer to my concern.

[Traditionalist]

Wow.  Sorry to hear you live in Mahony country!

Technically, Eucharistic Minister is incorrect, though they often are referred to as such, or refer to themselves as such.  The correct term is Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and as the title implies, are to be employed only in extraordinary cases, such as battle, etc.  EMHC's have come to be used to more quickly and efficiently distribute Communion, and it is not uncommon to have them at your average Sunday Mass--I have even seen EMHC's "bless" those who are not receiving Communion   Heck, at my own NO parish, there are even EMHC's at daily Mass; twenty congregants or less . . . and up to three EMHC's.

This "lay ministry" has become a constant form of liturgical abuse, and in IMO, should be abolished.

God help me, I am becoming more weary everyday of Novus Ordo Land :(

[batteddy2]

Well, they seem to be genuinely concerned about desecration...just in a misguided way.

I mean, they know to be on the lookout for satanic groups stealing the host. I think that's a positive sign, as many would simply dismiss that, but it can happen.

[Dilexisti]

Well I live in Los Angeles, so in this case would I have to write to Archbishop ROger Mahoney? because I doubt that he would have an answer to my concern.

You'll have to get past Tod Tamberg first, that is, if he will grant you an audience.  Which part of L.A. are you in?

[spasiisochrani]

There are a number of Eastern Catholic churches in Southern California, and it might be a good idea to expose your girlfriend to some of them, so that she gets some idea of what more traditional practices are like.  Here is a list of Eastern Catholic churches in California:

The Unofficial Directory of
Eastern Catholic Churches in California (CA)

Please report additions, corrections, or problems to hrycak@crosslink.net

The format for the parishes is:

Parish name (Rite-Jursidiction)

Address, Phone Number

other information

[Main Index ] [St. Michael's Home Page ]
Last Modified on 9 August  2002

• Anaheim
  Church of the Annunciation      (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  995 N. West Street,  Anaheim, CA, 92801,  Phone: (714) 533-629, Fax: (714) 991-9738
  Parish Center (714) 991-9782, Email:   annunciationbyzantinechurch@juno.com

St. John Maron Maronite Church (Maronite-Los Angeles)
1546 E. LaPalma Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805, Phone: (714) 520-5303
 

• Campbell
  St. Mary's Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church (Chaldean/Southfield)
  109 North First Street, Campbell, CA 95008, Phone: (408) 224-1136
   
• El Cajon
  St. Peter's (Chaldean/Southfield)
  1627 Jamacha Way, El Cajon, CA 92019, Phone: (610) 579-7913; FAX: (610) 588-8281
   
• El Segundo
  St. Andrew Russian Greek Catholic Church  (Russian Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  538 Concord Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, Phone (310) 322-1892 FAX (310) 322-1919
  Divine Liturgy: Sunday - 10:00 am; Matins: Monday through Friday - 7:45 am, Saturday - 9:00 am; Vespers: Saturdays & Eves of Feast Days - 6:30 pm; Confessions: after Vespers or by appointment; Moleben & Bible Study: Wednesdays - 7:30 pm

  St. Paul (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Andrew's Russian Greek Catholic Church on Sundays at 8:45 am
   

• Fontana
  St. Nicholas of Myra (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  9112 Oleander Avenue, Fontana, CA, 92335-5599, Phone: (909) 882-9917
   
• Fremont
  St. Elias(Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  45180 S Grimmer Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539, Phone: (510) 656-5949
   
• Fresno
  Byzantine Catholic Mission (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  Fresno, CA, Phone: (916) 383-1552
     
• LaMesa
  St. Jacob (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  8711 Lemon Ave, LaMesa, CA 91941
   
• Los Angeles
  Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas-Chicago)
  5154 Delongpre Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027, Phone: (213) 663-6307

  Our Lady of Mount Lebanon Maronite Cathedral (Maronite-Los Angeles)
  333 South San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (310) 275-6634

  Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Armenian/New York)
  1327 Pleasant Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, Phone: (213) 261-0522

  St. Mary Coptic Catholic Church   (Coptic)
   2701 Newell St., Los Angeles CA  90039, Phone: (323) 669-2822
    

• Los Gatos
  St. Basil the Great Byzantine Catholic Church (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  14263 Mulberry Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030, Phone (408) 871-0911, FAX (408)871-0911
  Email: weobrien@stbasil.org
   
