Conduct of Eucharistic Ministers

[Urn]

A Special Minister of Holy Communion might be reluctant to exchange handshakes at the Sign of Peace because they want to keep their hands clean for distribution of the Eucharist. Not all parishes have hand sanitizer routines worked out prior to Communion.

C’mon now…

 

[Urn]

Is there a code of conduct, or requirement of respect for all parishioners when acting as Eucharistic Minister that should be expected?
Given our human nature, we don’t always “like” everyone. This is true in my life experience. St.Therese writes her experiences of this in Journey of A Soul. I do not expect everyone to like me and I have not always liked another- but I am respectful and would care if something happened or I could help- this I would do. my personal emotions really would take very low priority.
And I distinguish a difference from loving one another- always hoping for the good of another - as Christ commands us.

But what about a EM/reader/singer (generally is near or on the Altar in one capacity or another during each Mass)- who gives sarcastic looks, refuses to ever smile or acknowledge someone in return, who waves their hand away from their body -during the Mass sign of peace- like rudely saying by hand language “get away, don’t look at me”?

if this was another parishioner, well its easy to just give people their space, but when involved in the Mass, is this different and I wonder what others would do?

( have to smile when I see St Teresa’s quote below…is this not so?!

thank you!

Count your blessings. We have EMsHC in my parish that shake hands with BOTH hands (as if they are working a rope line) while on their way to the sanctuary. It’s repulsive. I just look away.

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

I try, it is my intention, to post without any identifying information. It is not my intention

to cause harm…at all. I am simply trying to understand some things, mass, people , the

Catholic faith today - I am trying to be in Christs church and it is difficult sometimes where

I am.but I do need to focus on it from another angle…there are Catholic’s christians being

persecuted, murdered, losing everything they own. there are Parish’s being destroyed-

priests being kidnapped
.

there are many bigger horrible things going on than my little issue with personalities.

and I guess I can be grateful and remember the great mercy the Lord has shown me

and pray for all of our churches because I don’t think it will be getting easier anytime soon.

so here I am … we are to love God and love one another. period. even our enemies. we are to love. ~~~~~~~~~thank you all

.

.

.

 

[Bonnie]

But the situation has made me aware at how easily I am swayed by what others think

Or rather, what you* think* people are thinking. It’s all too easy for any of us to read into another’s behavior something that isn’t there at all. We are not mind readers.

If I can tell a little story? A friend went to a restaurant with her toddler. The child was a handful that day, vocal and wriggly. My friend noticed that a woman kept looking at her and her child, so thinking the woman was being critical of her child and parenting skills, she hurried up the meal. As she left her table, the woman who had been watching stopped her. She said she really enjoyed seeing the rapport my friend had with her child and it gave her a lot of pleasure to watch such a happy child.

Had my friend really known what the woman was thinking, she would have been a lot happier!

 

[thistle]

Is there a code of conduct, or requirement of respect for all parishioners when acting as Eucharistic Minister that should be expected?
Given our human nature, we don’t always “like” everyone. This is true in my life experience. St.Therese writes her experiences of this in Journey of A Soul. I do not expect everyone to like me and I have not always liked another- but I am respectful and would care if something happened or I could help- this I would do. my personal emotions really would take very low priority.
And I distinguish a difference from loving one another- always hoping for the good of another - as Christ commands us.

But what about a EM/reader/singer (generally is near or on the Altar in one capacity or another during each Mass)- who gives sarcastic looks, refuses to ever smile or acknowledge someone in return, who waves their hand away from their body -during the Mass sign of peace- like rudely saying by hand language “get away, don’t look at me”?

if this was another parishioner, well its easy to just give people their space, but when involved in the Mass, is this different and I wonder what others would do?

( have to smile when I see St Teresa’s quote below…is this not so?!

thank you!

The Eucharistic Minister is the priest. EMHC’s are not Eucharistic Ministers. Lay people cannot be Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[EasterJoy]

The Eucharistic Minister is the priest. EMHC’s are not Eucharistic Ministers. Lay people cannot be Eucharistic Ministers.

There are ordinary ministers and extraordinary ministers, and the OP did say “acting as”, implying that the person she meant did not have the capacity on a permanent basis, such as an ordinary minister would have. Still, I agree that the general term should be used either when referring to all (that is, both clergy and whatever help they use) or to the ordinary ministers only. When referring to laypeople only, it is better to say “extraordinary”, so the meaning is clear. It’s a little more to say, but it is worth the trouble.

 

[EasterJoy]

Or rather, what you* think* people are thinking. It’s all too easy for any of us to read into another’s behavior something that isn’t there at all. We are not mind readers.

If I can tell a little story? A friend went to a restaurant with her toddler. The child was a handful that day, vocal and wriggly. My friend noticed that a woman kept looking at her and her child, so thinking the woman was being critical of her child and parenting skills, she hurried up the meal. As she left her table, the woman who had been watching stopped her. She said she really enjoyed seeing the rapport my friend had with her child and it gave her a lot of pleasure to watch such a happy child.

Had my friend really known what the woman was thinking, she would have been a lot happier!

This is why one has to be careful not to stare at strangers, though.