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Intentional Eucharistic Communities
by Tom Roberts on May. 21, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionOne reality of Catholic life that surfaced time and again during my recent travels is the fact that it is constantly subject to immediate and arbitrary forces over which people in the pews have little or no control. People who have invested years in developing parish programs, trained ministers who have devoted decades of their professional lives to building ministries, parishioners who have supported a parish and grown deeply attached to a parochial community are increasingly aware that everything is one new pastor or new bishop away from changing or ending.
All of it – and that can even mean the traditional Latin Mass chapel or the conservative movement – exists at the pleasure of either the bishop or the pastor and the new guy, in either case, can upend everything without notice or concern for what’s gone before.
Sometimes’ it’s a wonder anyone stays. Some don’t.
Some find refuge and continuity in what are being called Intentional Eucharistic Communities.
It’s tough to come up with a comprehensive definition, but I’ll be trying to give a clearer picture of who and what they are and the tensions involved in sustaining them in coverage that will appear in an upcoming issue of NCR.
I spent some time at a recent gathering of these communities in a 4H Center in Chevy Chase, MD., which gives some indication that they exist, at least at the moment, in territory that is somewhat off the institutional territory.
More than 230 people representing at least 42 such communities from 17 states attended the weekend of talks and discussions over just what they are and where they’re headed.
The communities come in a wide variety of shapes and forms and in widely varying degrees of attachment to the larger institutional church. Some were born decades ago out of small communities within parishes. Some resulted from what I’ll dub the “had it” syndrome – they finally “had it” when the last priest change fairly destroyed all the characteristics of a beloved community. Some formed more recently around concerns for social justice or a more inclusive liturgy or in reaction to larger changes within a diocese.
This brand of church may not be to everyone’s liking, but I found that the communities and the thinkers and commentators they brought in for the weekend are raising fascinating questions that will certainly be part of the Catholic conversation in the years ahead.
I am confused since I come to
I am confused since I come to this as a Catholic steeped in the Catechism, Scripture and Tradition. Catholics believe that the priests are the annointed of the Lord. That they act in persona Christi and are in fact charged by the Bishop (who is in facts the Lord Jesus Christ's chief shepherd in the Diocese). A priest's chief duty as representative of the Bishop include but are not limited to the care of souls of the people of God, the authorized administration of the Holy Sacraments, chief among these duties is the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If the priest does not consecrate in persona Christi, the community ends up worshipping plain bread (I am no pagan). We can sit in the Church all day praying ferverently, however we cannot consecrate the Eucharist which is truly the body blood soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ (in fact). I am all for enthusiastic liturgy, however without the sacrafice its not a Mass. It is necessary to keep Christ's commandment to do this (Eucharist) in memory of me (Jesus). Is it necessary that the priest be sensitive to the community and the community at large-undoubtedly. Rejoice in the Ascension! Alleluia! Alleluia!
[I am confused since I come
[I am confused since I come to this as a Catholic steeped in the Catechism, Scripture and Tradition. Catholics believe that the priests are the annointed of the Lord...]
Most Catholics are not aware that there are four elements that need to be present in order to proclaim the visible Christ...it is not simply the presense of the ordained, it is also the faithful gathered. Liturgical prayer and song manifests Christ's presense as reality. In addition, when we read the word and celebrate the Eucharist the faithful become empowered in word as they are fed by the body and blood of Christ. The forth element that brings the empowered gospel to the world is the commitment and follow through of the people of God-they choose to go out and live the gospel. If any one of these elements are absent, the real presense of Christ is muted.
[A priest's chief duty as representative of the Bishop include but are not limited to the care of souls of the people of God,...]
This statement shows a great understanding of the duties of the hierarchy, but there is a circular responsibility. The baptized also carry with them those same responsibilities-included in this is care of people severely damaged by the actions of a hierarchy turned in on themselves away from those they are charged to care for....Laity also carry a responsibility to call for, work toward and demand a more transparent church.
[Is it necessary that the priest be sensitive to the community and the community at large-...]
You are correct-but the faithful have a mutual responsibility to care for their priests. In light of their present governance, laity are called to counter their lax structures. A new form of governance needs to arise that counter the politic of Clericalism that runs rampant. This politic is not of Christ and is not representative of Catholocism.
