Eucharistic Minister training course for hospitals and nursing homes tomorrow

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The session that I had mentioned yesterday turned out great. Now, that is training and certification ( not completed yet because the deacon who presided over the course is the process of turning over the paperwork) course is over for hospitals and other care facilities, institutions, etc. Now, get this, and this has nothing to do with the course itself, as I am already a EMHC already, my parish church secretary calls me early this morning and asks me if I’m able to bring Holy Communion to a housebound person, and he lives right down the street from me. I said yes, of course. This will be my very first ( and God willing, there will more to come) act of this ministry to a persons home. I must say, God really must answer prayers in His own time, as my course yesterday had nothing to do with my church parish ( the course was an Archdiocese training and certification separate from my already commissioned duties as a EMCH of my parish), and just the fact that I got this call this morning as I had written yesterday that one of my fellow EMHC told me that there was no need for anyone else to bring Holy Communion to hospitals, care facilities, the home
bound, etc. I described the situation yesterday in an earlier post), but this absolutely proves that God works in mysterious ways, even if it is in the littlest ways. And the church secretary did not call me as a last resort, as I was the first one she called, esp. since the gentleman who requested to receive Holy Communion lives near me), and said that if I couldn’t, then she could call someone else. This proves to me, in my humble opinion, that that other minister was misleading. Even though I vented my frustrations and sadness earlier, I have no ill will toward that man. I’m a forgiving person and hold no anger or feel any need to tell him off ( which would be something that I would have thought initially, but wouldn’t be a Christian thing to do). Whatever reasons he had, I won’t question. Soooooooo, I feel not only fortunate today, but happy, thrilled, and just amazed at the timing of the call, and esp. after posting yesterday.
 
You are wrong. Lay people are NOT Eucharistic Ministers no matter what is in some local bulletin. Those who are Eucharistic Ministers are priests and deacons. The un-ordained are not!!
 
thistle said:
You are wrong. Lay people are NOT Eucharistic Ministers no matter what is in some local bulletin. Those who are Eucharistic Ministers are priests and deacons. The un-ordained are not!!
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Its not just a single local church bulletin. The term “eucharistic minister” is widely used among English speaking Catholics for lay people distributing communion. You might not like it, but you still know what people are talking about when they use the term in this way.
 
This is another example of abuse/innovation. Only the ordained are Eucharistic Ministers. Lay people are NOT!!
 
Augustinian said:
The term “eucharistic minister” is widely used among English speaking Catholics for lay people distributing communion. You might not like it, but you still know what people are talking about when they use the term in this way.
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That was a common misconception that has since been clarified. People used to call those that assisted with distributing Communion “Eucharistic Ministers”, but that was due to misunderstanding. The ordained are the Eucharistic Ministers. Extra-ordinary Ministers are those that are not ordinary, but are lay-persons deputized under certain circumstances to assist with distributing the Blessed Sacrament. There are limitations to this practice, and it began as an exception to long held Ecclesial Law that only consecrated vessels and persons were ever to contact the Eucharist, except the reception of the Eucharist by the faithful on the tongue. That is why they were called “extra” ordinary—they were an exception to the norm.

It’s not an insult or any sort of negative connotation. It’s really just the ”proper” use of the terms. Some people aren’t as concerned with those distinctions and use either to communicate. People know what you mean. It isn’t precise, and technically it is incorrect. However, you are correct that people who do not know better use those terms interchangeably, and people know what you mean.

My Pastor is very clear about wanting the terms used properly so that there is retained a certain sense of the sacred regarding who can lawfully touch the Eucharist. Bishops have the authority to authorize the laity to assist, so it is lawful. The terms help to remind that it is special scenario.
 
I participated in this lay ministry to convalescent homes for a couple of years some years ago. It’s a good thing, helped me see how seriously these folk and their relatives took their Catholicism.

Regarding the nomenclature, my parish at the time shortened it to EM’s, but it was communicated to us that this meant Extraordinary Ministers, not Eucharistic Ministers, when we were commissioned.
 
CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT
INSTRUCTION
Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254] Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,[255] to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.
 
Call them what you like. They are need in hospitals and nursing homes.
 
People who bring communion to the sick are a great blessing! Don’t be discouraged by those who have nothing better to do than criticize terminology.
 
“SuscipeMeDomine22h
People who bring communion to the sick are a great blessing! Don’t be discouraged by those who have nothing better to do than criticize terminology.”

By such comments you are criticizing the Church which issued the instruction I posted earlier. In case you want to ignore the Church’s instruction I repeat it.

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT
INSTRUCTION
Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254] Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone. Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,[255] to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.
 
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thistle said:
By such comments you are criticizing the Church which issued the instruction I posted earlier. In case you want to ignore the Church’s instruction I repeat it.
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The Church doesn’t see a need to criticize people every time they use a particular phrase. I am not criticizing the Church. I am criticizing pedantic responses.
 
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"SuscipeMeDomine

The Church doesn’t see a need to criticize people every time they use a particular phrase. I am not criticizing the Church. I am criticizing pedantic responses."

It is not a pedantic response to say that lay people who call themselves Eucharistic Ministers are disobeying Church instructions. It is irrelevant that some local parishes allow this. They are WRONG and should be acting in accordance with the Church’s instructions issued by the CDF which must be taken seriously. Anyone who takes a cavalier attitude to this by saying what’s the big deal is just as wrong!!
 
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