Thanks Rain, hearing from you always stirs up good memories. Actually, I'm glad I made it home this evening from Church due to heavy lake effect. My pastor had gone off the road in route (he's back home now in the rectory, but because he didn't make it to St. Anne's, I had to do a Communion Service for the first time since my years as a nursing home chaplain. The parishioners were a little confused at first, but relaxed when I explained the difference between Holy Mass and a Communion Service. When a weather "emergency" comes up like tonight, a Communion Service suffices the requirement for Holy Mass attendance, though I suggested that if the storm cleared up they could still consider attending tomorrow. Anyway, I'll be there tomorrow. Happy Epiphany to everyone!
I do want to clarify it was the inability of a priest to get to the Holy Mass on time that triggered the circumstance allowing a deacon to "step in" and lead a Communion service. Since 2000 the only other time I witnessed a deacon stepping in "to fill the gap" was once when Fr. John suddenly came down sick shortly before the start of Holy Mass, and Deacon Dan Cahey led a Communion Service for the parishioners already gathered.
