Eucharistic Ministers Simply Don't Belong

[ElToro]

The Church says there is a role for it. And there is. But it’s what we do with it.

22 Eucharistic ministers at a mid-large church at a single Mass is ridiculous.

How do they even do that?

I believe 12 individuals (ordained, religious and lay) distribute communion at the Cathedral in LA. They get about 2K at the 10am Sunday Mass. It’s done with military precision and it still takes a considerable amount of time but it’s very reverent. The EMHCs are well-trained and very prestantable.

 

[ElToro]

Generally speaking, in many parishes, I think it would be GOOD if communion took a little longer! About 1/3 of the congregation leaves here locally after receiving communion.

 

[PerfectTiming]

My parish church holds about 1,100 people. In the old days about 600 would show-up for early Mass and we had 4 parish priests. I would guess maybe 150 actually went to communion.

Now maybe 400 show up. Not only do they all go to communion, we have communion under both species and we have one parish priest.

There is a legitimate need for EMHCs.

I would agree. In my old parish, we had to have four EMHCs in addition to the priest on the lower floor and then another two took Communion up to those on the upper balcony floor. It was a huge parish and if it was just the priest it would have taken forever. Sometimes one of the other priests would help but even with three priests there was a need for EMHCs. And that was with only the Body being offered, if they offered the blood to everyone as well it would have been bedlam!

 

[Bro_Justin]

Per Se:

Yes. the lay-people have the right to give out the Body and Christ. It stems from the Holy Father to the designated bishops.

I was relucant at first, than got use to it.

How would y ou like to sit in on Mass for one hour because there were no distributors?

Because of the shortage of priests, the bishops have given this right. Those who do it, of course, take classes in it. But if there is a priest at your mass, you have the right to go to him and not the lay=person.

Often times I see people genuflect prior to receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. In your case you can receive Communion in your mouth if this seems better for you.

But maily because of the shortage of priests, the lay=person will help. Lay people even go to hospitals and nursing homes.

I hope this has been some help to you.

If you want to show reverence for Christ, you, too, can also genuflect prior to receiving the Body and Blood.

God bless you now.

Brother Justin, OP

 

[Ukrforever]

Hi, maybe they are nessesary by todays standards however the more time communion takes the longer we have to contemplate and pray about the great gift we have received. Don’t forget the Church got on many many years without them. It has just gotten out of hand they have started saying masses and hearing confession where I come from. The more you give people the more they want.

 

[PerfectTiming]

Hi, maybe they are nessesary by todays standards however the more time communion takes the longer we have to contemplate and pray about the great gift we have received. Don’t forget the Church got on many many years without them. It has just gotten out of hand they have started saying masses and hearing confession where I come from. The more you give people the more they want.

If no priest is available, it is acceptable for a layperson to lead a communion service. They do not consecrate any host, they use already blessed hosts. This is a perfectly legitimate practice by the Church. Laypeople should not, however, be hearing Confession though. If they are then you need to seriously speak to the priest or if he is unwilling to listen then go to your Bishop.

 

[SKWill]

Generally speaking, in many parishes, I think it would be GOOD if communion took a little longer! About 1/3 of the congregation leaves here locally after receiving communion.

I saw something new this year at Palm Sunday Mass. I got to there later than planned, so had to stand along the back wall, which gave me the perfect vantage point to see a couple of people leaving during communion. When it was time for their row to stand and go to the right to the main aisle, they got up and ducked out to the left, down the side aisle and apparently right out the back!!!

 

[Brendan_McCabe]

The permission to use EMHC by the Church is abused by the members of the Church.

Just because the Church has said they may sometimes be used does not mean they are therefore automatically been used in an appropriate way, they are not in most parishes imo.

 

[AuroraB]

It’s gotten way out of hand.

The “remote people” argument isn’t why that at a suburban church in NC there are 22 Eucharistic Ministers at one of the morning masses. 22

With both species…by the time they do all their vessel passing…a hymn and a half are over.

7 minutes.

It’s become a new part of the Mass in fact.

I would say that if you see abuses then mention it to your Pastor and find out how he views what is happening, if you don’t get anywhere with him, report it to the Bishop, and if you don’t get anywhere with the Bishop, report it to the appropriate congregation in Rome.
If you are sure that it is an abuse.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi, maybe they are nessesary by todays standards however the more time communion takes the longer we have to contemplate and pray about the great gift we have received. Don’t forget the Church got on many many years without them. It has just gotten out of hand they have started saying masses and hearing confession where I come from. The more you give people the more they want.

Hearing Confessions? Saying Mass? Have you witnessed this?

