EMHC and Lector

[Balthasar]

I have been informed that one should not perform both the function of an EMHC and Lector at the same mass if others are present who can perform one of these functions. Clarification on this would be appreciated.

 

[brownmil]

While my thoughts are in no way authoritative, I would present the following:

1. As we know there are multiple parts of the mass and thus different ministries present. While many of us are actively involved in various ministries within our parishes, I believe that we should allow as many of our parishionners to become involved in the celebration of Mass.
2. If we start with the procession at the beginnig of Mass we have a specific place for the Lectors and one for the EME or EMHC. How can one human be in both places at once?
3. I can understand if someone is ill or unable to attend at the last minute, but on a norm, I don’t believe that it should be the case that one does both lector and EME during the same Mass, unless there are no others there trained to perform those functions in the Mass.
4. I believe that is all about involving everyone in the parish to the fullest extent possible and sharing the blessings received during the Mass.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I have read this someplace, but don’t remember the source. It is important that laity be perceived as assisting, not running the mass. Thus the tasks should be shared so that one person does not stand out as the driving force. Particularly at weekday masses it can easily become a one-man show with various priests assisting him each day.

On the other hand the number assisting must be regulated so that it doesn’t become a game of jumping-jacks with a constant flux of people up and down, e.g. usually one person for the Prayer of the Faithful unless more are required for language problems.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Here’s what the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship has to say about Ministries and Roles within the Liturgical Assembly at Mass:

The General Instruction makes it very clear that this variety of offices and roles is desirable and should be maintained. In fact it goes so far as to state: … all, therefore, whether they are ordained ministers or Christian faithful, in fulfilling their offices or their duty, should carry out solely but completely that which pertains to them." Not only, therefore, is it desirable that individuals function in roles of service at Mass, it is clear from the Instruction that if a deacon, for example, is present, the priest celebrant or a concelebrant should not read the Gospel. And the lector should not also take on the role of server and/or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. There is a wide variety of services to be performed, and it is desirable that different individuals exercise those services so that the talents and gifts God has placed within the Christian community are fully utilized and these roles of service are not monopolized by a few.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Say a man has been instituted as both an acolyte and lector. He is the only instituted minister at the Mass. Then my understanding is that the liturgical books require and him to be both the reader and EMHC (if one is required for this Mass). From the 2002 GIRM:
“100. In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers.
101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture.”

If the person is not instituted, then they can still do several ministries, but are not required to:
“110. If only one minister is present at a Mass with a congregation, that minister may exercise several different duties.”

Then it is the decision of the parish priest:
“107. The liturgical duties that are not proper to the priest or the deacon and are listed above (cf. nos. 100-106) may also be entrusted by a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or rector of the church.”

 

[Aramis]

An instituted acolyte or instituted lector is a non-ordained Catholic minister. A minister with specific duties.

It is proper that they perform their duties when present.

So, if an instituted lector is present and has faculties in the local diocese, it is his duty to read the lection. No other layman should.

Likewise, an instituted acolyte with faculties in the local diocese must serve when present, unless enough instituted acolytes are present.

Now, if there are not enough ministers (Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Instituted Acolytes, Instituted Lectors), then it is proper to divide the Acolyte’s, Lector’s, and EMHC’s roles amongst the laymen trained to do so, 1 person per job.

Note also: EVERY priest, deacon, and subdeacon is also an Acolyte and Lector; it is part of their proper formation (by canon law).

 

[Balthasar]

Thank you all. I now have a clear picture on the situation.

 

[DebChris]

I have been informed that one should not perform both the function of an EMHC and Lector at the same mass if others are present who can perform one of these functions. Clarification on this would be appreciated.

Simple answer to a simple question. Yes, it is preferable that the lector not distribute communion during the same Mass.
The only time that I have done both is when directed by the celebrant.
There are times when I attended a Mass other than my normal Mass. The lector might also act as EMHC because he/she is not aware that another extraordinary minister is available.The one thing that an EMCH does not want to do is create disruption during the Mass.

 

[Sir_Knight]

An instituted acolyte or instituted lector is a non-ordained Catholic minister.

I thought that acolyte was one of the two minor orders with subdeacon being the other one.

 

[THurifer2]

I thought that acolyte was one of the two minor orders with subdeacon being the other one.

The former 4 minor orders were Acolyte, Porter, Lector and Exorcist.

Paul VI suppressed Porter and Exorcist and changed Acolyte and Lector into instituted ministries. Men preparing for the sacrament of Holy Orders are always instituted into the 2 remaining roles sometime during their formation.

Lincoln Nebraska and some other dioceses institute men who are not seeking holy orders as well. I have a friend who moved to my town from Lincoln and he is an instituted acolyte. He is not seeking diaconate (wouldn’t make it in my diocses due to the rampant liberalism here anyway.).

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Simple answer to a simple question. Yes, it is preferable that the lector not distribute communion during the same Mass.
The only time that I have done both is when directed by the celebrant.
There are times when I attended a Mass other than my normal Mass. The lector might also act as EMHC because he/she is not aware that another extraordinary minister is available.The one thing that an EMCH does not want to do is create disruption during the Mass.

