A question for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion that make home visits

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RichSpidizzy

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I’m going to start bringing Holy Communion to the homebound soon. I was wondering what you do when you visit them. I plan on bringing a copy of the parish weekly bulletin, and a bottle of Holy Water to fill up their font if they have one. Other than that, I haven’t thought about what I could do when it comes to actually giving the person Communion.

So what do you guys do? Light a candle? Say an Our Father? Read from Scripture first? I want to keep it reverent as it is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord.
 
Doesn’t the Church – or at least your diocese – have a set procedure for this? Your pastor hasn’t given you any instruction?
 
We actually hold a communion service that is read from a book that contains all the correct wording. It basically follows the same flow as the mass does without the things that only a priest can do. We have an opening rite, a liturgy of the word, prayer intentions, the communnion service, and a closing rite. When visiting someone at home, we bring a church bulletin, and maybe a song sheet. I personally like to read the sunday gospel from my Magnificat, and then give a brief reflection based off the homily I heard at Sunday mass. The book is called “Communion of the Sick” put out by The Liturgical Press. Bringing Holy Water is a great idea, as well as perhaps a prayer card or two. Good luck in your new and rewarding ministry!

Your parish should be providing you with training that is set up by your diocese. They should also provide you with the necessary tools for this ministry.
 
I teach our EMHC’s to work from the missallette.

The length of the service depends on the person we visit, and the EMHC’s load. Some have to be brief - especially in hospital calls. Others want a full service - especially when we can get several together at a retirement home.
The basic form is Confiteor, Gospel, Our Father and Communion.

To that add whatever seems good except for the Eucharistic Prayer [omit everything between the Prayer of the Faithful and the Our Father].

We try to give a summary of Father’s sermon at the mass we have attended.
 
I attended an eight week class and was commissioned to be a Minister to the homebound. We usually read scripture together that was shared on the Sunday of that week. Recite prayers, and also do an act of contrition, and then I use some of the words of the Eucharistic rite just prior to receiving Communion. Before I begin all this, I do an assessment of the patient’s condition. In all cases, adjustments need to be made as to the ability of the homebound person’s ability to receive that week. It’s a process, but there is not just one way of sharing the Eucharist with others.
 
My dear friend,
You have been charged with a very serious duty.
The people you are visiting have the duty to prepare for the visit. They must have a sacred space prepared with white linen, a crucifix and lighted candle and a little bowl of water for you to wash your fingers before and after distribution.

You are carrying Christ!! By all means carry a newsletter to them, but no more. Don’t weigh yourself down. Focus on what you have been given to carry: the greatest treasure of the Church. Go directly to the sick. Do not dilly dally to chat or visit a shop etc…

I would actually advise you to purchase, as soon as possible “The Sunday Missal”. There you have the rite along with the readings of the Sunday on which you are visiting.

Make distribution of the Host your first act.

Some folks you will visit will like to sit and chat. Some will offer a cuppa tea or coffee and biscuits first.
 
God bless you for accepting this wonderful ministry.

There are many ways this service can be performed, and all are certainly benificial, so please do not feel obligated to give a full communion service, or socialize if this is not your calling.

If you have many calls, say the Lord’s Prayer, and give Communion. If you have the time to spend, you may add other prayers and readings, or socialize. I would hate to see anyone give up this much needed ministry or limit the number of recipients because they didn’t have enough time to conduct a service or socialize.

Pray and be open to the guidance of the Spirit.
 
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RichSpidizzy:
I’m going to start bringing Holy Communion to the homebound soon. I was wondering what you do when you visit them. I plan on bringing a copy of the parish weekly bulletin, and a bottle of Holy Water to fill up their font if they have one. Other than that, I haven’t thought about what I could do when it comes to actually giving the person Communion.

So what do you guys do? Light a candle? Say an Our Father? Read from Scripture first? I want to keep it reverent as it is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord.
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RichSpidizzy, There is no Church named “The Evangelical Catholic Church”. Your Profile says you are Evangelical. How is it that you are getting your hands on the Holy Eucharist. Are you one of these people who have started a new Church to avoid income taxes? Step up, be honest.
 
I pray for the day when there will be enough vocations that there be enough deacons in the church will take up their ministerial duties and we can truly put the extraordinary back in to EMHC
 
The best thing is to have the priest give you Jesus from the tabernacle and then you go directly to the person, without any other intervening task. Don’t stop for gas, etc. If it can be done, do not do extensive socializing beforehand. Rather, chat afterwards. Also, after you give them communion, be sure to look at your hands for particles and take care of Jesus, and also give them time to be quiet with Him. Then go on with the last couple of prayers. But I do hospital visits, not home. My type is usually shorter, and if they are very sick, I omit almost everything, and I also sometimes give them a very small particle if it is the case that they could have trouble somehow with the usual sized host.

I agree about the prayer cards. If it looks like they need any Catholic type supplies, I’d bring them on your next visit.

It is unbelievable how wonderful this ministry is!
 
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Exporter:
RichSpidizzy, There is no Church named “The Evangelical Catholic Church”. Your Profile says you are Evangelical. How is it that you are getting your hands on the Holy Eucharist. Are you one of these people who have started a new Church to avoid income taxes? Step up, be honest.
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Wow, I’ve never had my Orthodoxy questioned before. Calling myself an “Evangelical Catholic” is tongue-in-cheek. It isn’t meant to be taken seriously. I’m very much Roman Catholic.

Are you somehow related to Senator McCarthy by any chance?
 
It’s amazing what gets people’s undies in a bundle.

Keep the title Rich, it’s a good thing, I think more catholics need to be evangelical

Evangelical : Having or characterized by a zealous, crusading enthusiasm for a cause.

Just because a group of protestants claimed the words for their movement, don’t let it distort the true definition.

I think we need a heck of a lot more fundamentalist evangelical catholics. 🙂
 
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RichSpidizzy:
Wow, I’ve never had my Orthodoxy questioned before. Calling myself an “Evangelical Catholic” is tongue-in-cheek. It isn’t meant to be taken seriously. I’m very much Roman Catholic.

Are you somehow related to Senator McCarthy by any chance?
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And it certainly wasn’t legitimately questioned now. God bless you in this ministry.
 
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