Eucharistic ministry

[Militant_Ellen]

Are there standardized classes for this ministry?My parish tells me no,it’s like an appreticeship program!?How do we prevent ignorant abuses then?Can I take a course on line?(Do’s and don’t’s-so to speak.)I’m surprised to say the least that I’ve been directed towards this particular ministry,by our director of volunteers as I am relatively new to this parish and what if I was some kind of NUT?Which I am, but a nut for our Lord.

 

[MrS]

well, you can’t be a Eucharistic Minister unless you are ordained.

so, if you are referring to Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, I suggest using the SEARCH pulldown and reading some of the many threads on the subject.

Be prepared for views that run from one extreme to the other.

.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Standardized classes? Not that I’m aware of. Usually each parish offers instruction to people new to the ministry and may have something like an annual day of reflection/training for people who are continuing. In my diocese there are days that I believe are called “ongoing enrichment” that bring together people from across the area.

 

[Militant_Ellen]

Thank You for your assistance,my fears appear to have been ungrounded.I went today with an experienced “extra”-ordinary Eucharistic minister to the nursing home and it was wonderful to see how this helps our aged fellow parishoners and our very over worked pastor.I did find basic do’s and don’ts under the search bar for Extraordinary-Eucharistic Ministry …I think I was worried because I’ve seen some and heard some terrible stories about abuses, but this “experienced” Extra ordinary-Eucharistic minister was exemplary in regard to proper reverance I’ll keep learning and praying and we’ll just see how it goes,
Thank you again.

 

[thistle]

Thank You for your assistance,my fears appear to have been ungrounded.I went today with an experienced “extra”-ordinary Eucharistic minister to the nursing home and it was wonderful to see how this helps our aged fellow parishoners and our very over worked pastor.I did find basic do’s and don’ts under the search bar for Extraordinary-Eucharistic Ministry …I think I was worried because I’ve seen some and heard some terrible stories about abuses, but this “experienced” Extra ordinary-Eucharistic minister was exemplary in regard to proper reverance I’ll keep learning and praying and we’ll just see how it goes,
Thank you again.

Sorry but as Mr S pointed out you cannot be any kind of Eucharistic Minister. You would be an EMHC (Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion). Those who are not ordained are not Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[Militant_Ellen]

I know that…Thank You…(Duh!)

 

[sacristan1]

As I read this post, I am still bothered by the fact that so many people are still referring to us as Eucharistic Ministers. Our Parish, the office, the person who prepares our schedules are all still using Eucharistic Ministers.

Should I say something to remind them that this is NOT what we are.

Amazing how we are creatures of habit.

Congratulations to you for joining this Ministry. I know there are people on this forum who do not like the fact that EMHCs are used so much today, but I do visit the sick and dying and I am one of only 3 people that we have who will do this and we are severely overworked. There is no way our Pastor could visit all who are in need of home visits plus the hospice facility in our community that needs almost daily visits. The Masses would run much longer and into the next scheduled Mass if we did not have EMHCs to assist in the distribution. We use 4 at each Mass, 2 for the Body and 2 for the Blood.

May God Bless you for your service.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Are there standardized classes for this ministry?My parish tells me no,it’s like an appreticeship program!?How do we prevent ignorant abuses then?Can I take a course on line?(Do’s and don’t’s-so to speak.)I’m surprised to say the least that I’ve been directed towards this particular ministry,by our director of volunteers as I am relatively new to this parish and what if I was some kind of NUT?Which I am, but a nut for our Lord.

The ministry is called Eucharistic Minister at most parishes across the country. There is an official term (EMHC) that is used in official documents, but for all praticial day to day use they are used as synonyms as it is often too wordy for most people.

You receive training through your parish, it varies from parish to parish. They instruct you (some officially commission, some not) on what to do in different circumstances. It is either the priest or liturgical coordinator (if parish has one) who does the training. Just follow them for the local norms for your parish.

 

[Cristiano]

**The ministry is called Eucharistic Minister at most parishes across the country. ** There is an official term (EMHC) that is used in official documents, but for all praticial day to day use they are used as synonyms as it is often too wordy for most people.

You receive training through your parish, it varies from parish to parish. They instruct you (some officially commission, some not) on what to do in different circumstances. It is either the priest or liturgical coordinator (if parish has one) who does the training. Just follow them for the local norms for your parish.

I would dare to say that the ministry is called Eucharistic Minister, in ALL the parishes across the country, by some ignorant (I am not being judgmental) people or lazy (I am being judgmental) people. Just because someone calls it that way does not make it correct or appropriate, and we should not condone its use based on custom.

 

[japhy]

The ministry is [misleadingly] called Eucharistic Minister at most parishes across the country. There is an official term (EMHC) that is used in official documents, but for all pratical day to day use they are used as synonyms as it is often too wordy for most people.

(The “official term” can also be used outside of “official documents”. It’s not like there’s special Church-speak that is incomprehensible to or forbidden to be used by us lay-folk!)

I’d bet that at many of the parishes where “Eucharistic Minister” is used, the people don’t know the “wordy” proper name for the ministry. “Eucharistic Minister” is entirely misleading. Why wouldn’t you choose an accurate and descriptive name over an inaccurate and ambiguous one? It’s like calling the priest a “presider” rather than a “celebrant”.

The Church uses the wordy name because it eliminates confusion regarding the ministry: This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened. (RS 156)

The fact that the Church has used less precise language in the past is of no importance, either. She has since corrected Herself.

 

[Michael038]

The ministry is called Eucharistic Minister at most parishes across the country. There is an official term (EMHC) that is used in official documents, but for all praticial day to day use they are used as synonyms as it is often too wordy for most people.

Agreed, that is the reason.

 

[benedictgal]

To further augment japhy’s explanation, this is what the 1997 document issued by the Congregation for Clergy indicates:

§ 1.*** The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the the Deacon.(96) Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.(97)***
A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for these situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in un foreseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.(98)

§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100)

This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion.

This is what the document is called:

INSTRUCTION

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED
FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

Here is a link to it so that you can read the document in full:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

Therefore, what NewULM claimed is completely wrong. Just because parishes use the term, that doesn’t mean that it is correct.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

(The “official term” can also be used outside of “official documents”. It’s not like there’s special Church-speak that is incomprehensible to or forbidden to be used by us lay-folk!)

I’d bet that at many of the parishes where “Eucharistic Minister” is used, the people don’t know the “wordy” proper name for the ministry. “Eucharistic Minister” is entirely misleading. Why wouldn’t you choose an accurate and descriptive name over an inaccurate and ambiguous one? It’s like calling the priest a “presider” rather than a “celebrant”.

The Church uses the wordy name because it eliminates confusion regarding the ministry: This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened. (RS 156)

The fact that the Church has used less precise language in the past is of no importance, either. She has since corrected Herself.

I disagree, all those who use the EM term know the difference between their ministry and a priest’s ministry. Forcing a more precise language ends up being spiritually counterproductive. Across the region I see no major shift to the formal term and I see the informal usage continuing to be used as the average person in the pew sees it as splitting hairs at best and you do not really gain anything spiritually (in most cases) by using the complete official name. It will continue to be a parish to parish thing.

Now, back to the OP, the ministry is a good ministry regardless of what the parish decides to call it, it should continue and many parishes gain by the talents of so many people being involved in the mass.

 

[benedictgal]

I disagree, all those who use the EM term know the difference between their ministry and a priest’s ministry. Forcing a more precise language ends up being spiritually counterproductive. Across the region I see no major shift to the formal term and I see the informal usage continuing to be used as the average person in the pew sees it as splitting hairs at best and you do not really gain anything spiritually (in most cases) by using the complete official name. It will continue to be a parish to parish thing.

Now, back to the OP, the ministry is a good ministry regardless of what the parish decides to call it, it should continue and many parishes gain by the talents of so many people being involved in the mass.

Actually, the Church resoundlingly disagrees with you on this one. The only ones who are Eucharistic Ministers are the bishops and priests because they alone have the faculty to confect the Sacrament, not you, not me. The ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the deacons, priests and bishops, by virtue of Holy Orders, something you and I do not have.

It is important to use the proper terminology because we are not ordained clergy. We are laity who serve an extra-ordinary function and only on extra-ordinary occasions.

Once again, the Church is very precise as to how terminolgy is to be used, especially where it concerns the collaboration of the laity with the ordained clergy:

Need for an Appropriate Terminology

In his address to participants at the Symposium on “Collaboration of the Lay Faithful with the Priestly Ministry”, the Holy Father emphasised the need to clarify and distinguish the various meanings which have accrued to the term “ministry” in theological and canonical language.(53)

§ 1. “For some time now, it has been customary to use the word ministries not only for the officia (officies) and non-ordained (functions) munera exercised by Pastors in virtue of the sacrament of Orders, but also for those exercised by the lay faithful in virtue of their baptismal priesthood. The terminological question becomes even more complex and delicate when all the faithful are recognized as having the possibility of supplying-by official deputation given by the Pastors-certain functions more proper to clerics, which, nevertheless, do not require the character of Orders. It must be admitted that the language becomes doubtful, confused, and hence not helpful for expressing the doctrine of the faith whenever the difference ‘of essence and not merely of degree’ between the baptismal priesthood and the ordained priesthood is in any way obscured”.(54)

§ 2. "In some cases, the extension of the term “ministry” to the munera belonging to the lay faithful has been permitted by the fact that the latter, to their own degree, are a participation in the one priesthood of Christ. The officia temporarily entrusted to them, however, are exclusively the result of a deputation by the Church. Only with constant reference to the one source, the ‘ministry of Christ’ (…) may the term ministry be applied to a certain extent and without ambiguity to the lay faithful: that is, without it being perceived and lived as an undue aspiration to the ordained ministry or as a progressive erosion of its specific nature.

In this original sense the term ministry (servitium) expresses only the work by which the Church’s members continue the mission and ministry of Christ within her and the whole world. However, when the term is distinguished from and compared with the various munera and officia, then it should be clearly noted that only in virtue of sacred ordination does the work obtain that full, univocal meaning that tradition has attributed to it." (55)

§ 3. The non-ordained faithful may be generically designated “extraordinary ministers” when deputed by competent authority to discharge, solely by way of supply, those offices mentioned in Canon 230, § 3(56) and in Canons 943 and 1112. Naturally, the concrete term may be applied to those to whom functions are canonically entrusted e.g. catechists, acolytes, lectors etc.

Temporary deputation for liturgical purposes — mentioned in Canon 230, § 2 — does not confer any special or permanent title on the non-ordained faithful.(57)

It is unlawful for the non-ordained faithful to assume titles such as “pastor”, “chaplain”, “coordinator”, " moderator" or other such similar titles which can confuse their role and that of the Pastor, who is always a Bishop or Priest.(58)

This comes from the document that I quoted in my last post. Note that even after 11 years, the document is still relevent and has not been abrogated by the Holy See.

Furthermore, here is what Francis Cardinal Arinze had to say on the proper use for EMHCs:

The Church sometimes authorizes extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to help the priest and deacon when these are not able to cope with the high number of communicants. It is an abuse for the lay faithful to regard functioning as extraordinary ministers as a power struggle in which they want to prove that what the priest can do, they also can do. This would be lack of reverence. It would also be bad theology.

This is not to say that all of us who assist in this capacity are bad; however, this is not a life-time position, and, we should only be used if there is a genuine need.

 

[sacristan1]

I don’t yet know how to use the “quote” icon…it just doesn’t work for me. But, I do have a concern in what I just read stating it is unlawful for the non-ordained faithful to assume the title of “Coordinator”, etc. Does this apply to the Coordinator of the Altar Care Guild??? This is a layperson who is the Head Sacristan and is listed as Coordinator of the Altar Care Guild and makes sure all runs smoothly for Mass. Is it unlawful for this person to have this title.

 

[japhy]

I do have a concern in what I just read stating it is unlawful for the non-ordained faithful to assume the title of “Coordinator”, etc. Does this apply to the Coordinator of the Altar Care Guild???

No, it’s saying a layman cannot be called the (Parish) Coordinator.

 

[Lepanto]

Are there standardized classes for this ministry?My parish tells me no,it’s like an appreticeship program!?How do we prevent ignorant abuses then?Can I take a course on line?(Do’s and don’t’s-so to speak.)I’m surprised to say the least that I’ve been directed towards this particular ministry,by our director of volunteers as I am relatively new to this parish and what if I was some kind of NUT?Which I am, but a nut for our Lord.

To be honest, when I read the title of this thread, (“Eucharistic ministry”), I thought you were talking about training programs for priests.

 

[John_Higgins]

I agree with NewUlm. Look, nobody’s confused. Give it a rest and focus on the question by the OP and not the same old tired terminological argument. There is confusion as to who is the ordinary minister of marriage however. Maybe argue about that.

John

 

[Cristiano]

I agree with NewUlm. Look, nobody’s confused. Give it a rest and focus on the question by the OP and not the same old tired terminological argument. There is confusion as to who is the ordinary minister of marriage however. Maybe argue about that.

John

I think that this is one of the points of the OP. If we are not even willing or able to use the proper terminology for the ministry, then we lack proper training. The lack of proper terminology takes away reverence and focus from what a true Eucharistic Minister is. An EMHC has to be able to understand and deal also with this kind of little things. If not, we could end up having a crowd of innovative people! Language, attire, behaviors during and outside the Mass show what a proper EMHC is about.
I agree that terminology may not be priority number one; however in terms of form/reverence it is pretty high. The requirements for an EMHC are not a lot and I do not see the need to cut slack where there is not reason for compromise, and that includes other aspects that determine how to pick the best candidates.

 

[Newbie2]

“In his address to participants at the Symposium on “Collaboration of the Lay Faithful with the Priestly Ministry”, the Holy Father emphasised the need to clarify and distinguish the various meanings which have accrued to the term “ministry” in theological and canonical language”

Do you know any lay person who’s actually read this address?

OK, there’s arguments on both sides, but in our parish we use the term…gasp…EMEs (Extrodinary Ministers of the Eucharist). Everybody knows what we do, everybody knows that our function is separate and distinct from the priest…I know that because I train them.

Which leads me to the OP’s question (nice seque, eh? ). I believe that many dioceses have EMHC training programs (maybe refreshers?) like we have in Detroit, but I’m not aware that there are any, at least in Michigan, where there is an “official” program that all of the parishes use.