Who is responsible?
Blogged by James Preece on 27th September 2007
A mass to celebrate 150 years of the Sisters of Mercy in Hull.
I might have gone, only it was held during working hours and by invitation only (it being in a school and all). Ella got an invitation though because she works there.
In the presence of several diocesan priests two students from the school (young people, not priests) gave the homily.
This evening Fr Stephen asked Fr Massie if he knew who would have been responsible. Neither of them knew but the names of some of the school staff were suggested.
So... is it possible for a lay person to be 'responsible' for what happens at a mass? If not who was responsible?
...or am I right in thinking that none of the diocesan clergy think this is important enough to worry about?
From last Sunday's gospel (which every one of them would have read outloud): The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.
Update (30th Sept): I don't know how they got the idea, but I've heard that some folk have interpreted this blog entry as me "having a go" at Fr Stephen. This was definitely not my intention. If anything, I have portrayed him as caring about what goes on. He is definitely a good man and if I have accidentally defamed him here then I apologise. Also, another eyewitness to the conversation between Fr Stephen and Fr Massie tells me that I have it the wrong way around - apparently it was Fr Massie who asked Fr Stephen. Again, apologies if I got it wrong.
