Liturgy and Music

Communion Norms

On Holy Thursday, 2000, Pope John Paul II approved the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This revision stands in direct continuity with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) of the Second Vatican Council.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the document entitled, Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America. This document provides for the diocesan bishop to establish certain guidelines for his diocese and to give appropriate permissions.

The Most Reverend Joseph L. Imesch issued Specific Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Diocese of Joliet. The First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2002 has been established as the mandatory date for the implementation of these Norms.

The implementation of these Norms will not change Communion Procession at St. Petronille Church or how we receive Communion at St. Petronille Church. The changes primarily involve the Fraction Rite and the Purification of Communion Vessels, which affect the Priests, Deacons and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. In light of this, the pastoral staff of St. Petronille has prepared a new edition of the Handbook for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at St. Petronille Church which will bring our parish into conformity with the Communion Norms as established by Rome, the USCCB and the Diocese of Joliet.

For more information, including the texts and commentary on the documents cited above, click on the links below.

The Reverend James Dougherty
Pastor

The Reverend David A. Lawrence
Parochial Vicar

The Reverend John D. Sullivan
Parochial Vicar

Stephen L. Williams
Director of Music and Liturgy

General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
The 2000 Revision of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani 

Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America:
Holy Communion Norms

Specific Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Diocese of Joliet:
Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet

Handbook for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at St. Petronille Church:
St. Petronille Handbook for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:
Sacrosanctum Concilium

Additional Information for the Reception of Communion:
Guidelines for the Reception of Communion

Intinction

Postures and Gestures at Mass

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