 

[TheMc]

I would say that if you see abuses then mention it to your Pastor and find out how he views what is happening, if you don’t get anywhere with him, report it to the Bishop, and if you don’t get anywhere with the Bishop, report it to the appropriate congregation in Rome.
If you are sure that it is an abuse.

Definitely mention it to your pastor, bishop or even rome if need be.

 

[onenow1]

As long as time seems to be the main considerationin this matter, I will only say bad decisions have been made and I for one, want Jesus, not time to make it wherever or whatever. The priest is in Persona Christi this is his role not the EM’S.

God Bless
:compcoff:

“Jesus did not rush the crowd when he fed the 5000” !

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

As long as time seems to be the main considerationin this matter, I will only say bad decisions have been made and I for one, want Jesus, not time to make it wherever or whatever. The priest is in Persona Christi this is his role not the EM’S.

God Bless
:compcoff:

“Jesus did not rush the crowd when he fed the 5000” !

When I go to daily Mass…I’m there on my lunch hour…so if they use an EMHC to help those of us that need to get back to work…I’m fine with it. In fact it’s a blessing because it means I get to go to Daily Mass:thumbsup:

 

[dulcismaria]

I believe that the rubrics state that extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist may be utilized at Mass if the congregation is so large that it would take an unduly extended amount of time for the priest/priests to distribute Communion. On a normal Sunday morning, I can’t see ANY need for a layperson to assist the priest when the Communion line would only take 3 or 4 extra minutes without the extraordinary minister! I NEVER receive the Sacred Host from anyone other than the priest.

That being said, I do not have a problem with laypersons bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound, because there is no way a priest can do that much by himself. Remember St. Tarcisius, the little 12 year old boy who was martyred while bringing the Blessed Sacrament to the imprisoned Christians during the Roman persecution?

One more thing: Pray daily in reparation for the sacrilege of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which is dropped and spilled on floors of Catholic Churches around the world by extraordinary ministers!

 

[onenow1]

When I go to daily Mass…I’m there on my lunch hour…so if they use an EMHC to help those of us that need to get back to work…I’m fine with it. In fact it’s a blessing because it means I get to go to Daily Mass:thumbsup:

This is good Annabelle I expressed an opinion, but will always follow Christ’s teaching, through St.Peter.

God bless

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Wow! That is a lot! We have between 3-5 at a Sunday Mass depending on how many priests are available. Only one species because our pastor does not want more EMHCs or the worry of someone spilling, Takes barely a minute for him to give them communion. Even with 8 (our 4 priests in residence, 1 deacon, and 3 EMHCs) distributing communion can take 20 minutes or more.

It’s gotten way out of hand.

The “remote people” argument isn’t why that at a suburban church in NC there are 22 Eucharistic Ministers at one of the morning masses. 22

With both species…by the time they do all their vessel passing…a hymn and a half are over.

7 minutes.

It’s become a new part of the Mass in fact.

 

[Seatuck]

Hi, maybe they are nessesary by todays standards however the more time communion takes the longer we have to contemplate and pray about the great gift we have received. Don’t forget the Church got on many many years without them. It has just gotten out of hand they have started saying masses and hearing confession where I come from. The more you give people the more they want.

Several things have changed. First of all there used to be multiple priests at Mass. We don’t have that anymore. Another thing is that more people are going to communion now. Whether they should be or not is a discussion for another day.
Don’t mix apples and oranges. If you have a legitimate complaint such as a lay people saying a Mass then complain about that. Not sure if you are confusing Eucharistic Services with Mass and if that is the case well then the Bishop gives permission for that as well.
I seriously doubt they are hearing confessions. If they are then you should go sit on your Bishop’s door step until he comes out and tell him about it.

 

[jeanne71350]

I just think they need more reverence for the Eucharist, period.

-Jeanne

 

[Joannm]

One thing that I think is lacking is proper formation for EMHCs. If I was the pastor I would make the formation considerable. At least 12-24 hours. Most of it prayer. And if you didn’t complete the formation, you wouldn’t get commissioned. That would weed-out a lot of people.

I have seen many EMHCs who probably should step down from the ministry. People who shake so badly that they have no ability to give COT. One person in my parish is so unstable in their walk that they need to lean against a railing while distributing communion and that’s just wrong.

My pastor has to lean against the first pew to distribute communion. Should we suggest he step down as pastor.

 

[TheMc]

My pastor has to lean against the first pew to distribute communion. Should we suggest he step down as pastor.

That is much different. He is ordained, and it is his duty to distribute communion.

Concerning EMHCs, on the other hand, if they are not able or qualified to distribute reverently and “safely”, so much so that they can’t even distribute communion on the tongue, should be replaced by others more able to fulfill their duties.