Teaching Mass - Placement of an alternate Alter

keithchap · #1 May 16, '12, 7:53 am

Hello-
I was wondering if anyone can help me out with a question. The Pastor at our Church conducts a Children's teaching Mass during the regularly scheduled 9am Sunday Mass as a part of Religious education while classes are being conducted.

Children attend classes prior to going to the teaching Mass. He is a very engaging Pastor who makes a heartfelt effort to educate the Children in the Faith.

For this Mass, he uses a 'temporary' alter that is rolled close to the congregation (children) outside of the sanctuary. This is where he reads, and celebrates the Mass.

I was personally taken back by this and got uncomfortable.
I'm not sure it is because I've never seen it before or if this is something that is permitted.

I'm not sure I want to attend this Mass all year if we enroll our children in the program.

Does anyone know if the use of this type of alter outside the sanctuary is acceptable?
God Bless and thank you for any help!!

constantconvert · #2 May 16, '12, 8:00 am

Are you sure you mean altar and not ambo? I've never heard of this. I have seen priests come down from the altar to give the homily though.

keithchap · #3 May 16, '12, 8:05 am

Yes, it's the Alter.
It is an Alter on wheels used outside of the sanctuary where he does both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

I've never seen anything like this before either. That is why I am so concerned and we may need to find another parish.... unfortunately...

Orogeny · #4 May 16, '12, 8:23 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithchap

I've never seen anything like this before either. That is why I am so concerned and we may need to find another parish.... unfortunately...

Have you asked your pastor? Has the portable altar been consecrated? Does he have permission from the bishop to do this? Lots of questions need to be asked of the pastor before you plan to leave the parish.

Peace

Tim

englishredrose · #5 May 16, '12, 8:27 am

I think you do need to talk to the pastor first before anything. Give him a chance to explain things to you. What part of it exactly are you worried about? What does Altar Signify to you actually? But most importantly you really really should be talking to the pastor and give him a chance rather than prove him guilty of doing nothing wrong.

keithchap · #6 May 16, '12, 8:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orogeny

Have you asked your pastor? Has the portable altar been consecrated? Does he have permission from the bishop to do this? Lots of questions need to be asked of the pastor before you plan to leave the parish.

Peace

Tim

Thanks Tim.. We certainly plan to talk to him, I was just wondering if there was any official rubric or statement in a matter such as this..

keithchap · #7 May 16, '12, 8:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by englishredrose

I think you do need to talk to the pastor first before anything. Give him a chance to explain things to you. What part of it exactly are you worried about? What does Altar Signify to you actually? But most importantly you really really should be talking to the pastor and give him a chance rather than prove him guilty of doing nothing wrong.

Thank You- Our main concern is with the legitimacy of the Mass, and whether or not this is allowed.

englishredrose · #8 May 16, '12, 8:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithchap

Thank You- Our main concern is with the legitimacy of the Mass, and whether or not this is allowed.

that is why you should really be talking to the pastor because he can answer you that at the same time as telling you his purpose. he is your best person for this

constantconvert · #9 May 16, '12, 9:16 am

Quote:

From: Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship Guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops

§ 56 § ...In new churches there is to be only one altar so that it "signifies to the assembly of the faithful one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church."

§ 57 § The altar is the natural focal point of the sanctuary and is to be "freestanding to
allow the [priest] to walk around it easily and Mass to be celebrated facing the people." Ordinarily, it should be fixed (with the base affixed to the floor) and with a table or mensa made of natural stone, since it represents Christ Jesus, the Living Stone (1 Pt 2:4). The pedestal or support for the table may be fashioned from "any sort of material, as long as it is becoming and solid."

Quote:

From the GIRM no. 299:

"In every church there should ordinarily be a fixed, dedicated altar, which should be freestanding to allow the ministers to walk around it easily and Massto be celebrated facing the people, which is desirable whenever possible. The altar should occupy its place so that it is truly the center on which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally focuses. As a rule, the altar is fixed and dedicated."

Maybe he doesn't consider it an altar. Did he call it an altar? You need to clarify with him. HOpe this helps.

keithchap · #10 May 16, '12, 9:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by constantconvert

Maybe he doesn't consider it an altar. Did he call it an altar? You need to clarify with him. HOpe this helps.

This helps a lot... Thank you so much!

He calls it the altar as he is teaching the children, the permanent alter is behind him in the sanctuary...

constantconvert · #11 May 16, '12, 9:41 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithchap

This helps a lot... Thank you so much!

He calls it the altar as he is teaching the children, the permanent alter is behind him in the sanctuary...

Your welcome! Well, I do see the qualifier "ordinarily" in the above excerpts a couple of times, so maybe he is within the pale of orthodoxy. Interesting dilemma.