Extraordinary Minister Giving Communion to Those in Lockdown

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sealabeag

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I was just asked this question by a friend and not sure of the answer. Maybe a priest here or someone who knows the accurate answer could help!

A lady who is an extraordinary minister of holy communion has offered to bring my friend and those she lives with the Eucharist, as the priest has extra consecrated hosts from Mass, and obviously they can’t get to Mass with lockdown.

Would this be ok, assuming the priest approves?

Also would church and government guidelines in terms of coronavirus affect this question?
 
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sealabeag said:
Also would church and government guidelines in terms of coronavirus affect this question?
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Not a priest, but yes.

In normal times, EMHCs bringing communion to the sick, or to the elderly in nursing homes, are usual in my diocese. Right now, they’ve been asked to stay home too.

I can imagine it would vary from diocese to diocese. Here, the EMHCs I know are almost all in the “at risk” part of the population (over 65). It may be different somewhere else.
 
sealabeag said:
Would this be ok, assuming the priest approves?
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I think not. At this time, when few people have immunity and the virus can easily spread by asymptomatic carriers, we still need to minimize person-to-person contacts.
 
Our Archbishop just recently gave expanded (and highly unusual) permission for pastors to commission as many EMHCs as they deem appropriate to have Liturgy of the Word and Communion Services and deliver the Eucharist to anyone they’re already in contact with as a means of broadening the access to the Sacrament while still discouraging crowds at any particular Mass.
 
Of course! 🙂 Just not too sure what the exact rules regarding this situation would be. Probably hasn’t been touched on by the bishops.
 
Even though EMHC home visits are not allowed at this time, it’s not too soon to think about what EMHC home visits will look like when they begin again.

These days, I’ve often heard “It won’t look the same.” If they open summer camps for children, or if college campuses open in the fall, things will be done differently in order to minimize the spread of the virus.

So put on your thinking caps and lets brainstorm. Here the basic idea is to assume that one person or the other has the virus but doesn’t know it. What can be done to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus?
  • Before a home visit, the EMHC should assess his/her own health, and should cancel the visit if there are any symptoms (fever, sniffle, sore throat, etc.).
  • Those receiving Communion should likewise assess their own health, and should cancel the visit if anyone in the home has symptoms.
  • EMHC should wear a face covering throughout the visit.
  • Recipients and others in the home should wear a face covering except when receiving Communion.
  • EMHC and all who receive Communion should wash or sanitize hands immediately before and after Communion.
  • EMHC should spend as little time as possible in the home, and should not touch anything unnecessarily (doorknobs, table tops, any household items).
This is not a complete list, but only an illustration of how parishes and parishioners can apply public health principles to EMHC or other ministry home visits.
 
Very precise instructions on everything from banning paper bulletins to regulations on distribution of Communion has been done by every Diocese I have read.

There will be a document outlining the rules on your Diocese website, and your pastor has likely had it published on your parish social media
 
Beryllos said:
  • Before a home visit, the EMHC should assess his/her own health, and should cancel the visit if there are any symptoms (fever, sniffle, sore throat, etc.).
  • Those receiving Communion should likewise assess their own health, and should cancel the visit if anyone in the home has symptoms.
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To be frank, this should have already been the case, no?
 
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