Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

[Philomeena]

I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours two Sundays a month bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. I am one of about 12 people doing the same each weekend. You can do the math and see there is no way for our one priest to possibly make those kind of rounds.
Wouldn’t it be so lovely if, instead of worrying about semantics, words, titles, etc., this time spent arguing about how horrible all the EMHCs are was spent volunteering your time to adminster, serve, bring, whatever, Holy Communion to those who cannot get to mass?

 

[Wayfarer]

*I object to the word serve, We have Altar Servers but we have Ministers who bring us Holy Communion, administer the sacrament, etc. but not serve. I want to say in response I am going to serve cocktails at happy hour today. *

Am I being picayune?

* *
uselessbeggar

I usually hear the reference to “distributing” Holy Communion. “Serving” doesn’t sound quite right. But then again, Jesus said “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood…” so serving may not be such a bad reference. I think you can be picayune and still have a valid point.

 

[zab]

I object to the word serve, We have Altar Servers but we have Ministers who bring us Holy Communion, administer the sacrament, etc. but not serve. I want to say in response I am going to serve cocktails at happy hour today.

Am I being picayune?

* *
uselessbeggar

Yes

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours two Sundays a month bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. I am one of about 12 people doing the same each weekend. You can do the math and see there is no way for our one priest to possibly make those kind of rounds.
Wouldn’t it be so lovely if, instead of worrying about semantics, words, titles, etc., this time spent arguing about how horrible all the EMHCs are was spent volunteering your time to adminster, serve, bring, whatever, Holy Communion to those who cannot get to mass?

Amen to that!

Lux

 

[uselessbeggar]

Unfortunately, it has become a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

The less Catholics see a need for priests, the less vocations to the priesthood that will be fulfilled.

The problem is that too many people say
“we need extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion because we don’t have enough priests”
instead of saying
"we need more priests so that we won’t need EMHCs"

Alleluia to that!
May I call you a prophet without getting into trouble over semantics?
I wonder how many today are still keeping the Holy Hour once a week praying for the salvation and sanctification of priests and worthy new vocations? That request was made last fall by the Vatican. . How many even started?

uselessbeggar

 

[PJM]

Perhaps I am simply a stickler on words and their meanings because they often conjure up images that are not appropriate.

In this instance I find myself annoyed with the way some EMs describe their ministry. “I am going to serve Holy Communion today.” I object to the word serve, We have Altar Servers but we have Ministers who bring us Holy Communion, administer the sacrament, etc. but not serve. I want to say in response I am going to serve cocktails at happy hour today.

Am I being picayune?


uselessbeggar

Actually you seem to have a fuller understanding than the person you speak about.

Here is another thought for you.

They are (because they are) “ordinary ministers” of Communion. What is “Extrodinary” about nealy every Mass, everywhere (in America), everyday? NOUTHING!

Rome granted, reluctantly, an Indult for “Extrodinary” “when TRULY needed, and specified not everywhere and everyday.”

I only receive from a priest or deacon:thumbsup:

 

[FrDavid96]

Originally Posted by Philomeena
I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours two Sundays a month bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. I am one of about 12 people doing the same each weekend. You can do the math and see there is no way for our one priest to possibly make those kind of rounds.
Wouldn’t it be so lovely if, instead of worrying about semantics, words, titles, etc., this time spent arguing about how horrible all the EMHCs are was spent volunteering your time to adminster, serve, bring, whatever, Holy Communion to those who cannot get to mass?

Amen to that!

Lux

And how much time is spent praying and working for vocations to the priesthood?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if Catholics could put just 1% of the effort they do into recruiting, training, and saying all kinds of positive things about EMHCs and put that effort into encouraging priestly vocations???

When was the last time your parish recruited EMHCs? And when was the last time your parish did something concrete to encourage priestly vocations?

 

[zab]

And how much time is spent praying and working for vocations to the priesthood?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if Catholics could put just 1% of the effort they do into recruiting, training, and saying all kinds of positive things about EMHCs and put that effort into encouraging priestly vocations???

When was the last time your parish recruited EMHCs? And when was the last time your parish did something concrete to encourage priestly vocations?

Our parish prays every day for vocations. The sevice led by the deacon on Monday is especially offered for vocations to the priesthood. Last month, the school had vocation days. One day was for boys and the pastor led the meeting and luncheon. The next day was for girls and a nun (in habit) was invited to speak to the girls. Father also came for lunch and spoke to the girls as well. Father asked the girls, “When was the last time you saw a nun or have you evern seen a nun?” One little girl raised her hand and said, “I saw one at the airport once.”

 

[Philomeena]

When was the last time your parish recruited EMHCs? And when was the last time your parish did something concrete to encourage priestly vocations?

Thank you for asking. We pray EVERY weekend as a parish for vocations. We have vocation weekends.weeks where the clergy and religious come to every faith formation class and talk about vocations.
Not bashing EMHCs whio bring Holy Communion to the homebound and praying for and encouraging priestly vocations are not mutually exclusive.

 

[ASD]

We have 10 Masses every Sunday and around 800 plus at each Mass. It would be impossible to receive Holy Communion without EMHC’s.

No, it would take longer to receive Holy Communion without EMHCs. Maybe it’s not all about The Precious Ten Minutes?

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

No, it would take longer to receive Holy Communion without EMHCs. Maybe it’s not all about The Precious Ten Minutes?

