Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Saint Elizabeth Church
“The celebration of Mass … is the center of the whole Christian life for the Church both
universal and local, as well as for each of the faithful individually." (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #16)
The reception of the Body and Blood of our Lord is one of the greatest gifts that God has
given to His church. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are blessed with the precious
privilege of offering the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful gathered in the assembly.
The actions, dress, and dExtraordinary Ministers of Holy Communionanor of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion contribute to
the prayerful experience of worship of those to whom we minister.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be fully-initiated, practicing Catholics who are in good standing with the parish community and show devotion to the Eucharist by receiving it weekly.
They must have a firm belief that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. They may not be known as dissenting from Church's teachings in faith or morals.
The pastor determines the needs and the persons best qualified to serve the parish in the ministry. Those who are invited into this role should realize that it is a ministerial function in the community, and should exercise it in a spirit of faith and service.
Candidates must be granted faculty by the Bishop to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. After the faculty has been granted, the minister is commissioned by the pastor to distribute Holy Communion at Mass and/or to the sick.
An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion ministers as one of the worshiping assembly and is expected to participate in the entire liturgy. Within the Mass, each minister must participate actively in the entire liturgy. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal #91)
The manners and actions of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and other liturgical ministers set an example for the assembly.
The Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (#28) teaches that “All taking part in liturgical celebrations, whether ministers or members of the congregation, should do all that pertains to them, and no more, taking into account the rite and liturgical norms."
Therefore, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communions may not serve in any other capacity, such as a music minister, a reader, or an altar server, during any particular liturgy.
“All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, attire, and the manner in which they handle the Eucharist." (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America, approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on June 14, 2001)
Items such as shirts with print, buttons, and pins, are never appropriate. Clothing should not be distracting; the focus of the communicant should always be on the Blessed Sacrament, not on the person distributing communion or his or her dress.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion need to arrive at church no later than 15 minutes before the start of Mass. Those who are not present for the entrance procession do not serve at that Mass.
Join the presider and the other ministers in the vestibule at the front entrance to the church, or, on holy days of obligation or other liturgies, in the sacristy.
It is appropriate for you to greet people as they enter, but please be sensitive to those inside the church who are prayerfully preparing for Mass. You are welcome to wait in the church if the vestibule is too cold or noisy for you. As Mass time approaches, end conversations and be alert and ready to proceed to the altar as soon as the music begins.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to process immediately behind the altar servers, in front of the reader, who walks in front of the priest.
Readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are never to walk up or down the aisle empty-handed. Instead, each minister carries the missal, opened to the hymn of praise being sung. The songs of the Mass are prayers that are part of the liturgy.
As the procession reaches the front of the altar, all ministers stand in front of the first sanctuary step to the left of the presider. After genuflecting to the tabernacle with the presider and other ministers, proceed to your place.
“If the tabernacle is not in a separate Eucharistic chapel of reservation, but is located in the sanctuary, the priest and other ministers genuflect when they arrive at the sanctuary at the beginning of Mass and when they leave at the end of Mass." During the celebration of Mass, however, they do not genuflect to the tabernacle. Outside the celebration of Mass, it is appropriate to genuflect whenever passing in front of the tabernacle. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #274)
There is no direction that calls for any bowing to the tabernacle, or to the priest. If, for some reason, you find yourself crossing the church in front of the altar, you are to bow to the altar.
During the readings, liturgical ministers should not use the missal to follow along with the reader. Your attention should be focused on the liturgical action, wherever that might be.
Throughout the proclamation of the Gospel and the homily, all ministers are expected to engage in active listening, along with the assembly.
The ministers’ seating area is not an exclusive VIP area. Conversations are not appropriate at any time during the liturgy.
Behind the column at the edge of the sanctuary, there is a Purell dispenser. You may wash your hands before giving Communion, but ministers do not wash their hands after Communion.
When standing behind the altar for Communion, your hands should be elevated in some kind of prayer position. Also, do not turn your back to the main altar at any time, or face or reverence the tabernacle in any way. During Mass, the focus of the assembly is always on the sacrifice of Christ on the altar, and nowhere else.