Exactly, this is what I was also thinking. The lector has to be on the EM list beforehand, but should be able to do both ministries if there are not enough EMs available for the mass (e.g. did not show up or sub did not show up and they were on the schedule). Usually this is decided before mass, but sometimes it is not known if more EMs are needed until communion time and last minute subs (on the regular EM list) walk up to fill the ministry gap.

 

[Aramis]

I thought that acolyte was one of the two minor orders with subdeacon being the other one.

There have been, in various regional variations, as many as 6 minor orders in the west; the east is consistend with at least 4

Western:
universal minor: Porter, Acolyte, Lector, Exorcist
no longer western use minor: Cantor
Special: Subdeacon
western subdeacons have been considered minor orders and major orders at various points.

in the early 20th century, western subdeacons were major orders, while eastern are still minor orders.

newadvent.org/cathen/10332b.htm

Some of the eastern churches have 6: poter, acolyte, lector, cantor, excorcist, subdeacon.

 

[joshua1]

When I am inadvertantly scheduled for both ministries the same Sunday, I find someone to fill in for me as EMHC. The reason is there is more preparation for being Lector as in going over the readings before reading them at Mass. I hardly feel worthy enough to serve as EMHC, let alone both at the same time.

 

[Sir_Knight]

In our parish, for weekday masses, one person fulfills both roles.

 

[DebChris]

In our parish, for weekday masses, one person fulfills both roles.

At most daily Masses, one man serves at the altar. He assists the priest as lector and EMCH. When for whatever reason, he does not come, than somebody else will act as lector while two other people step forward to help with the wine. It is more likely during daily Mass that a person will be asked to fulfill both roles (lector and EMCH) because of the unavailability of trained extraordinary ministers.

 

[Corki]

Ok, I might be dense here but if there are so few people at Mass that there isn’t anyone who can be an EMHC, then by default (not enough numbers) an EMHC isn’t needed.

EMHCs can be either semi-permanant such as those who have been trained and scheduled, or they can be “deputized” on an “as needed” basis. The only situation I can imagine where there would be no one available who could be asked to serve as a spur-of-the-moment EMHC would be a Mass with just a few people present. Using a EMHC at such a Mass would be an abuse.

edited to add referece - emphasis mine

the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful **for this single occasion **(GIRM 162).

 

[DebChris]

Ok, I might be dense here but if there are so few people at Mass that there isn’t anyone who can be an EMHC, then by default (not enough numbers) an EMHC isn’t needed.

EMHCs can be either semi-permanant such as those who have been trained and scheduled, or they can be “deputized” on an “as needed” basis. The only situation I can imagine where there would be no one available who could be asked to serve as a spur-of-the-moment EMHC would be a Mass with just a few people present. Using a EMHC at such a Mass would be an abuse.

edited to add referece - emphasis mine

The priest distributes the host while the extraordinary minister has the cup, one on either side of the aisle. There can be enough people attending Mass without enough who have been trained in the ministries. Most trained extraordinary ministers for the early Sunday Mass are going on vacation over the next three weeks. I will be stepping in to help, but am not available next week. I am scheduled as lector for the later Mass.
The ministries of the Church depend on volunteers, on those will to step forward to become lectors, catechists, sacristans, ushers, and any of many stewardship roles including EMCH.

 

[Corki]

The priest distributes the host while the extraordinary minister has the cup, one on either side of the aisle. There can be enough people attending Mass without enough who have been trained in the ministries. Most trained extraordinary ministers for the early Sunday Mass are going on vacation over the next three weeks. I will be stepping in to help, but am not available next week. I am scheduled as lector for the later Mass.
The ministries of the Church depend on volunteers, on those will to step forward to become lectors, catechists, sacristans, ushers, and any of many stewardship roles including EMCH.

Then according to the Church documents, Father should either depute someone he knows to distribute the cup or just have Communion for the faithful under one species until vacation season is over.

 

[DebChris]

Then according to the Church documents, Father should either depute someone he knows to distribute the cup or just have Communion for the faithful under one species until vacation season is over.

I think are in agreement. The celebrant needs help with communion regardless of how many persons are attending Mass if he wants to provide communion under both species. Most dioceses are selective as to who is allowed to act as EMCH. They must undergo training and names are submitted to the bishop. An untrained person cannot simply step forward. Sometimes we look for abuses where none exists.

 

[Balthasar]

Perhaps I can offer some explanation about the situation I originally described. At our weekday masses we need two EMHC’s plus the priest. Why? Because we serve the cup also for which we need two EMHC’s, one on each aisle of the church. The priest usually serves the host. I say usually, because our pastor does not use a second person to assist in distributing the Eucharistic bread. However, our young parochial vicar likes to have an EMHC assist him in distributing the Eucharistic bread although he certainly doesn’t need one since only 25 to 50 people are at mass. One of the EMHC’s has at times rushed up to distribute Holy Communion with the parochial vicar even though she just served as the lector.

I appreciate all your responses, but as of now, I have all the information I need. Thank you.