The general decree of the Polish Bishops' Conference enters into force on the permanent ministries of lector and acolyte - also given to women
On 12th December 2021, the general decree of the Polish Bishops' Conference comes into force regarding the age and qualities of candidates for a permanent lector and acolyte.
"The general decree of the Polish Episcopal Conference on the age and qualities of candidates for the service of a permanent lector and acolyte who are not candidates for ordination" was issued by the Polish Bishops' Conference on June 11, 2021, and its promulgation and entry into force in accordance with the requirements of Church law is made by after being verified by the Holy See. The recognitionis decree was issued by the Congregation for Bishops on 13th October 2021. The document was promulgated by the decision of the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference today (3rd December 2021), and its entry into force was announced on 12th December 2021 (3rd Sunday of Advent - "Gaudete"). On the day of its entry into force, the general decree will be binding in all Polish dioceses.
The announced document complies with the guidelines of the Apostolic Letter in the form of the Motu Proprio "Spiritus Domini" of Pope Francis on the amendment of canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law on the admission of female people to the official ministry of lector and acolyte.
The current wording of canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
After the changes introduced by Pope Francis, can. 230 § 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which opens the way to the lector and acolyte ministries for women, reads as follows:
Can. Canon 230 §1. Lay people who having the age and qualities established by the decree of the episcopal conference may be permanently admitted, prescribed by the liturgical rite, to the ministry of lector and acolyte; however, receipt of these ministries does not entitle them to subsistence or remuneration from the Church.
The required age and qualities of candidates:
Pursuant to the content of the general decree, bishops in Poland will be able to grant permanent language and acolyte ministries to candidates and candidates who have reached the age of 25. Candidates are required to show exemplary moral life, apostolic devotion, selflessness, sincere piety and zealous sacramental life, a special love for the Holy Scriptures and the Eucharist, and a spirit of obedience to the Church. They must also have appropriate intellectual qualities, sufficient knowledge of this service in the Church, be distinguished by solid work and the ability to cooperate with others. They should enjoy a good reputation and be accepted by the faithful of the community to which they belong and in which they will perform the tasks entrusted to them. They should be prepared to carry out their tasks through appropriate formation.
We look forward to a renewed rite of appointment of teachers and acolytes
According to the Letter of the Holy Father Francis from 10th January 2021 to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the admission of women to the lectorate and acolyte ministries, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is to issue an appropriately modified Latin edition of the Rites of the Institution of Lectors and Acolytes, which will allow for the preparation of a Polish version.
Translation: A.Z. Warchoł / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
We publish below the full content of the documents:
General decree of the Polish Bishops' Conference
on the age and qualities of candidates for ministry of permanent lector and acolyte,
who are not candidates for ordination
The Polish Bishops' Conference during the 389th Plenary Meeting that took place in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, on 11th June 2021, on the basis of can. 455 and can. 230 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, in conjunction with the Apostolic Letter in the form of the Motu Proprio "Spiritus Domini" of the Holy Father Francis on the change of canon 230 § 1 of the Code of Law
Canon on the admission of women to the official service of lector and acolytes, herewith determines the age and qualities of persons who are to accept the service of permanent lector and acolyte.
This decree applies to persons who are not candidates for ordination.
1) With regard to age, it is determined that in view of the important tasks that the Church has
entrusts to appointed permanent lectors and acolytes, and for the sake of the permanence of these services, permanent lector and acolyte ministries may be granted to candidates who
are at least twenty-five years old.
2) The qualities candidates for ministry of permanent lector and acolyte should possess
- who must first of all be baptized and confirmed - they should have an exemplary moral and apostolic life devotion, selflessness, sincere piety and zealous sacramental life, a special love for the Holy Scriptures and the Eucharist and a spirit of obedience to the Church. They must also have adequate intellectual qualities, sufficient knowledge about this service in the Church, distinguished by solid work and skills cooperation with others. They should enjoy a good reputation and be accepted by the faithful and the community to which they belong and in which they will fulfil the tasks entrusted to them. To fulfil these tasks they should be prepared for their tasks by appropriate formation.
3) The President of The Polish Bishops' Conference shall determine the date of entry into force of this General Decree, after receiving the recognition of the Holy See.
+ Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznań
President of the Polish Bishops' Conference
+ Artur G. Miziński
Secretary General of the Polish Bishops' Conference
______________________________
Declaration
on promulgation and entry into force of the General decree of the Polish Bishops' Conference
on the age and qualities of candidates for the ministry of permanent lector and acolyte,
who are not candidates for ordination
In connection with the award on 13th October 2021 by the Congregation for Bishops recognizing the General Decree of the Polish Bishops’ Conference on age and qualities of candidates for the ministry of permanent lector and acolyte, who are not candidates to ordination, adopted on 11th June 2021, during the 389th Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops' Conference, on 3rd December 2021, by posting the above-mentioned.
The decree on the official site the website of the Polish Bishops' Conference (www.episkopat.pl) in the AKTA KEP tab, is legally promulgated.
Under point 3 of the General Decree on the age and qualities of candidates for ministry permanent lector1 and acolyte, who are not candidates for ordination, I define that it will enter into force on 12th December 2021.
+ Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznań
President of the Polish Bishops' Conference
On behalf of the Secretary General of the PBC Fr. Jarosław Mrówczyński
Deputy Secretary General of the PBC
Translation from the Polish original: A.Z. Warchoł / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
