Criteria for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

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hwriggles4

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I’m sure this has been asked numerous times, but I am wondering if anyone else besides me is familiar with a criteria for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC). Years ago, a good priest explained to us who did liturgical ministries (all of us were in the same room, and I was the head usher, not an EMHC) that the criteria to be an EMHC was the following:
  • Must be Baptized - “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
  • Must have received First Holy Communion
  • Must have been Confirmed
  • Must be a practicing Catholic (and be a good example)
  • If married, marriage must be in accordance with the Holy Catholic Church
This good priest also said that the names of EMHC’s must be submitted to the Bishop.

Here’s my question: Has anyone else besides me heard any of this criteria, and if so, is it always enforced, and is it universal throughout the United States and Canada?
 
I think the exact criteria depend on the bishop. The criteria for Los Angeles are here: la-archdiocese.org/org/worship/guidelines/Pages/communion.aspx

Criteria include:
  1. Baptized and Confirmed Catholics, fifteen years of age or older, are eligible for this ministry. They should be persons who sincerely try to live the Gospel message in their communal and individual lives. They should faithfully participate in the Sunday Eucharist and with God’s grace strive to live their faith in every aspect of their lives.
  2. Candidates for the ministry of Holy Communion are to be properly formed with spiritual, theological and practical training before they are commissioned for service in the parish (Norms #28).
  3. All new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should be commissioned, preferably during a Sunday Mass. The Rite of Commissioning is found in the Book of Blessings, chapter 63, page 795 (Catholic Book edition).
  4. The names of newly commissioned ministers are to be submitted to the Office for Worship so that individual cards noting their commissioning may be sent to the parish for each minister.
  5. At least once a year, each community should arrange some program or retreat to renew the faith, prayer and commitment of the present ministers. These meetings/retreats could also include discussions of issues that have arisen in the course of their ministry.
  6. All ministers of Communion should be encouraged to attend the Archdiocesan workshops on liturgy sponsored by the Office for Worship as well as relevant workshops offered by other Archdiocesan Offices (e.g., Religious Education Congress).
 
Those sound like good basic guidelines. I don’t know what they are in my local diocese (Monterey California) but I hope to some day be an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. I’m sure that they will have me wait a year or more after my first communion, but I will be patient for so immense an honor of holding and distributing the holy body, blood soul and Divinity of our Lord in the Eucharist.
 
Upon being named EMHC for the first time, I received a letter from my Bishop telling me my Pastor had asked that I be appointed and had vouched for my suitability. The letter outlined my responsibilities and limitations – it was for a specific period and my ministry limited to my parish.

I served as EMHC in at least three other parishes after that. In all those we only had to volunteer and we were immediately put on the roster.

When a new pastor was appointed to my present parish in 2001, he submitted all names to the Bishop, we had to be trained and did not serve until commisioned and presented with the document from the Bishop. That lasted until 2004 but his successor didn’t continue the practise. It was briefly revived when a new Pastor was appointed in 2009. I don’t think any new EMHCs have been added since our most recent Pastor started, but he’s been calling for volunteers in the last several bulletins. Don’t know how he is going to deal with this.

Once I understood under what circumstances EMHCs are supposed to minister, I stepped down. It was too often the case that three EMHCs woud distribute while two priests sat and watched them.
 
Phemie said:
Once I understood under what circumstances EMHCs are supposed to minister, I stepped down. It was too often the case that three EMHCs woud distribute while two priests sat and watched them.
Click to expand...
Wow, that is a real shame!
 
hwriggles4 said:
  • Must be Baptized - “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
  • Must have received First Holy Communion
  • Must have been Confirmed
  • Must be a practicing Catholic (and be a good example)
  • If married, marriage must be in accordance with the Holy Catholic Church
Click to expand...
That criteria is the basic criteria for most anything in the Church-- practicing Catholic who has completed the sacraments of initiation and if married is in a valid marriage.

Here are the appropriate canons regarding ministries in the Church. The specific criteria (such as any age or formation) for service in the Church is left to the bishop’s conference and/or the individual bishop.

Can. 230 §1. Lay men who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte.

Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church.

§2. Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law.

§3. When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside offer liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.

Can. 231 §1. Lay persons who permanently or temporarily devote themselves to special service of the Church are obliged to acquire the appropriate formation required to fulfill their function properly and to carry out this function conscientiously, eagerly, and diligently.
 
