Children as Eucharistic Ministers?

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onetruechurch

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In the Sunday bulletin was the following message:

Wanted: Youth as Liturgical Ministers We are looking for young people to participate in Liturgical Ministries, specifically as Eucharistic Ministers. Anyone who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation is eligible.
It goes on to quote Pope John Paul II:
“…This is what is needed: a church for young people, which will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist…”

Do you really think Pope JPII really wanted children to distribute communion? Most children or teens that I know are more accident prone than adults. :confused:
 
Maybe for a children and familiy mass, or a life teen mass. But why on earth would they be needed ofr an ordinary mass? There are too many uneeded adult serving as EMHC’s, let’s not continue the trend to the next generation.
 
We have confirmed teens in my parish serving as Eucharistic Ministers, but only at the Life Teen Mass. The teens that we have doing this tend to be very mature, and very reverent in their service. Personally, I find it inspiring. I also see them serving as a positive role model for other teens.
 
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onetruechurch:
In the Sunday bulletin was the following message:

Wanted: Youth as Liturgical Ministers We are looking for young people to participate in Liturgical Ministries, specifically as Eucharistic Ministers. Anyone who has received the Sacrament of Confirmation is eligible.
It goes on to quote Pope John Paul II:
“…This is what is needed: a church for young people, which will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist…”

Do you really think Pope JPII really wanted children to distribute communion? Most children or teens that I know are more accident prone than adults. :confused:
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What many do not realize is that for JPII “Young people” means under 35. Usually the term “Children” is used for those under 16. Most diocese have a requirement that only those over 18 can be commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
 
My Parish requests 18 yrs. or older… Which is a shame to me… By the time I could be trained to be one, I would be away in college…
Our school has 16 year olds trained for School Masses, and they do a fine job.
What exactly would be wrong with 16 year olds serving as Eucharistic Ministers though? Or those under 35… Age does not mean reverent of course…
 
I graduated from a Roman Catholic (Franciscan) High School where some seniors functioned as EMHC.

I was shocked when I saw this at Mass my first full day there (also, I had never been to a Mass before, nor did I ever envisage laymen distributing Holy Communion!) After four years there, plus the years since, I still find it very disturbing. 😦
 
How many countries find it necessary to have this ministry ? Anybody have statistics ?
 
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CatholicCid:
My Parish requests 18 yrs. or older… Which is a shame to me… By the time I could be trained to be one, I would be away in college…
Our school has 16 year olds trained for School Masses, and they do a fine job.
What exactly would be wrong with 16 year olds serving as Eucharistic Ministers though? Or those under 35… Age does not mean reverent of course…
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I personally think it should be set as a rule at minimum of 18. But have no issues with exceptions when the person or situation requires it. Canon Law currently states that a person must be 16 to be a Baptism Godparent. However I know of Bishops who have allowed on a case by case basis 12 to 15 year olds as long as they meet the other requirements.
 
HORRORS !!!

What a suggestion - though admittedly it does depend on your definition of children.

However I really do not feel it’s any function of the laity to assist in the Distribution of Holy Communion .

How many of you been appalled at the casual even sloppy irreverent attire of the EHMCs on the Altar ?

Even if it is hot they can and should be dressed decently - and that does not mean a 3 piece suit - decent pants and a nice clean long sleeved shirt for men and for women no bare arms , and certainly no underwear showing.

Maybe my age is showing 😦
 
I don’t know about everyone elses parishes, but in my town we confirm at the age of 14. At 14, I think a lot of the kids do not understand what the Eucharist is. A lot of them don’t truely believe it is the Body and Blood of Jesus. That would be my biggest concern about having young confirmed EMHC. The quote posted in regard to John Paul II was taken out of context too.

matthew
 
In my archdiocese and in the neighboring Archdiocese of New York, the mininimum age is 18. Check your diocesan web site or call your Worship Office.
 
My daughter was newly confirmed and 10 years old when she became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The pastor at the time identified qualities and maturity in her that he liked and actually requested her to become one and she did.

I am glad she did at age 10.
 
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contemplative:
My daughter was newly confirmed and 10 years old when she became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The pastor at the time identified qualities and maturity in her that he liked and actually requested her to become one and she did.

I am glad she did at age 10.
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Umm - she’s not old enough to get married.

She’s not old enough to vote

She’s not old enough to drink

She’s not old enough to drive a car

BUT she can administer Communion

Lord ,Jesus Christ , Son of God , have mercy on us
 
As much as I dislike line jumping, the thought of recieving from a 10 year old would make me do it.
 
I might be missing something… Is not Confirmation a type of final entry into the community of the Earthly Church? If so… How is it wrong for someone who has recieved it to distrubute the Eucharist? If one can truly understand the Eucharist and is willing, what is wrong with them working as a minister?
 
My son became an EME at the age of 16 when he no longer wanted to be an altar server and continued until he went to college…
 
Children as Eucharistic Ministers? Make sure i’m in the line that the Priest has. 😃
 
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CatholicCid:
I might be missing something… Is not Confirmation a type of final entry into the community of the Earthly Church? If so… How is it wrong for someone who has recieved it to distrubute the Eucharist? If one can truly understand the Eucharist and is willing, what is wrong with them working as a minister?
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Thank you CatholicCid,
This is true. It can’t be disputed.

We need more young innocent people coming forward. I have had enough of the older overly experienced kind in church.

I treasure the young and young at heart.
 
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