Do All Parish EMHC's Have Proper Formation Teaching?

[centurionguard]

It seems today that any Catholic can ask to serve as an EMHC.
I don’t know yesterday at Mass I was going up to receive Holy Communion where 8 EMHC’s where distributing Holy Communion with our parish priest naturally in the front center aisle.
Some parishioners will hold the line back because they feel Jesus is only in the consecrated host given by the priest himself. I’m not beside myself over this because I’ve been used to seeing this for over two decades. It takes patience so theirs no reason getting worked up about it since your reason for waiting is to take Jesus humbly in your soul.

One elderly EMHC gentlemen perhaps in his mid seventies often distributes Holy Communion on Sunday. However; he never says the Body of Christ to those parishioners receiving. Nor does he pause to hold the host up before the next succession of parishioners coming up to receive.

Perhaps I’m gripping for no reason here. It just seems some Catholics serving as EMHC’s can get complacent and lose respect for the humble service they have asked to serve.
As a Catholic I humbly don’t feel worthy to receive Holy Communion. I have the utmost respect for the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Eucharist. I think its an incredibly privilege to be an EMHC. Very humbling. Any time I’ve been asked to serve as an EMHC I’m almost shaking in my boots every time. I think being humbly attentive to giving out Holy Communion should always be consciously remembered.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Well, I understand that people want to receive from the priest himself. It is not necessarily the case that they think it is less the Lord when the receive from a non-priest, but it is in fact more symbolically appropriate for the priest to be the only distributor.

It is pretty clear that the huge numbers of EMHCs are not in keeping with the Church’s regulations concerning distributing holy communion.

In this era we need to keep clear more than ever what the priesthood means, and this is one way it is easily done - avoiding huge numbers of EMHCs.

 

[Gorgias]

Some parishioners will hold the line back because they feel Jesus is only in the consecrated host given by the priest himself.

Really? Is that what you believe that they’re thinking? That somehow, a host consecrated by a priest is un-consecrated when touched by a lay person? Hmm…

I might think that their perspective is that the Eucharist is only worthily distributed when it’s distributed by a person who is ordained.

One elderly EMHC gentlemen perhaps in his mid seventies often distributes Holy Communion on Sunday. However; he never says the Body of Christ to those parishioners receiving.

But, that doesn’t affect validity or liceity of the Eucharist, right?

Of course, the GIRM *does *ask him to say “Body of Christ”.

Nor does he pause to hold the host up before the next succession of parishioners coming up to receive.

The GIRM only requires that one “raises the host slightly and shows it to each” (#161).

 

[centurionguard]

Well, I understand that people want to receive from the priest himself. It is not necessarily the case that they think it is less the Lord when the receive from a non-priest, but it is in fact more symbolically appropriate for the priest to be the only distributor.

It is pretty clear that the huge numbers of EMHCs are not in keeping with the Church’s regulations concerning distributing holy communion.

In this era we need to keep clear more than ever what the priesthood means, and this is one way it is easily done - avoiding huge numbers of EMHCs.

I think you have some valid points that I am not ignoring however; his Holiness Pope Paul VI SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html made EMHC’s possible.

 

[DexUK]

I can only speak from my own experience as an EMHC.

Before I was allowed anywhere near the ciboria or the chalices I had to undergo a training session led by our then (now late) bishop. That is the policy of the diocese where I live, however I don’t think there’s any set rules from one diocese to the next regarding training for regular EMsHC. I do know that the rules which permit there to be an EMHC at a Mass also permit the presiding priest to deputise any parishioner he chooses for that particular Mass, so presumably there is no formal requirement for prior training: anything formal is up to the diocese.

As far as my own participation goes, it isn’t remotely anything I could become complacent about. I treat it with the utmost seriousness. My first ever ‘outing’ as an EMHC was, in fact, not in my home parish but in the city where I worked. I was distributing Holy Communion to the line in the side aisle while the priest took the main aisle. I was terrified.

My hands shook, I sweated buckets, my heart raced. The honour and the awe I experienced were beyond any comparison to anything else I’ve ever experienced.

As far as numbers are concerned, I can see the point if there are multiple Masses tightly scheduled together or there’s a good pastoral need to keep time to a minimum (i.e. a lunchtime Mass for workers needing to be able to return to their jobs). Also, if there is a huge congregation, while it might be lovely for everyone to go to the priest for Communion, for everyone to do so, it runs the risk of the congregation getting itchy feet and being tempted to lose focus if there’s simply too much of a wait either for or after Communion. In these days where there is typically only one priest per parish, and therefore no ordained ‘helping hands’ then having EMsHC is a practical necessity.

