EMHC's: at Mass vs visiting the sick?

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There are people who have no problem with anything concerning EMHCs and some people who do not want anything to do with them under any circumstances. I have also come across the position that the use of EMHCs is usually not justified at Mass but that it often is for the purpose of taking Communion to the homebound.

I am interested in seeing the arguments of people who hold this last position. I come across this less frequently than the other views and it intrigues me. I’m especially interested in the reasoning of people holding this view and considering themselves traditional Catholics (hence my posting on this sub-forum.)
 
I am a properly trained EMHC. I have participated in Mass and as someone who brings communion to the hombound and hospitalized.
I will be the first person to agree that, sometimes, the role of EMHC is abused as a way for the laity to have ***“full and active participation in the litugry”. ***IMHO, this is wrong, and I do speak up, when I feel I should, in a private and charitable manner.

I also work in a long term health care facility, where it is virtually impossible for the residents to attend Mass, except for the 1 time per month that we actually do get a priest to come(so long as he can, he is in his mid 80’s and dealing with his own health issues) It is sad, but many of these peoele were active in their parishes and because of lack of time and resources, they are often forgotten when attending Mass becomes impossilbe to health and age related reasons.

EMHC bridge this gap, and help to keep these people in communion with the Church they love. What would happen to these poor souls if we didn’t have them? 🤷
 
I have served both the home bound and at mass, but my primary work was managing those who went to the home bound. Our 4000 family parish has three priests and a deacon and covers nine square miles.

We serve two hospitals, three retirement homes and some 15 or so private homes. * A priest says mass once a month at each retirement home. A priest routinely visits the private homes once every four months. [The priests are always available for call from any one.] We send EMHC’s to conduct a Communion service at teach retirement home each Sunday, and send EMHC’s to give Communion at the hospitals and the private homes each Sunday.

The hospitals used to supply us a list each Sunday of those who wished communion. Now we can only go if someone calls in advance. This means they have to call the office by Friday and the office has to call an EMHC to go. It doesn’t work well.*
 
ProVobis said:
Then I take it, confession is completely out of the question?
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if its confession that is requested, then a priest will be sent of course. i requested emergency baptism for my son because he was going into surgery, and naturally a priest came. naturally there are more requests for communion, not everyone in the hospital is in danger of dying that they feel they need to say confession. so the priority of the priests will be to go where they are needed (confession, baptism, anointing of the sick, last rites)
 
ProVobis said:
Then I take it, confession is completely out of the question?
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For emergencies the Answering service will call the on-duty priest, but for just a regular visit they will pass it to the office, which won’t get it until Monday.

For some reason our priests seem reluctant to hear confessions on sick calls. Maybe it’s the problem of privacy. They’ll tend to assure the patient, or maybe themselves, that they don’t have any mortal sins.

I got caught in a confession once at a nursing home. I had moved all the way into the room so the priest could get close to the patient. She wanted to go to confession and, while he was trying to talk her out of it she started confessing. I had three choices, climb over the bed, climb over the priest, or stay put. I immediately picked a couple of two digit numbers and tried to multiply them together in my head. I didn’t hear another work she said; not even one.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
For emergencies the Answering service will call the on-duty priest, but for just a regular visit they will pass it to the office, which won’t get it until Monday.

For some reason our priests seem reluctant to hear confessions on sick calls. Maybe it’s the problem of privacy. They’ll tend to assure the patient, or maybe themselves, that they don’t have any mortal sins.

I got caught in a confession once at a nursing home. I had moved all the way into the room so the priest could get close to the patient. She wanted to go to confession and, while he was trying to talk her out of it she started confessing. I had three choices, climb over the bed, climb over the priest, or stay put. I immediately picked a couple of two digit numbers and tried to multiply them together in my head. I didn’t hear another work she said; not even one.
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Thanks, it’s good to know that this sacrament isn’t neglected at the nursing homes, which we may all end up in eventually.
 
I am a EMHC for both Mass and nursing homes when I am at school and therefore am at the University Parish. We take care of 3 nursing homes and a huge hospital. We only have 2 Priests and they are often on calls themselves, or are in class.

I honestly would prefer that only clergy distribute Holy Communion at Mass. In regards to the nursing homes, I definitely think that our Permanent Deacons should be doing more, but I do communion services at them myself. I think it’s ok for EMHC’s for the sick. ONLY of course if it is not done in a sacriligious way!

I heard that at a recent training the EMHC who was training new ones, basically did not believe in the real presence. This is what I’m fighting at the Parish! There is a way for EMHC’s to work properly, and a way that is a grave abuse!

Pax!
 
