Charitably addressing an elderly EMHC who drops the Host often

[japhy]

At my parish, there is an elderly man who, after daily Mass, goes up to the tabernacle, opens it, and takes a Host out to place in a pyx. (He is an EMHC and I can only assume he does this every day for someone who is homebound or in a nursing home.) I go to Mass at my parish every Tuesday morning, and over the past three Tuesdays I have seen him drop the Host (onto the floor) in between the tabernacle and the pyx two times.

The distance between the tabernacle and the pyx is only a matter of inches. Why he does not place the pyx on the surface of the platform on which the tabernacle is placed, I do not know. I don’t know if the Host falls because his fingers are weak (and he can’t hold it well) or if it falls because he “misses” the pyx. But I am concerned about this, and I would like some suggestions as to how to bring up charitably… maybe to my pastor, maybe to the person in charge of the EMHCs, I don’t know.

 

[Sr_Sally]

Do you feel comfortable addressing the gentleman in question? Why don’t you just suggest that he place the pyx down as you described. If you are not a commissioned EMHC, then you can’t offer to help. If he doesn’t take your suggestion, then I would ask the priest. At my parish, the EMHCs don’t go into the tabernacle, but receive the Host directly after communion from the priest. Perhaps your priest can do the same for this gentleman, rather than having him wait until after Mass to do it himself.

 

[zab]

At my parish, there is an elderly man who, after daily Mass, goes up to the tabernacle, opens it, and takes a Host out to place in a pyx. (He is an EMHC and I can only assume he does this every day for someone who is homebound or in a nursing home.) I go to Mass at my parish every Tuesday morning, and over the past three Tuesdays I have seen him drop the Host (onto the floor) in between the tabernacle and the pyx two times.

The distance between the tabernacle and the pyx is only a matter of inches. Why he does not place the pyx on the surface of the platform on which the tabernacle is placed, I do not know. I don’t know if the Host falls because his fingers are weak (and he can’t hold it well) or if it falls because he “misses” the pyx. But I am concerned about this, and I would like some suggestions as to how to bring up charitably… maybe to my pastor, maybe to the person in charge of the EMHCs, I don’t know.

It is unusual for someone to be taking Communion to the homebound everyday. Perhaps he does have permission. Maybe he is taking Communion to a person who used to be a daily communicant. But I would tell the pastor what I have seen and inquire if it is permissable to take Communion to the homebound daily.

 

[japhy]

I would tell the pastor what I have seen and inquire if it is permissable to take Communion to the homebound daily.

I would be shocked if the pastor didn’t know he was taking a Host in a pyx with him after every daily (well, Tuesday, at least) Mass.

 

[zab]

It is unusual for someone to be taking Communion to the homebound everyday. Perhaps he does have permission. Maybe he is taking Communion to a person who used to be a daily communicant. But I would tell the pastor what I have seen and inquire if it is permissable to take Communion to the homebound daily.

I would be shocked if the pastor didn’t know he was taking a Host in a pyx with him after every daily (well, Tuesday, at least) Mass.

Actually, I was just showing an opportunity to bring this up to the pastor since you assumed that he was doing this every day. You could mention the dropping of the Host when you asked if it was permissable to take Communion to a homebound person daily.

 

[TheDoctor]

I’m going to go the other way with this. While dropping the Host is a serious matter, I suspect the Pastor has a lot on his plate. You mentioned there was someone in charge of the EMHC? If part of what that person does in educating your EMHC, they would be my first choice. This may have been brought up before, and the issue was thought to be resolved.

If your EMHC leader just does scheduling, I take it back. Talk to Father.

 

[FrDavid96]

This thread truly begs the question: who has the key to the tabernacle?

 

[japhy]

This thread truly begs the question: who has the key to the tabernacle?

The tabernacle key is kept somewhere in the back sacristy. Before Mass, it is placed in the tabernacle lock. After Mass, the people who purify the sacred vessels (yes, I know…) take the key into the back sacristy. But this man comes up to the tabernacle immediately after Mass, before the key is put away. (He’s not being sneaky or stealthy… this is just standard operating procedure, I suppose.)

 

[Sr_Sally]

The tabernacle key is kept somewhere in the back sacristy. Before Mass, it is placed in the tabernacle lock. After Mass, the people who purify the sacred vessels (yes, I know…) take the key into the back sacristy. But this man comes up to the tabernacle immediately after Mass, before the key is put away. (He’s not being sneaky or stealthy… this is just standard operating procedure, I suppose.)

Maybe in this conversation you can suggest that EMHCs taking communion to the homebound get their pyx filled directly after communion. This way the priest is doing it and isn’t likely to drop it. If other EMHCs/sacristan are still near the altar–since the key is still there, perhaps they can help if the priest doesn’t want to change the process.

Since this has happened twice now, I really think you should say something.

 

[benedictgal]

The tabernacle key is kept somewhere in the back sacristy. Before Mass, it is placed in the tabernacle lock. After Mass, the people who purify the sacred vessels (yes, I know…) take the key into the back sacristy. But this man comes up to the tabernacle immediately after Mass, before the key is put away. (He’s not being sneaky or stealthy… this is just standard operating procedure, I suppose.)

Japhy, I have an idea. How many people does the EMHC visit? If it’s 2 or 3, why not have him approach the priest, during Communion, and as he is receivng, open up his pyx and have the priest place the two or three extra hosts in there. This would prevent having the EMHC approach the Tabernacle and dropping the Sacred Hosts.

 

[zab]

Maybe in this conversation you can suggest that EMHCs taking communion to the homebound get their pyx filled directly after communion. This way the priest is doing it and isn’t likely to drop it. If other EMHCs/sacristan are still near the altar–since the key is still there, perhaps they can help if the priest doesn’t want to change the process.

Since this has happened twice now, I really think you should say something.

Going along with what you have said, the pyx can be placed on the Credence table before Mass, then the altar servers could bring the pyx to put on the altar along with the other ciborium and chalice. Then the priest can place the Host (Hosts) in the pyx at that time. The EMHC can pick it up after Mass.
Or else after Communion, when the priest is returning the Hosts to the tabernacle, he may want to put the Host for the homebound in the pyx.

 

[OhMalley]

The tabernacle key is kept somewhere in the back sacristy. **Before Mass, it is placed in the tabernacle lock. ** After Mass, the people who purify the sacred vessels (yes, I know…) take the key into the back sacristy. But this man comes up to the tabernacle immediately after Mass, before the key is put away. (He’s not being sneaky or stealthy… this is just standard operating procedure, I suppose.)

That is very bad form. Terrible sign value.

 

[zab]

That is very bad form. Terrible sign value.

I didn’t know that. I just know that our new pastor has us to place the key in front of the tabernacle where he can see it and not in the keyhole like we had done for years. I didn’t know that there was a reason such as you have said.

 

[peary2]

Why don’t you ask your priest to talk to him? That is his responsibility, not yours, actually. I’m sure the priest can arrange something so that this does not occur with the man.