 

[Joannm]

I am involved with EMHC training in our diocese. All candidates have to write a letter to their pastor and be interviewed, take VIRTUS and have a background chech before nomination letter is sent to the Bishop. They must attend a four hour diocesan couse that covers the Mass, Eucharistic theology and spirituality and the practicalities of serving. Then they are supposed to receive further instruction from their individual parish.

If they want to bring communion to the homebound they must attend a second four hour class.

In my parish I also write a newsletter where in addition to a spiritual reflection I might five some general correction or point out any new directives from the pastor or the diocese. Is someone seems to be sloppy or not doing his or her service well I might talk to them. I also have three meetings a year where I address issues, so all EMHCs should know exactly what is expected of them.

 

[Snugglebugmom]

I might think that their perspective is that the Eucharist is only worthily distributed when it’s distributed by a person who is ordained.

I have to admit, I feel that way too. We have on average 4 or 5 EMHC’s distributing the host, along with our priest and sometimes a deacon. There is only one EMHC, a woman of perhaps 55, who shows such reverence in her every movement that I feel comfortable receiving the Eucharist from her. It just shows in everything, the fact that she receives communion on the tongue, that she bows before taking the ciborium from the priest, her whole posture. Everybody else passes out the host like it’s a girl scout cookie.
My family and I sit in the second pew from the front in the center, so generally it is the priest that we receive from. But yesterday there was a visiting priest and he took the other side of the center aisle, so we received from an EMHC and it just feels a little off somehow. If all the EMHC’s were as obviously reverend in their demeanor as that one lady, it would be an entirely different experience.

 

[centurionguard]

I can only speak from my own experience as an EMHC.

Before I was allowed anywhere near the ciboria or the chalices I had to undergo a training session led by our then (now late) bishop. That is the policy of the diocese where I live, however I don’t think there’s any set rules from one diocese to the next regarding training for regular EMsHC. I do know that the rules which permit there to be an EMHC at a Mass also permit the presiding priest to deputise any parishioner he chooses for that particular Mass, so presumably there is no formal requirement for prior training: anything formal is up to the diocese.

As far as my own participation goes, it isn’t remotely anything I could become complacent about. I treat it with the utmost seriousness. My first ever ‘outing’ as an EMHC was, in fact, not in my home parish but in the city where I worked. I was distributing Holy Communion to the line in the side aisle while the priest took the main aisle. I was terrified.

My hands shook, I sweated buckets, my heart raced. The honour and the awe I experienced were beyond any comparison to anything else I’ve ever experienced.

As far as numbers are concerned, I can see the point if there are multiple Masses tightly scheduled together or there’s a good pastoral need to keep time to a minimum (i.e. a lunchtime Mass for workers needing to be able to return to their jobs). Also, if there is a huge congregation, while it might be lovely for everyone to go to the priest for Communion, for everyone to do so, it runs the risk of the congregation getting itchy feet and being tempted to lose focus if there’s simply too much of a wait either for or after Communion. In these days where there is typically only one priest per parish, and therefore no ordained ‘helping hands’ then having EMsHC is a practical necessity.

As far as numbers are concerned, I can see the point if there are multiple Masses tightly scheduled together or there’s a good pastoral need to keep time to a minimum (i.e. a lunchtime Mass for workers needing to be able to return to their jobs). Also, if there is a huge congregation, while it might be lovely for everyone to go to the priest for Communion, for everyone to do so, it runs the risk of the congregation getting itchy feet and being tempted to lose focus if there’s simply too much of a wait either for or after Communion. In these days where there is typically only one priest per parish, and therefore no ordained ‘helping hands’ then having EMsHC is a practical necessity.

I have a problem with a number of points you state above. IMHO I find it an insult to Jesus when any Mass is said out of expediency for the benefit of workers etc. That’s why some parishes have early morning Masses between 6:00 and 7:00 am. Same with distribution of Holy Communion…why does such have to be a hasty show of expediency and/or sometimes have the resemblance of an orchestrated regimental parade?

Granted some bigger parishes have huge community members. But usually there’s a minimum of a half hour before the next Mass starts.

 

[TimothyH]

I can only speak from my own experience as an EMHC.

