Change of Presider During a Mass
Date: June 29, 2025
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: I was attending the Mass at my home parish during my summer break which coincided with the transfer of the parish from the old pastor to the new pastor. The Mass began with the previous pastor presiding, and after the homily the new pastor began to preside the Mass. I know that if for unavoidable reasons a priest is not able to finish the Mass, then another priest can step in and finish it. But it was not the case here. Can you give me a little clarity about this? I would love to get in touch with the diocesan bishop to discuss further about this, but I want to be precise with him. -- F.C., Rome
Answer: In principle there are no situations when there is a change of presiding celebrant in the liturgy.
This was emphasized in a private 2007 letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship dealing with a different case of change of principal celebrant. The congregation wrote: "From a liturgical point of view it is inadmissible for there to be a change of president in the course of one and the same liturgical celebration."
To forestall possible objections, the letter also addressed the apparent exceptions to this principle such as those "That occur when the Bishop presides over a celebration in choir dress or when a newly ordained Bishop becomes the president of the Eucharistic celebration from the moment of his Ordination." The first example occurs when a bishop assists at a Mass but does not celebrate; for example, on the occasion of a priestly jubilee. In such cases the bishop may give the homily and the final blessing.
The letter concludes that these are not true exceptions but "arise from the nature of the bishop's ministry, and do not take the general rule."
An analogous case of a brief change in presider can occur when a newly appointed bishop takes possession of his diocese. If he does this himself, he is received by the ranking priest of the cathedral, who offers him a crucifix to be kissed and holy water to sprinkle himself and the people. He briefly visits the Blessed Sacrament, goes to the sacristy, vests and presides over the Mass from the beginning.
At the beginning of Mass he goes to the cathedra, sits and puts on the miter. The apostolic letter of his appointment is then read. After reading the text, he is greeted by the ranking priest and some other members of the clergy. After this, omitting the penitential rite (and optionally the Kyrie), he intones the Gloria.
However, on some occasions the new bishop is introduced into the diocese by the local metropolitan archbishop. In this case No. 1145 of the Ceremonial of Bishops says: "If, however, the Metropolitan himself brings the Bishop into his cathedral church, he presents the Bishop at the door of the church to the highest-ranking member of the chapter and presides at the entrance procession; at the cathedra he greets the people and requires that the apostolic Letter be shown and read. When it has been read, and after the acclamation of the people, the Metropolitan invites the Bishop to be seated in the cathedra. Then the Bishop rises and sings Glória in excélsis according to the rubrics."
As we see, these are all exceptional cases and refer only to bishops. Therefore, it was not liturgically correct to substitute the presider at the Mass in which a pastor is introduced into his parish. The different possible rites are described in the Ceremonial of Bishops, Nos. 1185-1197. To wit:
“1185. Before being introduced into his parish or in the very act of taking possession of it, a new parish priest (pastor) is to make the profession of faith before the local Ordinary or his delegate.
“1186. The introduction of a new parish priest (pastor) into his parish is carried out by the bishop himself or by his delegate on a convenient day and at a convenient time, in the presence of the assembly of the faithful. The introduction may be done in a way suited to local custom or, quite fittingly, in the way described in this chapter.
“1187. It is appropriate that the introduction take place in conjunction with a Mass, which, depending on the rubrics, will be either the Mass of the day or a votive Mass of the titular of the church or of the Holy Spirit. The bishop should preside, and the new parish priest (pastor) as well as other presbyters of the parish or of the district should concelebrate with him.
“1188. But if, for good reason, the bishop is present but does not celebrate the Mass, then, as has been said already in nos. 175-185, it is proper that he at least preside during the liturgy of the word and bless the people at the end of Mass.
“1189. Local customs should be observed. Otherwise, as circumstances suggest, the rites to be described here may be used in whole or in part.