Phemie said:
Once I understood under what circumstances EMHCs are supposed to minister, I stepped down. It was too often the case that three EMHCs woud distribute while two priests sat and watched them.
Click to expand...
:eek:

Thank you for being so obedient and humble that you would step down. Many would not, and think it is their right, once commissioned, to always and everywhere distribute the Eucharist. I often see “territorial” pride associated with this service - even “bragging” rights which, imho, should preclude even those mandated from being an EMHC, even though they qualify according to the “rules.”
 
I hope that this thread will remain focused on the criteria that different parishes or dioceses have for communion ministers and not turn into yet another rant about them.
 
An EMHC has to be in a state of grace to exercise their ministry at any given Mass. That is what I have been told.

-Tim-
 
When the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum was published I wrote about how it changed the appointment of EMHCs at romanrite.com/redemptionis.html . Here is a slightly modified version of what I wrote then. “Documents on the Liturgy” is a book which includes the 1973 Instruction I refer to.

Appointment of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

In 1973 the Instruction Immensae caritatis described the appointment of these “in a given instance or for a set period or even permanently”. (Documents on the Liturgy, n. 2075). The 2004 Instruction changes this to “one occasion or for a specified time”.

A Rite of Commissioning was also published (around 1973), with the instruction: “When the local Ordinary or his delegate deputes anyone in particular circumstances as a special minister of holy communion, that person should receive a mandate according to the following rite. This rite may take place either within or outside Mass, with a congregation present.” (Documents on the Liturgy, n. 2949).

This rite was “advisable” rather than essential: “If there is time, it is advisable that the fit person chosen … should receive a commission (mandatum) according to the rite annexed to this Instruction.” (Documents on the Liturgy, n. 2080).

The 2004 Instruction highlights this, in n. 155: “This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way.”

The appointments are no longer made by the more general “local Ordinary or his delegate” but “by the diocesan bishop”.

So now to be properly appointed as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion I would say you need a document signed by the local bishop, including an expiry date for the appointment.

In 1973 the instructions were that an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion could be appointed “whenever it seems necessary for the pastoral benefit of the faithful and no priest, deacon, or acolyte is available.” (Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass, n. 17). The 2004 instruction has: “If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed.” (n. 157).
 
TimothyH said:
An EMHC has to be in a state of grace to exercise their ministry at any given Mass. That is what I have been told.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
Is that true? And why? I don’t think a priest has to be in a state of Grace to have a valid Mass… I suppose the argument could be made that he should be in a state of Grace to consume the Host at the consecration but an EMHC does not necessarily have to consume the Host at all.
 
hwriggles4 said:
I’m sure this has been asked numerous times, but I am wondering if anyone else besides me is familiar with a criteria for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC). Years ago, a good priest explained to us who did liturgical ministries (all of us were in the same room, and I was the head usher, not an EMHC) that the criteria to be an EMHC was the following:
  • Must be Baptized - “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
  • Must have received First Holy Communion
  • Must have been Confirmed
  • Must be a practicing Catholic (and be a good example)
  • If married, marriage must be in accordance with the Holy Catholic Church
This good priest also said that the names of EMHC’s must be submitted to the Bishop.

Here’s my question: Has anyone else besides me heard any of this criteria, and if so, is it always enforced, and is it universal throughout the United States and Canada?
Click to expand...
I think it is enforced, especially the bit about being a good example of a catholic. This includes having a good reputation, and if you’ve been put in gaol innocently (like David Hicks) or framed, then that’s bad luck. Bad news is simply bad.

Another very important criteria is to have a parish secretary who is willing to cooperate with you and will give you accurate information about when you’re supposed to show up. Without this necessary ingredient, it is simply impossible.

Sometimes they can draw you in and then push you away at their leisure.

In all these things, there are the rules and then its down to mutual cooperation.
 
hwriggles4 said:
I’m sure this has been asked numerous times, but I am wondering if anyone else besides me is familiar with a criteria for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC). Years ago, a good priest explained to us who did liturgical ministries (all of us were in the same room, and I was the head usher, not an EMHC) that the criteria to be an EMHC was the following:
  • Must be Baptized - “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
  • Must have received First Holy Communion
  • Must have been Confirmed
  • Must be a practicing Catholic (and be a good example)
  • If married, marriage must be in accordance with the Holy Catholic Church
This good priest also said that the names of EMHC’s must be submitted to the Bishop.