Before I was allowed anywhere near the ciboria or the chalices I had to undergo a training session led by our then (now late) bishop. That is the policy of the diocese where I live, however I don’t think there’s any set rules from one diocese to the next regarding training for regular EMsHC. I do know that the rules which permit there to be an EMHC at a Mass also permit the presiding priest to deputise any parishioner he chooses for that particular Mass, so presumably there is no formal requirement for prior training: anything formal is up to the diocese.

As far as my own participation goes, it isn’t remotely anything I could become complacent about. I treat it with the utmost seriousness. My first ever ‘outing’ as an EMHC was, in fact, not in my home parish but in the city where I worked. I was distributing Holy Communion to the line in the side aisle while the priest took the main aisle. I was terrified.

My hands shook, I sweated buckets, my heart raced. The honour and the awe I experienced were beyond any comparison to anything else I’ve ever experienced.

As far as numbers are concerned, I can see the point if there are multiple Masses tightly scheduled together or there’s a good pastoral need to keep time to a minimum (i.e. a lunchtime Mass for workers needing to be able to return to their jobs). Also, if there is a huge congregation, while it might be lovely for everyone to go to the priest for Communion, for everyone to do so, it runs the risk of the congregation getting itchy feet and being tempted to lose focus if there’s simply too much of a wait either for or after Communion. In these days where there is typically only one priest per parish, and therefore no ordained ‘helping hands’ then having EMsHC is a practical necessity.

This has been my experience as well. I have served once at Christmas Midnight Mass and again once since then.

And not only as an EMHC, but the first time I approached the altar as an altar server during Mass to purify the priest’s hands was a similar experience. Terrified is the right word.

I am going to formal EMHC training this evening to be trained by a priest of 25 years.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

I am involved with EMHC training in our diocese. All candidates have to write a letter to their pastor and be interviewed, take VIRTUS and have a background chech before nomination letter is sent to the Bishop. They must attend a four hour diocesan couse that covers the Mass, Eucharistic theology and spirituality and the practicalities of serving. Then they are supposed to receive further instruction from their individual parish.

If they want to bring communion to the homebound they must attend a second four hour class.

In my parish I also write a newsletter where in addition to a spiritual reflection I might five some general correction or point out any new directives from the pastor or the diocese. Is someone seems to be sloppy or not doing his or her service well I might talk to them. I also have three meetings a year where I address issues, so all EMHCs should know exactly what is expected of them.

This is awseome. May I ask what diocese?

I would love to go to a class like that.

-Tim-

 

[DexUK]

I have a problem with a number of points you state above. IMHO I find it an insult to Jesus when any Mass is said out of expediency for the benefit of workers etc. That’s why some parishes have early morning Masses between 6:00 and 7:00 am. Same with distribution of Holy Communion…why does such have to be a hasty show of expediency and/or sometimes have the resemblance of an orchestrated regimental parade?

Granted some bigger parishes have huge community members. But usually there’s a minimum of a half hour before the next Mass starts.

Let me just give you the real life example then…

I used to work in the City of London. Like many, I would set out for work before 7am in the morning, 100 miles from my office, and I would not have the opportunity to attend Mass before work. Lunchtime Mass was the only chance to attend during the week. It took me 10-15 minutes to walk to and from the church. I had an hour for lunch. The church was normally packed every lunchtime - indeed, being in the City of London, it was fuller during the week than on Sundays, just by the nature of the influx of working people. I was by no means unusual in either my commute or my available lunch hour…

For perfectly reasonable practical and pastoral reasons, Mass needed to be no more than 30 minutes long. With 300-400 people in the church, Communion would take much too long for people to then be able to get back to their jobs unless they happened to be working quite literally on the doorstep of the church itself. And this was a normal weekday Mass. On Holydays of Obligation that fell on weekdays, the church needed to lay on three Masses to accommodate the demand.

Let me ask you this: which is more respectful to Christ? Allowing as many people as possible to hear the Word and receive Communion in the limited time available? Or having one long Mass that meets your description of ‘respect’ such that nobody can realistically attend within their obligations to their employers?

 

[japhy]

“Do All Parish EMHC’s Have Proper Formation Teaching?”

I was almost made an EMHC at my parish this past weekend, without having received any training or formation (or warning!).

 

[Mrs_Sally]

My diocese has extensive training for EMHCs. First, no one volunteers - you must be asked by the pastor. Training is done by the diocese Office of Liturgy, which also keeps an official roster of EMHCs because you can only be commisioned for 5 years at a stretch. Then there is a training session at the parish to go over details specific to the parish.

 

[Joannm]

“Do All Parish EMHC’s Have Proper Formation Teaching?”

