Eucharist Ministers

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Kaily

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I was wondering if anyone knew how Jesus feels about Eucharist Minister, the laymen giving out Holy Communion, a Eucharist Minister at our parish has asked us if we would like to be Eucharist Ministers, Is this ok? I just don’t want to do something if its against the church or what Jesus would want. What does the Holy Father say about this? Any (name removed by moderator)ut would be helpful.

God Bless,
Kaily
 
sure it’s ok to be a eucharistic minister, now called and extraordinary minister… we are only supposed to be utilized when size of crowd and time constraints call for it…

i’m sure Jesus is fine with it, or his church would not have approved of it…

has it been abused? You bet, and that’s at the center of a lot of discussions today…

if you feel called to participate in that way…go for it 👍
 
It is a very worthwhile ministry.

Just a few things:
  1. The official term is now Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC)
  2. Officially it is the priest with the permission of the Bishop that is supposed to be appointing people as EMHCs not other lay people. Make sure that it is the priest that is appointing you to this position.
  3. Research all the official information on EMHCs and doctrine that relates to the Eucharist so you can make sure what you are doing is appropriate. Good places to start Here
    Here
  4. Make sure you know all the specifics of how the duties are fulfilled in your parish. Also make sure you aren’t participating in abuses (i.e. EMHCs receiving the Eucharist at the same time as the priest)
  5. Also check into being an EMHC with the Ministry of the Sick, a very needed and worthwhile duty.
 
Kaily,

I would think that an EMHC is suggesting that you look into joining him or her in this ministry. It is very neeeded and rewarding, especially the misinstry to the sick and homebound. Many of the EMHC who serve at Mass also bring Communion the the sick and homebound, and also some go to the local hospitals and nursing facilities.

Sometimes you are asked specifically by the Pastor, but in many large parishes there are so many good candidates that they are just asked in general if they wish to serve, and told to sign up for the instructions. (Usually about 3-5 hours either in one day or separate shorter classes)

Pray on it. Don’t feel you are not worthy—none of us are, but unfortunately there is a shortage of priests, and they need are are very grateful for our help.

Sometimes it seems that Rome frowns on EMHC, but there are so many Churches and Priests in Rome that there is not the need. There is a need in most of the large US Parishes, and many of the smaller parishes with only one priest—possibly even covering more than one parish.
 
Thanks for the websites Maruader,

Those will help a lot.
One thing I notice at our Parish is that all the Eucharistic ministers recieve from other Eucharistic Ministers, they don’t get to receive from the priest, I will have to look more closely to see if the priest and the EM recieve at the same time, i was not aware that was wrong and have not noticed if they do that, I will Look this Sunday. Also, if you receive from another EM do you still receive Jesus on the tongue? I guess some at my Parish don’t seem to like doing that, than again we have a very liberal priest also, we’re due for a new priest next year.

God Bless,
Kaily
 
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Kaily:
Thanks for the websites Maruader,

Those will help a lot.
One thing I notice at our Parish is that all the Eucharistic ministers recieve from other Eucharistic Ministers, they don’t get to receive from the priest, I will have to look more closely to see if the priest and the EM recieve at the same time, i was not aware that was wrong and have not noticed if they do that, I will Look this Sunday. Also, if you receive from another EM do you still receive Jesus on the tongue? I guess some at my Parish don’t seem to like doing that, than again we have a very liberal priest also, we’re due for a new priest next year.

God Bless,
Kaily
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As you discern, you should try to stop using the term “Eucharistic minister” or “EM.” Those titles blur the difference between an ordinary minister of the Eucharist (bishop/priest/deacon) and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

I think if brevity is important, “extraordinary minister” might be a lot more accurate and respectful.
 
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Kaily:
One thing I notice at our Parish is that all the Eucharistic ministers recieve from other Eucharistic Ministers, they don’t get to receive from the priest, I will have to look more closely to see if the priest and the EM recieve at the same time, i was not aware that was wrong and have not noticed if they do that, I will Look this Sunday.
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Watch to see what is going on. It is not against the rules for an EMHC to receive communion from another EMHC (as long as the first EMHC received from the priest or deacon) but it sort of isn’t that great theologically. Meaning the priest should be sending the EMHCs out to assist the people receiving communion.

One thing that happens at my church that isn’t that bad is when there is no Deacon, the priest (after receiving communion himself) will give the Eucharist to the first EMHC, both body and blood, then will continue giving the hosts to the rest of the EMHCs and the first EMHC will give the blood to the rest of the EMHCs. If the Deacon is there, he would give the blood to the rest of the EMHCs.
Also, if you receive from another EM do you still receive Jesus on the tongue?
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The choice of whether to receive on the tongue or the hand is up to the communicate. Whether they are EMHC or not. Whether they are receiving from an EMHC or not.
 
Ok, sorry about that, I was in a hurry anyway. I’ll try to use that, but I need an abbreviation and EM fits both.

God Bless,
Kaily
 
Oh yeah, by the way, we have no deacon at our church. We have the priest and that is all and there is one man who helps the priest a lot, but he’s not a deacon. We haven’t belonged to this church for very long yet, so, as we get to know others, we’ll find out more.
So, I’ll call them EMHC, I see there is an abbreviation I can use for that.