DeepeningFaith said:
I am a EMHC for both Mass and nursing homes when I am at school and therefore am at the University Parish. We take care of 3 nursing homes and a huge hospital. We only have 2 Priests and they are often on calls themselves, or are in class.

I honestly would prefer that only clergy distribute Holy Communion at Mass. In regards to the nursing homes, I definitely think that our Permanent Deacons should be doing more, but I do communion services at them myself. I think it’s ok for EMHC’s for the sick. ONLY of course if it is not done in a sacriligious way!

***I heard that at a recent training the EMHC who was training new ones, basically did not believe in the real presence:eek:. ***This is what I’m fighting at the Parish! There is a way for EMHC’s to work properly, and a way that is a grave abuse!

Pax!
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When I hear things like this my heart breaks!!! 😦

DF, if this happened at your parish (I am unsure from your post), ***PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ***clarify with this person that s/he actually does not believe in the Real Presence, and, if this is true, please talk with your pastor, ASAP!

It is issues like this that add fuel to the fire for those who want EMHC done away with,
and if it is true that someone who is supposed to be training EMHC really feels this way, they ***SHOULD NOT ***be allowed to continue to be an ENHC, let alone train any new ones!!
 
Many in our society believe they are entitled to just about anything. So it follows some feel it a right to receive weekly Holy Communion. The problem is since V2 we’ve encountered a priest shortage so there are not enough of them to get to every hospital and retirement home weekly. Enter the laity. EMHCs holding “Communion services” basically playing priest thus further blurring the distiction between clergy and laity. Why would any young man become a priest these days when he could just as easily have the best of both worlds as a Lector/EMHC/RCIA leader along with married life?

And what about Confession? Perhaps the next step is to have a “Confession service” a general absolution given to the EMHC that he or she will take to the priest for you and magically get your sins forgiven. It’s a slippery slope the CITH/EMHC fad and the negative results in our Church speak for themselves.

Are the sick and shut-in who can’t attend weekly Mass praying the Liturgy of the Hours daily? Group rosaries daily? There are other ways to worship then the practicing an entitlement of weekly Holy Communion from the non-ordained. Monthly Mass with an actual priest is preferable as the Church tells us to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, not week.

Of course many EMHCs sincerely believe they are doing God’s work and their duty as Catholics. The better plan is to pray for priests, vocations, and a restoration of our Church.
 
Weekly communion is not a requisite. One thing leads to and/or reinforces another: Post Vat. II populism > CITH > EMHCs > banal rites.

Then we wonder where the mystery and reverence has gone.
 
Layman said:
Weekly communion is not a requisite. One thing leads to and/or reinforces another: Post Vat. II populism > CITH > EMHCs > banal rites.

Then we wonder where the mystery and reverence has gone.
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No mystery at all if all the laypeople are adminstering the sacraments to one another.
 
Layman said:
Weekly communion is not a requisite. One thing leads to and/or reinforces another: Post Vat. II populism > CITH > EMHCs > banal rites.

Then we wonder where the mystery and reverence has gone.
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And then we wonder why most stay home on Sunday mornings now.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
When I hear things like this my heart breaks!!! 😦

DF, if this happened at your parish (I am unsure from your post), ***PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ***clarify with this person that s/he actually does not believe in the Real Presence, and, if this is true, please talk with your pastor, ASAP!

It is issues like this that add fuel to the fire for those who want EMHC done away with,
and if it is true that someone who is supposed to be training EMHC really feels this way, they ***SHOULD NOT ***be allowed to continue to be an ENHC, let alone train any new ones!!
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I believe that my good friend took care of the issue. When I heard this steam came out of my ears! I asked for the name so that I might better take care of it, but he refused to give it to me for fear that I might attack them…😉 The Priests at the parish call me a liturgist, and not in the liberal sense. I am the one at Liturgy Committee meetings who states the GIRM. 🙂 I am still investigating who it was that trained the EMHCs last time. When I find out, they will immediatly be taken off the list.
 
Layman said:
Weekly communion is not a requisite. One thing leads to and/or reinforces another: Post Vat. II populism > CITH > EMHCs > banal rites.

Then we wonder where the mystery and reverence has gone.
Click to expand...
ProVobis said:
No mystery at all if all the laypeople are adminstering the sacraments to one another.
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Ockham said:
And then we wonder why most stay home on Sunday mornings now.
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These comments beg the question: What do we do as individuals to change this?

I think that a lot of us might have the proper understanding and reverence but then we fall into the sin of omission by not doing what is appropriate and doing only what we are comfortable with.