I was almost made an EMHC at my parish this past weekend, without having received any training or formation (or warning!).

There is the possibility of “instituting” an EM for one time. It’s in the Book of Blessings. But my pastor once grabbed the lector since the assigned EMs didn’t show up. He was so scared.

 

[japhy]

There is the possibility of “instituting” an EM for one time.

This was me being signed up (unbeknownst to me) for regular EMHC duty for my parish.

 

[centurionguard]

Let me just give you the real life example then…

I used to work in the City of London. Like many, I would set out for work before 7am in the morning, 100 miles from my office, and I would not have the opportunity to attend Mass before work. Lunchtime Mass was the only chance to attend during the week. It took me 10-15 minutes to walk to and from the church. I had an hour for lunch. The church was normally packed every lunchtime - indeed, being in the City of London, it was fuller during the week than on Sundays, just by the nature of the influx of working people. I was by no means unusual in either my commute or my available lunch hour…

For perfectly reasonable practical and pastoral reasons, Mass needed to be no more than 30 minutes long. With 300-400 people in the church, Communion would take much too long for people to then be able to get back to their jobs unless they happened to be working quite literally on the doorstep of the church itself. And this was a normal weekday Mass. On Holydays of Obligation that fell on weekdays, the church needed to lay on three Masses to accommodate the demand.

Let me ask you this: which is more respectful to Christ? Allowing as many people as possible to hear the Word and receive Communion in the limited time available? Or having one long Mass that meets your description of ‘respect’ such that nobody can realistically attend within their obligations to their employers?

Let me ask you this: which is more respectful to Christ? Allowing as many people as possible to hear the Word and receive Communion in the limited time available? **Or having one long Mass (“that meets your description of ‘respect’”) ** such that nobody can realistically attend within their obligations to their employers?

Let me respectfully remind you that any of my sentiments and ideals towards reverence at Mass is not my own, but what has been instilled within me by the teachings of the Catholic Church. Nor do I make any small diminished part about stressing reverence at Mass which is often lacking in the Church today through complacency.

Perhaps Quickie Masses are part of (“the-in-thing”) within today’s hustle and bustle lifestyles in the secular world but they never left a serious impression on me IMHO.

I am not without the understanding for some shorter Masses to meet the demands of the Faithful however; there is no need for reverence to be sacrificed at the expense of something miraculously profound that takes place on the Altar.

 

[Joannm]

L

Perhaps Quickie Masses are part of (“the-in-thing”) within today’s hustle and bustle lifestyles in the secular world but they never left a serious impression on me IMHO.

I am not without the understanding for some shorter Masses to meet the demands of the Faithful however; there is no need for reverence to be sacrificed at the expense of something miraculously profound that takes place on the Altar.

You would have not liked daily masses pre-Vatican II changes then. I recall as a kid that a daily Mass could be a short as 15 minutes, although back then they usually didn’t give a homily on a week day. On Sunday’s we had back to back Masses every hour so Mass had to be at the most 45 minutes to empty the parking lot. The only Mass that was long was the Noon High Mass.

 

[centurionguard]

You would have not liked daily masses pre-Vatican II changes then. I recall as a kid that a daily Mass could be a short as 15 minutes, although back then they usually didn’t give a homily on a week day. On Sunday’s we had back to back Masses every hour so Mass had to be at the most 45 minutes to empty the parking lot. The only Mass that was long was the Noon High Mass.

Fifteen minutes is awfully fast, though I admit I’ve had the privilege of serving a priest alone between him and myself on a number of occasions where he said private Mass in the vicinity of 20 minutes. He paused to read the gospel for my benefit.

I have witnessed short 20 minute Masses said in front of congregations on Sunday’s in the heat of summer. You do have to have your ears very well oiled and tuned to all the words being said even if you do remember them (the Rubrics) by memory.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Fifteen minutes is awfully fast, though I admit I’ve had the privilege of serving a priest alone between him and myself on a number of occasions where he said private Mass in the vicinity of 20 minutes. He paused to read the gospel for my benefit.

I have witnessed short 20 minute Masses said in front of congregations on Sunday’s in the heat of summer. You do have to have your ears very well oiled and tuned to all the words being said even if you do remember them (the Rubrics) by memory.

I LOVE Low Mass. Sorry, I just wanted to say that.

 

[DCNBILL]

Granted some bigger parishes have huge community members. But usually there’s a minimum of a half hour before the next Mass starts.

Tell me about it, some of our members go over 300 pounds.