   
• Millbrae
  Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church (Maronite-Los Angeles)
  600 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030, Phone: (415) 584-4613
   
• Mission Hills
  St. Mary Mission (Byzantine - Romanian/Canton)
  15519 Tuba St., Mission Hills, CA 91345
   
• Mountain View
  St. Basil the Great (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  923 Trophy Drive, Mountain View, CA, 94040-2944, Phone: (415) 965-1699
   
• Newberry Springs (Barstow area)
  Holy Resurrection Monastery (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  45704 Valley Center Road, Newberry Springs, CA 92365, Phone: (760) 257-4008
   
• North Hollywood
  St. Ann (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  11211 Moorpark Street, North Hollywood, CA 91602, Phone: (818) 761-2034, FAX: (818) 876-2922

  St. Paul Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church (Chaldean/Southfield)
  13050 Vanowen Street, N. Hollywood, CA 91605, Phone: (209) 668-4500; FAX: (209) 668-2762
   

• Oakland
  St. John the Theologian (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  5890 Birch Court, Oakland, CA 94704

• Plancentia
  Holy Cross Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish     (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  451 W. Madison Ave., Plancenia, CA 92870   Phone: (714) 985-1710  Fax: (714) 985-1765
  

• Redwood Valley
  Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas of Chicago), The Monks of Mt. Tabor
  17001 Tomki Road, P.O. Box 217, Redwood Valley, CA 95470-0217
  Phone (707) 485-8959
   
• Sacramento
  Saint Andrew The First (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas of Chicago)
  Church and Office Address: 911 Park Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825
  Phone (916) 381-1179,     tel/fax (916) 381-2529
  Email: ukrainianstandrewchurch@yahoo.com

  St. George (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  1620 Bell Street, Sacramento, CA 95825, Phone: (916) 920-2900

  St. Philip The Apostle (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  3866 65th Street (&14 Ave.)
  Sacramento, CA 95820-2033
  Telephone: (916) 452-1888, (916) 383-1552
  Fax: (916) 452-6333
  Email: Ignatios@aol.com
   

• San Diego
  Holy Angels, (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA, 92123-3998, Phone: (619) 277-2511

  Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas-Chicago)
  4014 Winona Ave., San Diego, CA 92105, Phone: (714) 282-9538
  Sunday Divine Liturgies are at 8:00 am English and 10:00 am Ukrainian.

  St. Ephrem Maronite Mission (Maronite-Los Angeles)
  7830 Stalmer ST. #4, San Diego, CA 92111, Phone: (619) 569-1219
   

• San Francisco
  Immaculate Conception (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas of Chicago)
  215 Silliman Street, San Francisco, CA 94134, Phone/Fax (415) 468-2601

  Our Lady of Fatima Byzantine Catholic Church - The Byzantine Catholic Russian Center (Byzantine - Russian Catholic/subject to Roman Catholic Ordinary)
  101 20th Avenue (at Lake Street), San Francisco, CA 94121-1398,
  Phone: (415) 752-2052, Fax: (415) 752-6073
  Divine Liturgy: Saturday: 10:00 am, Sundays: 10:00 am
   

• San Jose
  St. Joseph (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  794 Calero Avenue, San Jose, CA 95123
   
• San Luis Obispo
  St. Anne (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  222 Foothill Boulevard, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405-1540, Phone: (805) 543-8883
   
• Santa Clara
  Saint Vladimir Mission (Byzantine - Ukrainian/St. Nicholas of Chicago)
  1000 Lincoln Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050
  Attd By: Immaculate Conception, San Francisco CA
   
• Stockton
  Byzantine Catholic Mission, (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  Stockton, CA, , Phone: (916) 383-1552
   
• Temecula
  Virgin Mary (Byzantine - Melkite/Newton)
  30660 Milky Way Dr #115, Temecula, CA 92592
   
• Turlock
  St. Thomas Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church (Chaldean/Southfield)
  2901 North Berkely Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380, Phone: (209) 668-4500; FAX: (29) 668-2762
   
• Van Nuys
  Cathedral of St. Mary, (Byzantine - Ruthenian/Van Nuys)
  5329 Sepulveda Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA, 91411-3441, Phone: (818) 907-5511