Personally, I had to deal with issues where people with good intentions thought that some of the Church rules did not apply to them and they were involved in active ministries of the Parish. It really bothered me because I was never 100% sure if I were trying to do that because I wanted to feel “holier than thou” or I wanted to protect the Church. I had several discussions with my spiritual adviser about that and as far as I remember he supported me in my actions, but it still leaves a nagging feeling.
 
Ockham said:
Many in our society believe they are entitled to just about anything. So it follows some feel it a right to receive weekly Holy Communion. The problem is since V2 we’ve encountered a priest shortage so there are not enough of them to get to every hospital and retirement home weekly. Enter the laity. EMHCs holding “Communion services” basically playing priest thus further blurring the distiction between clergy and laity. Why would any young man become a priest these days when he could just as easily have the best of both worlds as a Lector/EMHC/RCIA leader along with married life?

And what about Confession? Perhaps the next step is to have a “Confession service” a general absolution given to the EMHC that he or she will take to the priest for you and magically get your sins forgiven. It’s a slippery slope the CITH/EMHC fad and the negative results in our Church speak for themselves.

Are the sick and shut-in who can’t attend weekly Mass praying the Liturgy of the Hours daily? Group rosaries daily? There are other ways to worship then the practicing an entitlement of weekly Holy Communion from the non-ordained. Monthly Mass with an actual priest is preferable as the Church tells us to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, not week.

Of course many EMHCs sincerely believe they are doing God’s work and their duty as Catholics. The better plan is to pray for priests, vocations, and a restoration of our Church.
Click to expand...
After reading this, I felt the need to clarify my position. I do not believe there is a need for EMHCs. I wish there were no such thing and Priests would do their job. HOWVER, because my Parish utilizes them, I feel the need to volunteer myself for the role so that someone else may not do it in my stead who would distribute Holy Communion sacrilegiously. Also, after college, unless I meet the love of my life, I wil be going to Seminary to further discern. You are most correct in meaning that EMHCs is an abuse of the term “active participation.” But I rather be part of helping curb sacrilige than walk along side and let it happen! I am no Bishop. I can not disallow EMHCs.
 
DeepeningFaith said:
After reading this, I felt the need to clarify my position. I do not believe there is a need for EMHCs.
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however, its not for you nor i nor any lay person to make this determination. in fact, one parish priest cannot even make this determination for another parish priest. each priest will have to determine the needs of their own parish and bring this up with their Bishop. why can’t we just trust our priests when they say they need help instead of making baseless accusations of abuse at the priests. not that i’m saying no priests ever abuse, but if we are to say they do, it should be with merit and not just because we don’t agree with what they do
(the entire statement is not aimed at you but i used your point to make mine)
DeepeningFaith said:
I wish there were no such thing and Priests would do their job. HOWVER, because my Parish utilizes them, I feel the need to volunteer myself for the role so that someone else may not do it in my stead who would distribute Holy Communion sacrilegiously. Also, after college, unless I meet the love of my life, I wil be going to Seminary to further discern. You are most correct in meaning that EMHCs is an abuse of the term “active participation.” But I rather be part of helping curb sacrilige than walk along side and let it happen! I am no Bishop. I can not disallow EMHCs.
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the problem isn’t preists not doing their jobs, but a decline in a number of priests. if there are more priests and even deacons, there won’t be a need for EMHCs at all
 
ProVobis said:
And how exactly are you going to do that?
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Having EMHCs is not a sacrelige. Some of the people that are EMHCs and their mentality and the way that they do the ministry is sacreligious! As choy pointed out, I can’t personally do away with EMHCs. I can however become one. This takes away the opportunity for someone else who MAY handle the Blessed Sacrament with dishonor.
 
DeepeningFaith said:
I am a EMHC for both Mass and nursing homes when I am at school and therefore am at the University Parish. We take care of 3 nursing homes and a huge hospital. We only have 2 Priests and they are often on calls themselves, or are in class.

I honestly would prefer that only clergy distribute Holy Communion at Mass. In regards to the nursing homes, I definitely think that our Permanent Deacons should be doing more, but I do communion services at them myself. I think it’s ok for EMHC’s for the sick. ONLY of course if it is not done in a sacriligious way!

I heard that at a recent training the EMHC who was training new ones, basically did not believe in the real presence. This is what I’m fighting at the Parish! There is a way for EMHC’s to work properly, and a way that is a grave abuse!

Pax!
Click to expand...
Regarding the “Real Presence” - talk to your Paster. He will have to remove the EMHC from service completely.
Also that person is a heretic by definition in the CCC 2nd Ed.

If that does not work, send an email to your Bishop, along with the names, dates, details.
It also helps to quote the CCC.
Send an email copy to the Pope.
 
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