Can the Eucharist be distributed without a priest present?

[thirsty]

I am curious if extraordinary ministers of holy Communion can run a Communion service without a priest present, assuming of course that the host has already been consecrated at a Mass. I am deployed and a priest only comes through about once a month. On his last visit he consecrated extra hosts. Is is appropriate for us to have Communion without the priest? I know it is done in hospitals, but I was unsure in this situation.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Communion services may be led by laypeople deputed to do so. The Eucharist is previously consecrated by a priest at a previous Mass. It makes sense that your priest-chaplain would consecrate additional hosts at the Mass he celebrated for your unit for use during the Communion services that will be held in his absence.