Connie Petru
254.913.7837
[email protected]
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) is a layperson formally instituted to administer Holy Communion during the Roman Catholic Mass. They are referred to as extraordinary as the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are bishops, priests, and deacons.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are particularly dedicated to the Eucharist. Their purpose is to serve the congregation at Church of the Visitation by distributing Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to the faithful. Eucharistic Ministers assist the priest-celebrant in distributing holy communion at Sunday and daily Masses and at special feasts during the year. Mandatory training is provided.
EMHCs must have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation to attend training. Certification Training is required and must be renewed every three years. Training sessions are held as needed.
- Talk to the Pastor. A short training is required followed by the Rite of Commission (usually this will take place at a Mass).
- You will be commissioned for a five-year term of service, after which you will need to renew the training and be commissioned.
- Please understand that an EMHC should be in a state of grace (not conscious of an unconfessed mortal sin) and fully initiated into the sacramental life of the Church (i.e. having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) and not prevented by law (in a marriage not recognized by the Church, for example).
- Know your schedule in advance and find a replacement if necessary.
- Dress in a manner conducive to the ministry you are undertaking. You will be in contact with The Body and Blood of Jesus – His True Presence. Appropriate attire should be modest and should not include jeans or clothing with any logos or writing.
- Please sit near the front of the church and near the side aisles, if possible.
- After the Lamb of God has been sung, and as the people kneel, EMHC should come up to the front of the church and stand at the side aisles. Do not cross in front of the altar – just stand in the front side aisle where you were sitting. In most cases we will need one person to distribute Communion. The Priest and Deacon, if present, are the ordinary ministers. If we have a priest and a deacon, we will need one EMHC. If there is not a Deacon, we will need two. If you notice we are short and are able to volunteer, please come up and stand at the front of side aisle as quickly and reverently as you can.
- EMHC is to wait until the priest and deacon (all clergy) have received. After they have received, EMHC should proceed to the center - stop at the steps leading into the sanctuary and bow before the altar, and enter the sanctuary on the right of the altar.
- The priest and/or deacon, after distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to the EMHC, will distribute the other communion chalice to the EMHC. The ministers will then go forth to distribute to Communion. The Priest or deacon will distribute communion to the altar servers. Note: Altar servers will not receive the precious blood.
- If there are people unable to come forward because of disability distribute to them first if they are in the front pew, or at the end if they are in the wheelchair sections.
- Distributing Communion say “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ”.
- Do not use people’s names “Jane, the Body of Christ”. It’s not about making a connection with the individual. It is about that person encountering Christ. Therefore, anything that a minister does that is different or unusual distracts from the communicant’s reception of Jesus.
- The presider and the deacon go to the center aisle. If there is not a deacon, one EMHC will join the priest at the center aisle.
If the Body of Christ drops to the floor, pick it up and either hold it in the palm of the hand holding the paten, or place it on the corporal on the altar.
- Blessings during the communion line have become a custom, but in this context the Church really only gives the authority to offer blessings to ordained ministers. Therefore, if a child or adult comes forward to an EMHC with their arms crossed I would ask the EMHC to say: “May Jesus be in your heart”, or “Jesus loves you.” Please do not put out your hand or touch the individuals. When we are distributing communion, we should not touch people because of the particles of the Eucharist that may be on the fingers. Also, putting out your hand or making the sign of the cross denotes a formal blessing and these are not appropriate for a lay person to do in this circumstance.
- Parents have authority to bless their children or their family members, but that is in a different setting. In the communion line only clergy should give a blessing. If someone wants a blessing they should go to the priest or deacon.
- There are occasions when many non-Catholics are present for Mass, (funerals, weddings, Christmas, Easter) in those cases the priest will make an announcement helping these people to know what to do during communion. If the EMHC is distributing communion and someone approaches for a blessing, simply say: “May Jesus be in your heart”, or “Jesus loves you.”
- Offer the chalice to the recipient and let the individual hold it.
Note: Do not allow people to dip the host into the blood (intinction.) Simply explain, “It is not our tradition to dip the host.” Try not to make a scene. We don’t want any drops of the precious blood to fall on the ground.
- Receive the Chalice back, and wipe it with the purificator after each individual receives the Blood of Christ. Turn the Chalice slightly for the next person. While the person is receiving from the chalice slightly shift the spot where you will wipe with the purificator.
If the Blood of Christ spills, stop distributing, cover the spill with the purificator. Put your chalice back on the corporal on the altar and go stand by the spill so that no one steps on the spot. Once communion is over, let Father know. We will either clean it then or after Mass. Do not place the soiled purificator back on the altar as it may stain the altar cloth. If the Blood spills on a person, ask them to talk to Father after mass for instructions on proper cleaning.
- After Communion, if there is any remaining Precious Blood, do not drink it. Place the chalice on the corporal on the Altar and cover it with the purificator. (The corporal is a square white cloth spread out in the center of the altar.) The Priest or Deacon will consume the remaining Precious Blood.
- If you distributed the Body of Christ, return the paten to the altar – placing it on the corporal or handing it to the priest/deacon, then purify your fingers in the ablution cup on the credence table (not necessary for those who distribute the Precious Blood.)
- Often those distributing the precious blood will run out before then end of communion. In that case, simply place the chalice on the altar as indicated above, and return to your pew immediately. You do not need to wait until communion is over. Bow to the altar as you leave the sanctuary.
- Sometimes, however, you may find that you are going to the altar with the communion cup or patten at the same time as the priest. In such cases, leave your items on the altar as described above and stand off to the side for a moment. (Be sure you are out of the way of the servers so that they may do their jobs). As the priest combines what remains of the Body of Christ into one ciborium. The priest (or a deacon) will return the remaining Body of Christ to the tabernacle. Please turn toward the tabernacle as he goes to it as a sign of reverence for the Holy Eucharist, genuflecting or bowing as the minister at the tabernacle does so.
- When the priest/deacon closes the tabernacle door, you may then turn and return to your places, remembering to bow to the altar when you reach the bottom steps of the sanctuary. Always remember to bow when entering or leaving the sanctuary.
- An EMHC may be assigned to bring communion to the choir using a pyx in which the priest has placed the appropriate number of hosts. If there are any hosts left after this, wait until Mass is over and then return the remaining hosts to the tabernacle.
- No self-communioning (do not give yourself the body or blood of Christ).
- Reverence for the Eucharist is the ultimate goal of all the practices we do.
- There is a difference between ordinary (ordained bishop, priest, deacon) and extra-ordinary (commissioned lay person).
- Dress for the occasion, in a non-distracting way.
- This ministry is done for the people, not for ourselves.
Responsibilities
The general qualifications of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are that:
a) they should manifest a devotion to the Eucharist in both their public and private lives of prayer;
b) they manifest a sense of presence and self-confidence in their liturgical decorum and in their relationships with others;
c) they be exemplary in their living out the Christian life, faith and morals;
d) they be aware of and responsive to the church’s view of the importance of lay ministries;
e) they be in good standing with the local Church community;
f) they be fully initiated into the Catholic Church (have received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation).