Eucharistic Ministers?

[kaygee]

Unless the Priest has been gifted with bi-location, distributing under both Sacred Species requires a second person - be they Deacon or EEHCs…

Years ago, in my episcopalian past, we had an altar rail and the priest would communicate the people with the bread, we’d remain kneeling, he’d go back to the altar and get the chalice and distribute the wine. Note I’m using the terms bread and wine because I’m talking about a protestant service. . . wondering if that’s an arrangement that would work at a smaller daily Mass if the people wanted to receive the Body and Blood under both species? Communion took twice as long, but everyone had the opportunity to receive under both kinds.

 

[scylla]

What they should do is push the position of Acolyte, this would solve many problems as people would be dedicated to specific ministry.
This is possible as though it is the custom for Acolytes to be Seminarians they can be lay men dedicated for that specific purpose.
The only reason not to is specifically because of people who have a bigoted opinion against only men being up on the Altar, regardless of the significance which having men contributes to an adherence of truth.
Since truth must be reflected in our obedience this is ignored by those who have a desire for women priests by pushing for inclusion.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[palmas85]

Do any of you have this go on in their parishes where this has become the norm ??? Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist at all masses ???

At my parish in San Diego there are never less than three extraordinary ministers and often ten or more. During daily masses you have a hard core of about thirty atendees and you always have essentially the same three extraordinary ministers plus the Priest. If the Deacon shows up one of the Ministers doesn’t drop, another one goes up to balnace things out:thumbsup:

That is the main reason I usually prefer to go to the Cathedral. A much more orthodox Mass and confessions are heard prior to every Mass, usually by the Auxiliary Bishop himself:thumbsup: .

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Jim:

That may be so for a short period. If the Vatican truly cleans house and refocuses on the west, coupled with bringing the SSPX back in and allowing freer access to the indult (maybe even if the SSPX is not brought back in), we may actually see a phase change scenario where young people are attracted to the Church again. Clearly, the anything goes type scenario did not work. That is already available outside the Church (in a much stronger form), what differentiates the Church?

I am not claiming that all the problems can be solved in the liturgy, but it is a very important issue. Nor am I claiming that only by returning to the Tridentine can we solve the problems- but it certainly will not hurt, and in my view will help.

(Sorry for diluting the thread).

Mark Wyatt
www.veritas-catholic.blogspot.com

It won’t change a thing. Men are just not opening themselves up t to be called into the priesthood.

Even if we had a sudden enlistment of men into seminaries, it would take 10 years before we’d see ordinations, and at that, the majority would’ve dropped out before.

I don’t mean to rat-hole the thread, but I deffinately see a need to open the priesthood to married men.

Jim

 

[AlexV]

In some (arch)dioceses, men are rejected for the most curious of reasons.

Much of the alleged “vocation crisis” is engineered.

 

[KnightforChrist]

It won’t change a thing. Men are just not opening themselves up t to be called into the priesthood.

Even if we had a sudden enlistment of men into seminaries, it would take 10 years before we’d see ordinations, and at that, the majority would’ve dropped out before.

I don’t mean to rat-hole the thread, but I deffinately see a need to open the priesthood to married men.

Jim

More the reason we should all keep praying harder and offering prayers that more young men will be drawn to the priesthood…

 

[chotock]

In some (arch)dioceses, men are rejected for the most curious of reasons.

Much of the alleged “vocation crisis” is engineered.

ain’t that the truth

 

[a_pilgrim]

Unless the Priest has been gifted with bi-location, distributing under both Sacred Species requires a second person - be they Deacon or EEHCs…

I know… I know… a technicality, to be sure…

…BUT…

…as a Byzantine Catholic, I have received Our Lord in Holy Communion under both Sacred Species, distributed by a priest alone, throughout my entire lifetime.

 

[kleary]

Question for all…

Why do we see, especially in smaller church parishes such as the one that I’m in, extraordinary eucharistic ministers at both the vigil and sunday morning masses…

I thought unless the priest was say physically hindered or if there were such a large number of people that it caused a overrun on the time for mass that the priest was to be the minister of the eucharist ???

I am not talking about large church parishes…I’m well aware it would take an extra long time to distribute communion…

Anyway, in small cases, such as mine and possibly some of yours, say 50 people at a Saturday evening vigil…Why has this become a practice when its supposed to be reserved for these extra-ordinary circumstances ???

Any guidelines would be appreciated !!!

I was taught, back when they came out with communion in the hand and the Em’s- “This is to show the priesthood of the layity and to more involve the layity with the liturgy.” [Not what they are really for - such as a large Papal Mass at Giants Stadium]

There are lazy priests in our churches, and priests who may have well intentions, yet the entire concept of the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion during Holy Mass as done here in the US is NOT in line with how they are to be used.

It is going to take a huge enima to set things straight and the best way to deal with this is to ban Em’s from distribution at Holy Mass period.

Ken

 

[TradyDaddy]

Didn’t Redemptionis Sacrametum state that the correct term is “extrodinary minister of holy communion”? I notice that when my wife (who still goes to the NO) brings home the bulletin, it still uses the term “eucharistic minister”. Reform of the reform of the reform of the …

 

[fmagill]

The over-use of “extraordinary ministers” is routine in my parishes (My wife and I attend Sunday Mass at one church nearer our home, but I go to daily Mass at a different church near the office.) The pastor at the latter parish uses an “EM” at 7 AM Mass even though there are rarely more than 15 or 20 people there. At the much larger parish where we go on Sunday or to the Saturday vigil, they use anywhere from eight to fifteen people to assist, in addition to the priest and a deacon. On Sundays, the schedule is tight because there are six Masses at 90 minute intervals, each with at least 250 in attendance, so I can understand the need to save time, though I can’t help wondering why the schedule could not be spread out a little bit instead. But with only a handful of people in church, it seems entirely unnecessary to have any lay person assisting the priest. I should just ask him, I suppose, but I wonder if he might just be trying to let his EM have a bigger “part” in the Mass…it’s the same woman every day, and she also lights the candle by the ambo and places the vessels, cloths, etc. next to the altar before Mass begins.

I’ll admit it makes me uncomfortable to receive from a lay person, more so after having learned that the training our archdiocese uses is only one hour long. But it’s unavoidable many times, because the priest at Sunday Mass will go to different locations so one can’t pre-select by sitting in a certain section of the church.

 

[TradyDaddy]

I’ll admit it makes me uncomfortable to receive from a lay person, more so after having learned that the training our archdiocese uses is only one hour long. But it’s unavoidable many times, because the priest at Sunday Mass will go to different locations so one can’t pre-select by sitting in a certain section of the church.

The answer is simple, find a Traditional Latin Mass and you will never have to put up with that nonsense. It’s amazing that one Priest walking the length of the communion rail with an Altar Boy holding the paten can distribute comunion to the same number of faithful that it takes 6-8 lay “ministers”. So the time frame issue is a big lie.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

It’s amazing that one Priest walking the length of the communion rail with an Altar Boy holding the paten can distribute comunion to the same number of faithful that it takes 6-8 lay “ministers”. So the time frame issue is a big lie.

The time issue is nonsense. If we were really so concerned with time, I think mandating the altar rail would do more to alleviate the problem. Even if Communion was to be given under both species, we could do so by intinction.

Also, a priest friend and myself were discussing this issue. Think about it, w/ even just one priest and 100 people it should only take roughly 8 min. figuring 5 sec. per communicant (which is too much time really). Your average daily Mass runs 30-45 min. (less if not too much time is taken socializing during the sign of peace or other stuff) so just having the priest distribute Communion might add 5 min. to the original time? Wow. That’s just unacceptable. Even adding 10min. shouldn’t be a big deal. I’ve never liked the idea of making Mass an assembly line type of thing anyway.

 

[kleary]

The answer is simple, find a Traditional Latin Mass and you will never have to put up with that nonsense. It’s amazing that one Priest walking the length of the communion rail with an Altar Boy holding the paten can distribute comunion to the same number of faithful that it takes 6-8 lay “ministers”. So the time frame issue is a big lie.

EXACTLY - my pastor distributes Holy Communion by himself, walking the length of the communion rail with an altar boy holding the paten to a huge crowd at two Sunday masses. He even did it via a wheelchair when he broke his foot, having another altar boy push and pull the chair along the communion rail. And it WAS NOT and never is “too long”.

Ken

 

[KnightforChrist]

EXACTLY - my pastor distributes Holy Communion by himself, walking the length of the communion rail with an altar boy holding the paten to a huge crowd at two Sunday masses. He even did it via a wheelchair when he broke his foot, having another altar boy push and pull the chair along the communion rail. And it WAS NOT and never is “too long”.

Ken

I was told by a priest friend of mine that he “can work a rail faster than a line”…

 

[LeahInancsi]

From what I’ve heard around here, there should be no EMHCs unless the hands/arms of the deacon and priest are broken.

Leah
Proud EMHC

 

[ComradeAndrei]

From what I’ve heard around here, there should be no EMHCs unless the hands/arms of the deacon and priest are broken.

Leah
Proud EMHC

When should there be EXTRAORDINARY Ministers of Holy Communion? At EXTRAORDINARY (i.e. outside of ordinary, everyday) times. Sunday doesn’t count as extraordinary, unless you have a huge parish and only one priest (and no deacons).

 

[LeahInancsi]

When should there be EXTRAORDINARY Ministers of Holy Communion? At EXTRAORDINARY (i.e. outside of ordinary, everyday) times. Sunday doesn’t count as extraordinary, unless you have a huge parish and only one priest (and no deacons).

As strongly as some of you guys feel about this issue, I doubt that any parish would be big enough to require EMHCs. Or any situation EXtraordinary enough.

My parish has two priests and a deacon. The deacon does prison ministry on Sunday, so he’s not available. Each priest does two Masses on Sunday and a visiting priest does Mass on Saturday evening. I don’t know why both priests don’t attend all the Masses. At other parishes, I suppose all the priests attend all the Masses so there will be more Ordinary ministers to serve communion. I don’t know.

 

[Marauder]

As strongly as some of you guys feel about this issue, I doubt that any parish would be big enough to require EMHCs. Or any situation EXtraordinary enough.

Pretty limited view on things. My parish has 4000 registered familes, not 4000 people, 4000 families. Yes, not all come to every Sunday, but several Masses are packed. We have 5 Masses every Sunday, 1 on Saturday. The 9 and 10:30 Masses overflow the church.

I also volunteer at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where up to 2000 people can attend a normal Mass, 6000 or more attend special Masses. Numbers for an average Mass usually number between 800 and 1000. All the priests that are assigned to the church help out with distribution at most Masses, but EMHCs are still used, but they do make sure that if there are enough priests present the EMHCs are not used. For the real large Masses (i.e. Vigil for Life) their are usually enough priests present that EMHCs aren’t needed.

For an average parish EMHCs might not be required for Mass, but there are very large parishs and churches that may require them. But they need to make sure that:
a) they use the minimum number of EMHCs
b) they rotate the EMHCs enough that they realize their service is Extraordinary.
c) any EMHC automatically relinquishes their position to an ordinary minister if present.

 

[ncjohn]

When should there be EXTRAORDINARY Ministers of Holy Communion? At EXTRAORDINARY (i.e. outside of ordinary, everyday) times. Sunday doesn’t count as extraordinary, unless you have a huge parish and only one priest (and no deacons).

Ok, so our parish, who shares a priest with a second parish (doing two masses at each every weekend), should never have them according to this logic since it is never “extraordinary” for this to happen. And our priest should go back and forth between the ciborium and the cup for each person.

Believe it or not, not every parish has the luxury of multiple priests and deacons. There are parishes that are lucky to get a visiting priest on an irregular schedule.

I have to join in here with those who find this belief that there is something inherently holier about only allowing a priest to distribute communion truly sad. And the antipathy expressed toward those of us who take on the awesome responsibility and honor of presenting Our Lord to each other is really troubling. What ever happened to our command to lift each other up rather than tearing each other down?

This focus on petty externals certainly seems to run contrary to everything that Jesus preached.