THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATION AND FORMS OF WORSHIP "If Christians, despite their divisions, can grow ever more united in common prayer around Christ, they will grow in the awareness of how little divides them in comparison to what unites them." Pope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, n. 22

Bishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas is shown at right.

At this time, dialogue is continuing on the local, national and global levels between the Catholic Church and the Anglican and Protestant Churches concerning the sacramental life of our communities. However, since we do not yet share full ecclesial communion, there are stricter conditions for Eucharistic and other sacramental sharing with members of these denominations, as well as the permitted use of the chapel and sacramental vessels.

Guidelines regarding St. Catherine's Chapel (The Chapel on the Rock) and the Third Floor Chapel in the main retreat house:

The Chapel on the Rock: Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant services are permitted in the chapel. Vestments are provided for the Catholic Liturgy, though priests are advised to bring their own albs. No liturgical supplies are provided for other groups nor may these items be borrowed from the sacristy. (Please see the heading "Liturgical vestments and supplies" below for further guidelines.) All groups should be advised that St. Catherine's Chapel may not be available on Saturdays due to the scheduling of weddings, or on Friday night due to wedding rehearsals. For Sunday or weekday worship, please contact the St. Malo staff to schedule a time.

The Chapel for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: The small third floor chapel is reserved for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which Catholics believe is the True Presence of Christ manifested in the Eucharist. Though the Roman Catholic Mass is permitted, Anglican and Protestant services may not be held in the chapel. In addition, vestments and supplies in this chapel may not be borrowed for use elsewhere in the building for non-Catholic services. All denominations are invited to visit the chapel for prayer, adoration and reflection.

Liturgical vestments and supplies: Vessels that serve as receptacles for the eucharistic bread and wine, such as a chalice, paten, ciborium, pyx, monstrance, etc., are blessed and may not be used in a non-Roman Catholic worship service. All liturgical supplies including vessels, vestments, sacramentary, lectionary, etc., or any other furnishings that have a liturgical use or are in any other way introduced during the Roman Catholic liturgy, may not be used in a non-Roman Catholic worship service.

Non-Catholic Clergy are strongly reminded to bring their own vestments and supplies for their worship service whether it will be held in the Chapel on the Rock or in a conference room at the retreat center. It should not be expected that St. Malo staff be responsible to contact local churches to borrow supplies for non-Catholic ministers.

If there is a question regarding the laws of a specific church, the minister is encouraged to speak with a member of the clergy (or other person) learned in the discipline of that church.

The Catholic liturgy is sacramental. Protestant liturgy, in the absence of the Divine Sacrifice, is non-sacramental, or 'ex opere Operantis', that is, depending on the good dispositions of the worshiper rather than on the built-in efficacy of the sacrament. The Catholic belief in the real presence of Christ, the importance of reverence at communion, and the insistence that the Mass culminate in communion has remained the same, as it always will.

Our Holy Father urges all Catholics to pray and work untiringly to build relationships with our fellow Christians which will ultimately lead to full ecclesial communion, without abandoning the unique gifts and contributions of each community. Catholics look forward in joyful hope to the day when all Christians can feast at the same Eucharistic table.