Just because a man has been ordained bishop or priest-they can lose sight of their calling and need to be called to task. In light of the hierarchy's choice to hide criminal behavior on their part or the part of others, I do not see why they are even considered "Catholic". Why is ordination such a magic formula that it protects criminals for life? This has always been wrong. Their actions in no way promote the beauty of the religion much less the spirituality that brings peace and solice to so many in need.
Authentic community lies
Authentic community lies within the Church, not outside of it. Small Christian communities, as long as they are united to a parish community, and the larger diocesan community, can be a good thing and help their members to bring about great holiness of life.
However, if those communities operate independently of the Church -- the diocese and/or parish -- they cannot be said to be authentically Catholic. To be Catholic means to be in union with the Church, its supreme pontiff and our local bishops and parish priests. Without that unity, there is no Catholicity.
It is popular for folks to say "I'm still Catholic, but I don't belong to a parish" or "I don't listen to the Pope or my bishop, I just do what I think is right, but I still call myself Catholic". But those who say that are either lying or do not have a proper understanding of what it means to be Catholic. To be Catholic is to be in union with the Church, and the Church is governed by the Vicar of Christ and the successors of the Apostles, the bishops. As much as we may wish it were otherwise, that is the truth. Those who voluntarily leave that communion are leaving the Church.
As Saint Ambrose once said, "Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia, ibi Deus". (For those who are not familiar with the Church's language, "Where Peter is, there is the Church, there is God". Apart from Peter there is no Church. Apart from the Church, we do not experience God.
Surely you jest. "Apart from
Surely you jest. "Apart from the Church, we do not experience God." How can that possibly be? Why do you make God so small?
Peace to you.
Surely you jest! "Apart from
Surely you jest! "Apart from the Church, we do not experience God." Why do you make God so small?
"Apart from the Church, we do
"Apart from the Church, we do not experience God."
Please don't put limits on God.
The Spirit blows where it will!
So these men in "Authentic
So these men in "Authentic Communities" can do as they please and it is alright. I am lucky, we have a priest that is aware of the people, but I have friends in a community that was completely destroyed by a bishop and this man refuses to retire even though he is of the mandatory age. Yes, this is the Catholic church, but if a country was run by men like this only a revolution would save the people.
Progressive SSPX! This is the
Progressive SSPX!
This is the first time I have encountered the term "intentional Eucharistic community", so I checked out some of these communities listed at http://www.intentionaleucharisticcommunities.org/directory.php that had websites, and I think that there is already a term for lay-led communities that form "in reaction to larger changes within a diocese" because they've "had it" with some change they didn't like, and that have "widely varying degrees of attachment to the larger institutional church": Protestants.
For many years I have quipped -- to the consternation of fellow Catholics to the right and left of me -- that Traditionalists and Progressives are more similar to each other than either are to moderate Catholics, and that both of them are sort of Protestants in denial. This is more literally true of the SSPX with their ambiguous quasi-schizmatic relationship to the Church of Rome (you get a different answer depending on which Cardinal you ask), but now these new Intentional Eucharistic Communities might give the Traditionalists a run for their money when it comes to being schizmatic, only not quite. And I will have more people to annoy when I just call 'em Protestants in Catholic clothing. ;)
Thank God there are Catholics
Thank God there are Catholics who have the courage to follow the voice of the Spirit and to be nourished by the presence of Christ. My Bible says, "Jesus took bread blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, 'take, eat; this is my body.'" I must have missed the part where he says that only a validly ordained Catholic priest can take the bread and say "this is my body." To say that something is invalid does not mean that it does not happen. The action of the Holy Spirit is not limited to the boundaries of the Papal--Episcopal institution.
The institutional church does
The institutional church does not follow scripture. The teachings of the Roman Catholic church do not follow Scripture. That is, the teaching of Jesus has nothing to do with what is Catholic teaching, based on its tradition and on the protection of its clergy and bishops. Period. The Roman Catholic church does not have anything to do with the teaching of Jesus, who would be scandalized by the church today. Therefore, no one should feel that "leaving" the church - if it's leaving the Roman church - is leaving anything. The Roman church left "the church" centuries ago.
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