When receiving Communion, the only appropriate sign of reverence is “a slight bow of the head” before you receive the host. There is no call for any other sign of reverence. The sign of the cross is not a part of the Communion Rite, and does not form part of the liturgy at the moment of reception.
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"When you approach, take care not to do so with your hand stretched out and your fingers open or apart, but rather place your right hand as a throne beneath your left, as befits one who is about to receive the King.” – St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century |
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Let us draw near to it [the sacrament of the Eucharist] with an ardent desire, and with our hands held in the form of the Cross, let us receive the Body of the Crucified One; and let us apply our eyes and lips and brows and partake of the Divine Coal, in order that the fire of the longing that is in us, with the additional heat derived from the Coal, may utterly consume our sins and illumine our hearts, and that we may be inflamed and deified by participation in the Divine Fire.” - Saint John of Damascus (8th century) |
Remember to notice those with special needs and give them Communion first.
The proper and only permissible form for distributing Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated bread by saying, "The Body of Christ.“ No other words or names should be added; and the formula should not be edited in any way. (Cf. GIRM, 161; 284-287).
If a person comes to you and asks for a blessing, hold up your hand in a gesture of blessing and say “May God bless you". Do not use the host, touch the person, or make the sign of the cross, or use any other words of blessing.
It is best if the minister take the host between the thumb and the forefinger in such a way that they may place the host on the tongue by pressing down with the forefinger from above.
If a particle of the host falls on the ground, it should be picked up and consumed. If for some reason it cannot be consumed (for example, if it has already been in an individual’s mouth who is unable to consume it), it may be dissolved in water and the water later poured down the sacrarium, however, it is best to contact a priest or deacon should this be necessary.
If you realize that you do not have sufficient hosts for the number of communicants, you may approach the priest or another Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and carefully add hosts to your ciborium. If absolutely necessary, you may break hosts in half.
If a communicant approaches you and he or she is chewing gum, or wearing a hat or gloves, do not create a scene.
Observe the person receiving communion until he or she consumes the host. If he or she begins to walk off without receiving Communion (as is sometimes the case with children who have not received proper catechesis or non-Catholic adults), it is important that the extraordinary minister follow that individual and either ask him to consume the host, or to retrieve it so that nothing untoward happens.
If it appears as if someone does not know how to receive Communion, ask them politely, “Do you receive Communion?” Be careful not to give Communion to children who have not yet received.
There are practically no situations when Holy Communion should be denied by an extraordinary minister. Church norms state that: “Any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion” (Redemptionis Sacramentum 91)." The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion should not make a judgment on the worthiness of any individual to receive Holy Communion.
In the case of individuals clearly living a life in discrepancy with church teachings, the decision is to be made by the pastor, in consultation with the bishop, and he will then inform the extraordinary ministers involved. If the extraordinary minister is unsure whether an individual is Catholic or has received their first communion, he should ask them or their parent, and if they reply that they are not, the extraordinary minister should let them return to their pew without receiving Communion.
When there are no more communicants approaching you, walk to the tabernacle. Place your ciborium on the shelf of the back altar, or, if a priest is present, hand the ciborium to the priest and return to your seat at once. Bowing or genuflecting to the tabernacle, ciborium, or presider is not called for, and is therefore inappropriate.
If you have to cough at anytime, cough into your shirt sleeve or your shoulder. If you have a cold, please do not serve.
As the closing hymn begins, lectors join with the other ministers in front of the bottom step of the sanctuary, and face the altar. Genuflect (or bow, if you are physically unable to genuflect) with the priest, then turn and follow the altar servers.
Ministers are to carry the missal which is opened to closing hymn.
Ministers are never to walk behind the altar, in either direction, other than to line up in place to receive Communion from the priest. If you need to exit the church in an emergency, please use the door that connects to the gymnasium, or the door at the entrance for the handicapped.
Avoid referring to the Eucharist as “bread.” Our faith tells us that what was bread has become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. Acceptable and common terms include: host, Eucharist, Communion.
Updated February, 2009
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