“1190. Where the circumstances permit, the bishop and the new parish priest (pastor) may be met at the parish boundary and escorted in procession to the doors of the church. There, the bishop briefly introduces the new parish priest (pastor) and hands him the keys of the church. The introduction may also take place at the beginning of Mass, after the greeting, and particularly when at the beginning of Mass, after the bishop's greeting, the parish priest's (pastor's) letter of appointment is read and, in keeping with the provisions of the law, he makes the profession of faith.
“1191. It is fitting that the new parish priest (pastor) proclaim the gospel reading; beforehand he goes to the bishop and from him receives the Book of the Gospels and asks for a blessing.
“1193. After the homily, it is recommended that the parish priest (pastor) renew the promises he made at his ordination, as the bishop puts the following questions to him. My dear brother, in the presence of the people whom you are about to receive into your care, I ask you to renew the promises you made at your ordination. Are you resolved that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit you will without fail live up to your responsibility to be the faithful co-worker of the order of bishops in shepherding the flock of the Lord? R./ I am.
“Are you resolved that in praise of God and for the sanctification of the Christian people you will celebrate the mysteries of Christ devoutly and faithfully, and in accord with the tradition of the Church? R./ I am.
“Are you resolved that in preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith you will worthily and wisely fulfill the ministry of God's word? R./ I am.
“Are you resolved that you will bind yourself ever more closely to Christ, the high priest who for us offered himself to the Father as a spotless victim, and that with Christ you will consecrate yourself to God for the salvation of your brothers and sisters? R./ I am.
“Do you promise respect and obedience to me and to my successors? R./ I do.
“May God who has begun this good work in you bring it to fulfillment.
“1194. As circumstances suggest, a procession with censerbearer, cross bearer, candle bearers, and other ministers may then be formed, so that the bishop may lead the parish priest (pastor) around the church and entrust to him the various places that will be the sacred sites of his ministry: presidential chair, the chapel of the blessed sacrament, the baptistery, the confessional. The bishop may also invite the parish priest (pastor) to open the tabernacle door and incense the blessed sacrament. He may also incense the baptistery. If this can be done conveniently, the bishop may also invite the parish priest (pastor) to ring the church bells. Depending on the circumstances, all these things may be done before Mass.
“1195. In the general intercessions there is a special intention for the bishop and for the parish priest (pastor).
“1196. For the rite of peace the parish priest (pastor) may himself exchange the sign of peace with some of the people as representatives of the parish.
“1197. After the prayer after communion, the bishop invites the parish priest (pastor) to speak briefly to the community.”
From the above texts we can see that, apart from the bishop presiding the Mass himself, there are two other possibilities. The bishop presides at all the celebrations, but the new pastor presides at the Mass. This could be for several reasons; for example, the bishop having to celebrate other Masses on the same day.
The other possibility is that the rites of installation would be carried out by the bishop’s delegate who may be a priest. In such cases the delegate would preside at Mass and the rites would be adapted to reflect that the delegate lacks episcopal order. For example, the question regarding obedience would be changed to refer to the bishop.
Nothing in the above rite would suggest that there would be a change of presider in the Mass, so this should not take place.
The priests were seemingly inspired in part by the specific case of the installation of a new bishop. Apart from the error regarding a change of presiding priest at Mass, another error might have been implied.
Although these priests almost certainly had good intentions and desired to underline a state of harmony and communion in the passage of pastoral responsibilities, the act could be misinterpreted as if the former pastor considered that he had some sort of personal inheritance to transmit to the new shepherd.
The installation of a new parish priest by the bishop or his delegate stresses the point that all pastoral service stems from hierarchical communion with and through the bishop, the Universal Church and Christ himself. Receiving from the proper authorities the designation as shepherd of a community reminds priests that they are never alone in the mission but part of a much greater spiritual reality that transcends the personal limitations and charisms of any individual.
Finally, as mentioned by our reader, a very exceptional case involving a change of a presider would be when a priest is stricken, or even dies, during the course of a Mass. In such a case another priest can continue from the point where the first left off until the end of Mass.
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