Bishop says synod on Eucharist focuses too much on priests

Published: 2005-10-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Priests obviously play a central role in celebrating the Eucharist and educating the faithful about the sacrament, but an Indonesian bishop told the world Synod of Bishops he thought their discussion was "too priest-centered." Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura told the synod on the Eucharist Oct. 7 that "to be relevant and meaningful for the secular society, our discourse on the Eucharist has to deal more with building community. The Eucharist is not a private devotion." The priest and the congregation together must make the Mass a celebration that builds community among those present and strengthens them to foster unity with the wider world, said the published summary of his talk. If the Eucharist is to build communion, Bishop Ladjar said, the church must ask itself if it makes any sense to allow priests to celebrate Mass alone. He also questioned whether the church puts so much emphasis on the priest celebrating Mass that it diminishes his ministry to teach the faith, govern the community and promote the spiritual development of believers.

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