Cardinal scraps lay-led communion and word services

In a letter, Cardinal Eijk has responded to objections to his new policy of phasing out word and communion celebrations. He explains that their scrapping is necessary to give the Eucharist "the central place it deserves".

Cardinal Wim Eijk stressed in his letter that he sees the objections as a demonstration of "great commitment to the parish and the local faith community to which you belong". However, he stands firm: by 2027, Masses in the archdiocese will only be celebrated on weekends.

Letters of objection

In October 2022, the Archdiocese of Utrecht published the policy plan, Continue doing this in remembrance of me, in which Cardinal Eijk outlined how, over the next five years, there would be a gradual end to weekend word and communion celebrations. This should increase attendance at Eucharistic celebrations in centrally located churches.

However, a number of believers from the archdiocese did not see this as a good idea. The cardinal received several letters of objection, including from the Gelderland-Overijssel association Samen Kerk, Samen Sterk, which hoped to change the cardinal's mind with a petition against the policy plan. According to them, the plans would damage the vitality of local faith communities.

'Central place'

In his letter, Cardinal Eijk addresses, among other things, the accusation repeatedly made that scrapping word and communion services would be a means to push through church closures. He strongly rejects this accusation: "To this end, the Eucharist - the most sacred thing the Church has been given - must not and will not be abused."

So too is the suggestion that this policy phasing out is unnecessary, as church shrinkage will reduce the number of word and communion services anyway. For a number of parishes this will indeed be true, Eijk acknowledges, but there are also parishes where without a policy change the number of word and communion celebrations will remain high, meaning "the Eucharist will not be able to take its rightful central place for many years to come".

"I sincerely hope that your commitment remains undiminished."

- Cardinal Wim Eijk

"In a word and communion celebration, you only receive the fruit of the Eucharist, the Host, but a Eucharist transcends this," the cardinal explained the difference in October. "It is essential to your life as a Christian."

Constructive

Objections to Continue doing this in remembrance of me were raised weeks ago. The response has been delayed because Cardinal Eijk first wanted to consult with the priests, deacons and pastoral workers of the archdiocese. According to him, they recognise the situation as outlined in the policy plan and are engaging with believers to see how the number of word and communion services can be reduced.

"I can imagine that this response will be disappointing for you," Cardinal Eijk writes. Nevertheless, he hopes the objectors will adopt a constructive attitude in the future. "I sincerely hope that your commitment remains undiminished."

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