Here’s my question: Has anyone else besides me heard any of this criteria, and if so, is it always enforced, and is it universal throughout the United States and Canada?
Click to expand...
The criteria in our parish is that an EMHC must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing. That is a shorter statement than the five-point list you give, but it covers all of the same criteria. I am not sure if the names of the regular EMHCs are submitted to the Bishop.

In my parish, it is enforced.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
I think the exact criteria depend on the bishop. The criteria for Los Angeles are here: la-archdiocese.org/org/worship/guidelines/Pages/communion.aspx

Criteria include:
  1. Baptized and Confirmed Catholics, fifteen years of age or older, are eligible for this ministry. They should be persons who sincerely try to live the Gospel message in their communal and individual lives. They should faithfully participate in the Sunday Eucharist and with God’s grace strive to live their faith in every aspect of their lives.
  2. Candidates for the ministry of Holy Communion are to be properly formed with spiritual, theological and practical training before they are commissioned for service in the parish (Norms #28).
  3. All new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should be commissioned, preferably during a Sunday Mass. The Rite of Commissioning is found in the Book of Blessings, chapter 63, page 795 (Caetholic Book edition).
  4. The names of newly commissioned ministers are to be submitted to the Office for Worship so that individual cards noting their commissioning may be sent to the parish for each minister.
  5. At least once a year, each community should arrange some program or retreat to renew the faith, prayer and commitment of the present ministers. These meetings/retreats could also include discussions of issues that have arisen in the course of their ministry.
  6. All ministers of Communion should be encouraged to attend the Archdiocesan workshops on liturgy sponsored by the Office for Worship as well as relevant workshops offered by other Archdiocesan Offices (e.g., Religious Education Congress).
Click to expand...
Same for the Archdiocese of NY. With emphasis on continued formation catechisis.
 
hwriggles4 said:
I’m sure this has been asked numerous times, but I am wondering if anyone else besides me is familiar with a criteria for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC). Years ago, a good priest explained to us who did liturgical ministries (all of us were in the same room, and I was the head usher, not an EMHC) that the criteria to be an EMHC was the following:
  • Must be Baptized - “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
  • Must have received First Holy Communion
  • Must have been Confirmed
  • Must be a practicing Catholic (and be a good example)
  • If married, marriage must be in accordance with the Holy Catholic Church
This good priest also said that the names of EMHC’s must be submitted to the Bishop.

Here’s my question: Has anyone else besides me heard any of this criteria, and if so, is it always enforced, and is it universal throughout the United States and Canada?
Click to expand...
This is the criteria to be an EMHC in my parish. I was just commissioned to serve 2 weeks ago so this is all familiar with me.

Peace,
Mat.
 
Most of the criteria mentioned in past posts are applicable to my diocese too. We are getting commissioned (something we’ve not had to do in past) sometime this year too.
 
Many years ago, I was commissioned by our previous Bishop to serve as an EMHC or Lector. The next Priest we had said it was up to him, and him alone. I only served 3 or 4 times while he was here, he had the same 4 or 5 persons every week for the 3 years he was here. The next Priest said NO lay person could distribute the Host (Holy Eucharist), but when a large crowd was present, he would occasionally allow a man to do so, (along with the Priest) but never a woman. Women were only permitted to distribute the Precious Blood. Since both are Our Lord, I had problems with this attitude. Our present Priest simply lets our “liturgical Minister” (who has read a lot and is a former school principal) train and appoint all Mass Ministers. I now serve 3 - 4 times a month. We have two parish locations in our town, and I schedule all those for the one I attend, and all receive the schedule for the following 2 months from me. Our “liturgical minister” says I am NOT a “liturgical minister”, although I also serve now as our Sacristan every week, and assist in that capacity at all weddings in our Parish. How does one become a “liturgical minister”? The Diocese is a 5 hour drive from me in a large city, and I am in a rural area, with a small Catholic population. As a former Franciscan Sister who served as Sacristan in the Convent for 3 years, what else do I need to become accredited as a “liturgical minister” for the lay members who serve as EMHC, Lector, Usher or Servers? She will not allow me to train any of them, although I have done so when she is “busy” or out of town, and that is o.k. with her, but only in those special circumstances. We are all required to also have Virtus training to protect the children and young persons in the parish, which I have also done & which I definitely approve of!
 
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