J
JC_Nixon
Guest
I need some help, feedback, advice on a problem that occurred recently at Mass at our parish.
I serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and as a Reader. Like many people, we attend the same Mass and we sit in the same pew/seats every week and are familiar with most everyone who also attend that Mass, etc. About a month ago, I noticed some people (3 adults and a child approx 6-8 yrs old) sitting 2 rows ahead and to the right of me, it was kind of hard not to notice them. They seemed to not know what they were doing, were kidding around with each other during Mass, did not respond to the prayers, the one ‘adult’ was literally draped over the seat in front of her, napping, well you get the drift I am sure.
When it came time for Communion, all 4 of them approached the EMHC, (I was not serving that day) I did notice that she questioned if the child should receive, the adult with her nodded and when she was given the Eucharist it was very obvious she had no idea what to do with it, thankfully, the adult had her consume the Host. The following week was pretty much the same, but I was serving that position as EMHC and I asked the adult behind the child has she made her first Communion and she responded ‘well that’s what they tell me’ Not wanting to cause a scene at the altar during Communion, I presented the girl with Eucharist and she consumed it as did the 3 adults.
I was SO troubled by it all with a strong feeling that either none of them were Catholic or if they were, they had not been to Mass in a very long time. As soon as Mass was over and I could catch up to them, I stopped them and asked if the child had indeed been baptized and made first Communion. They said well we are trying to get her baptized. . . my heart dropped in my chest. I explained to them that we are happy that you are coming to Mass but if a person is NOT Catholic, baptized and has not made first Communion, they CANNOT receive Eucharist until they have met at least those requirements. I suggested that they would need to contact one of the priests to further discuss the matter. I was not unkind about it, I just wanted them to understand.
When I was leaving the church, I did stop and speak to the priest who said Mass and explained to him what had transpired. He was aware of the people I was talking about and said they were supposed to be in touch with one of the other priests.
The following week, 2 of the 3 adults were there again along with the child. I spoke to the presiding priest prior to Mass and told him what had happened and that I was not sure at all if any of the adults were Catholic. He said he would make it a point to serve that section. Only one of the adults came up for Communion, Father asked if she was Catholic, she said yes and he presented her with the Host.
After Mass, this lady comes flying up to me and proceeded to scold me for what I had done the week before in approaching these people and that I should be ashamed. I attempted to explain to her why I did what I did and that as an EMHC, let alone as a Catholic, I have a responsibility to correct when I believe the Blessed Sacrament is in danger of desecration and/or being received by a non-Catholic. She said ‘we as Catholics don’t care about that!’ I got a little upset at that point and said ‘excuse me, but we as Catholics absolutely DO care about that and if you don’t, then shame on you!’ Then I tried to calm down and have a rational discussion about it and she said I shouldn’t have done that I should have told the priest and I explained that I had in fact made 2 of the priests aware of the situation.
It has really been bothering me, did I do the right thing? Did I handle it correctly? Should I have done nothing? In my heart I believe that I did the right thing, I certainly did not want to alienate these people but I could not let the situation go on uncorrected.
I serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and as a Reader. Like many people, we attend the same Mass and we sit in the same pew/seats every week and are familiar with most everyone who also attend that Mass, etc. About a month ago, I noticed some people (3 adults and a child approx 6-8 yrs old) sitting 2 rows ahead and to the right of me, it was kind of hard not to notice them. They seemed to not know what they were doing, were kidding around with each other during Mass, did not respond to the prayers, the one ‘adult’ was literally draped over the seat in front of her, napping, well you get the drift I am sure.
When it came time for Communion, all 4 of them approached the EMHC, (I was not serving that day) I did notice that she questioned if the child should receive, the adult with her nodded and when she was given the Eucharist it was very obvious she had no idea what to do with it, thankfully, the adult had her consume the Host. The following week was pretty much the same, but I was serving that position as EMHC and I asked the adult behind the child has she made her first Communion and she responded ‘well that’s what they tell me’ Not wanting to cause a scene at the altar during Communion, I presented the girl with Eucharist and she consumed it as did the 3 adults.
I was SO troubled by it all with a strong feeling that either none of them were Catholic or if they were, they had not been to Mass in a very long time. As soon as Mass was over and I could catch up to them, I stopped them and asked if the child had indeed been baptized and made first Communion. They said well we are trying to get her baptized. . . my heart dropped in my chest. I explained to them that we are happy that you are coming to Mass but if a person is NOT Catholic, baptized and has not made first Communion, they CANNOT receive Eucharist until they have met at least those requirements. I suggested that they would need to contact one of the priests to further discuss the matter. I was not unkind about it, I just wanted them to understand.
When I was leaving the church, I did stop and speak to the priest who said Mass and explained to him what had transpired. He was aware of the people I was talking about and said they were supposed to be in touch with one of the other priests.
The following week, 2 of the 3 adults were there again along with the child. I spoke to the presiding priest prior to Mass and told him what had happened and that I was not sure at all if any of the adults were Catholic. He said he would make it a point to serve that section. Only one of the adults came up for Communion, Father asked if she was Catholic, she said yes and he presented her with the Host.
After Mass, this lady comes flying up to me and proceeded to scold me for what I had done the week before in approaching these people and that I should be ashamed. I attempted to explain to her why I did what I did and that as an EMHC, let alone as a Catholic, I have a responsibility to correct when I believe the Blessed Sacrament is in danger of desecration and/or being received by a non-Catholic. She said ‘we as Catholics don’t care about that!’ I got a little upset at that point and said ‘excuse me, but we as Catholics absolutely DO care about that and if you don’t, then shame on you!’ Then I tried to calm down and have a rational discussion about it and she said I shouldn’t have done that I should have told the priest and I explained that I had in fact made 2 of the priests aware of the situation.
It has really been bothering me, did I do the right thing? Did I handle it correctly? Should I have done nothing? In my heart I believe that I did the right thing, I certainly did not want to alienate these people but I could not let the situation go on uncorrected.
You did the right thing.