Thanks

God Bless,
Kaily
 
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Kaily:
Ok, sorry about that, I was in a hurry anyway. I’ll try to use that, but I need an abbreviation and EM fits both.

God Bless,
Kaily
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you say to may toe and i say too maw toe… you say po taaa toe, and i say po taw toe…

don’t get hunkered down on the lingo… you willl make a great "Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister of the Roman Catholic Church currently let by Pope John Paul II… phew, that should nail it down… maybe… 👍
 
Dear Friends,

I was wondering if any of the saints have said anything on this issure or any mystics who have received private revelations(authentic one of course) on this issure, has Jesus addressed it about receiving on the tongue or in the hand? I read somewhere else, I will try to find the website; that after Vatican 2 they said you may receive in the hands but it was better to receive on the tongue, so who knows. I guess that doesn’t have to do with EMHC but, I was wondering about communion on the tongue or in the hand, I have recieved both ways, I prefer on the tongue, but I usually do that when I go to mass at the Convent here in my town and when I go to my parish, depending on the priest who is celebrating I recieve in my hands, our regular priest doesn’t seem to like giving on the tongue, so I receive in the hand from him. I know this topic has been addressed already on this forum. It just seem a lot of the reverence for the Holy Eucharist has been taken away, we know that only 25% of Catholics believe in the real presence now, why is that? Apostasy within the church I suppose, we are not being taught a lot anymore from a lot of priests.

This topic has been spoken of by Father Corapi, there is a very good tape he did on the Holy Eucharist and what is happening inside the church, I highly recommend listening to it, its called End Game.
sorry I kind of got off the original topic.
God Bless,
Kaily
 
Actually folks, the “OFFICIAL” term ALWAYS was Extra-ordinary minister of the Eucharist. It never was just, Eucharistic minister. That was just how most people refered to them. I still remember my instruction, back in 1975.
 
Is the Latin Rite the only Rite that allows for extraordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist?

Of coarse, the Traditional Latin Mass doesn’t allow so. As well, the Maronite Rite doesn’t. I believe the Byzantine Rite uses ‘spoons’ (for lack of a better term?) to recieve the Eucharist. What about the many other Rites?

Not to go off topic on the public board, but if someone could explain to me the Maronite sign of peace by a PM or post on here, then I’d appreciate it!
 
Not to go off topic on the public board, but if someone could explain to me the Maronite sign of peace by a PM or post on here, then I’d appreciate it
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I just got this from my Maronite rite friend. If it’s not accurate, don’t kill the messenger! 😉

He said that it was like this. The priest receives the peace from the Holy Spirit and holds it in his hands. Then he passes it. That’s when the person in the congregation puts his hands over the priest’s and slides them off and, basically, now that person is holding the peace. Then it goes so on and so on until the last person. I guess that person is just stuck holding it the rest of the mass! 😉 But seriously, I can’t remember if the priest is the last person again or not. I’ve only gone to one Maronite rite mass when my friend was married 14 years ago.
 
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bear06:
I just got this from my Maronite rite friend. If it’s not accurate, don’t kill the messenger! 😉

He said that it was like this. The priest receives the peace from the Holy Spirit and holds it in his hands. Then he passes it. That’s when the person in the congregation puts his hands over the priest’s and slides them off and, basically, now that person is holding the peace. Then it goes so on and so on until the last person. I guess that person is just stuck holding it the rest of the mass! 😉 But seriously, I can’t remember if the priest is the last person again or not. I’ve only gone to one Maronite rite mass when my friend was married 14 years ago.
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We often go to Maronite Masses at a local Shrine. There, the Priest gives the sign of peace to 1 or 2 servers (or Deacons) who then pass it on to the first person in each row. Then, everyone passes it down the line. I think it is very nice. You feel like you are really receiving the Spirit. But that’s just my :twocents: 🙂
 
Kaily, I think it is great that you want to get involved. I think that being a EMHC to the homebound or hospitalized is an incredible way to minister to God’s people. This is an invaluable service. Personally, I am sick of seeing so many lay people on the altar at every single Mass at our Parish. We even have them at weekday Masses when there’s only 10-12 people in Mass. I am one of those people who wait forever to receive from the Priest, and I can’t stand it when one of the other lines ends and the EMHC comes to “help” the Priest and I end up receiving from them. But this is a personal preference that grows out of my continuing disagreement with the things that are going on at my parish. I do know how grateful I was when my mother was hospitalized and the EMHC came to give her daily Communion. Just keep doing what you are doing: learning, listening to Fr. Corapi, reading encyclicals and other information, coming here, etc. If this is truly a calling for you, you will know.
By the way, I loved End Game too. Of course, I love Fr. Corapi period. We are going to buy his whole catechism series as soon as we save the money. God Bless, and good luck with your discernment.
 
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DJJG:
Actually folks, the “OFFICIAL” term ALWAYS was Extra-ordinary minister of the Eucharist. It never was just, Eucharistic minister. That was just how most people refered to them. I still remember my instruction, back in 1975.
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Actually it’s extraordinary minister of holy communion.
 
inquisitor, it is now… but djjg’s point is that before the recent change, they were always extraordinary ministers …thus the proper abbreviation was EME…not EM which could have been construed as Eucharistic Minister

there are ordinary ministers of the Eucharist (priests and deacons) and extraordinary ministers of holy communion (laity)
 
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