If there are so many people, it is not just 10 minutes. And if the next Mass is scheduled so close (as it would need to be), you could not clear the Church and parking lot in time to have the people in for the start of the next Mass.

Lux

 

[ASD]

ASD;4811261:

No, it would take longer

to receive Holy Communion without EMHCs. Maybe it’s not all about The Precious Ten Minutes?If there are so many people, it is not just 10 minutes. And if the next Mass is scheduled so close (as it would need to be), you could not clear the Church and parking lot in time to have the people in for the start of the next Mass.

Lux

The Church managed without EMHC for a long time, so I don’t see how anybody could be convinced that we absolutely can’t do without them now, one way or another.

Here’s a suggestion: Have the teams of EMHC devote their time and creative energy to figuring out the logistics.

Unfortunately, it has become a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

The less Catholics see a need for priests, the less vocations to the priesthood that will be fulfilled.

The problem is that too many people say
“we need extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion because we don’t have enough priests”
instead of saying
“we need more priests so that we won’t need EMHCs”

So true. I can’t help but think the whole EMHC thing is really a new ecclesiology by stealth.

ASD​

Traditional Latin Mass: Translation and Grammar

 

[jmcrae]

If there are so many people, it is not just 10 minutes. And if the next Mass is scheduled so close (as it would need to be), you could not clear the Church and parking lot in time to have the people in for the start of the next Mass.

Lux

Here’s an idea - what if you had, say, a railing of some kind at the front where people would kneel to receive on the tongue, and the priest, with one or two of the altar servers assisting him, would just move back and forth along the railing giving Holy Communion, and as each person received on the tongue, they would move back to their pew while others took their place, and the priest would just keep on moving back and forth, back and forth, until there was no one left at the railing? There would be no waiting for people to step forward, since all of the people’s movement would occur while the priest was distributing Holy Communion elsewhere along the line - this seems like it could be fairly efficient, don’t you think?

It worked prior to Vatican II, and there were much larger crowds back then than there are now.

 

[JPUSC]

Here’s an idea - what if you had, say, a railing of some kind at the front where people would kneel to receive on the tongue, and the priest, with one or two of the altar servers assisting him, would just move back and forth along the railing giving Holy Communion, and as each person received on the tongue, they would move back to their pew while others took their place, and the priest would just keep on moving back and forth, back and forth, until there was no one left at the railing? There would be no waiting for people to step forward, since all of the people’s movement would occur while the priest was distributing Holy Communion elsewhere along the line - this seems like it could be fairly efficient, don’t you think?

It worked prior to Vatican II, and there were much larger crowds back then than there are now.

Hey, you’re right. There were larger crowds before Vatican II and it worked fine.

Besides, what’s wrong with the the distribution of Holy Communion taking 5 minutes longer. I like listening to the Communion hymn anyway. Just cut out the boring annoucements at the end to make up for the time (if it does take longer), ha.

 

[PJM]

I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours two Sundays a month bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. I am one of about 12 people doing the same each weekend. You can do the math and see there is no way for our one priest to possibly make those kind of rounds.
Wouldn’t it be so lovely if, instead of worrying about semantics, words, titles, etc., this time spent arguing about how horrible all the EMHCs are was spent volunteering your time to adminster, serve, bring, whatever, Holy Communion to those who cannot get to mass?

Dear Friend,

Sincere thanks for your ministery! God will bless you.

But what your doing is a necessity!

EMC’s ARE NOT!

Every day, every Mass, and nearly every church, is a totally ERRANT use of what factually could now be called, “Ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.”

The Indult does NOT COVER this! It is being “forced implemented” in direct and deliberate disobedience to the Magistrium and our Pope!

It is unwarranted, and is a primary reason (NOT THE ONLY REASON) for lack of understanding of the truth that Jesus is Really received in Catholic holy Communion, and for such low Mass attendance figures.

Only about 25% of catholics, not regularly attend Mass every Sunday and Holyday. And only about 10% go to Confession, even once per year. (2007 Pew Report.)

We have lost the sense of Awe and Wonder, the sense of the Sacred. No wonder Catholics are leaving in groves.

If anybody can do it, it CAN"T be any big deal…RIGHT:blush:

 

[zab]

Dear Friend,

Sincere thanks for your ministery! God will bless you.

But what your doing is a necessity!

EMC’s ARE NOT!

Every day, every Mass, and nearly every church, is a totally ERRANT use of what factually could now be called, “Ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.”

The Indult does NOT COVER this! It is being “forced implemented” in direct and deliberate disobedience to the Magistrium and our Pope!

It is unwarranted, and is a primary reason (NOT THE ONLY REASON) for lack of understanding of the truth that Jesus is Really received in Catholic holy Communion, and for such low Mass attendance figures.

Only about 25% of catholics, not regularly attend Mass every Sunday and Holyday. And only about 10% go to Confession, even once per year. (2007 Pew Report.)

We have lost the sense of Awe and Wonder, the sense of the Sacred. No wonder Catholics are leaving in groves.

If anybody can do it, it CAN"T be any big deal…RIGHT:blush:

WHAT’S AN EMC?

 

[Philomeena]

WHAT’S AN EMC?

…and around we go again!!

 

[zab]

…and around we go again!!

 

[FrDavid96]

Hey, you’re right. There were larger crowds before Vatican II and it worked fine.

Besides, what’s wrong with the the distribution of Holy Communion taking 5 minutes longer. I like listening to the Communion hymn anyway. Just cut out the boring annoucements at the end to make up for the time (if it does take longer), ha.

That realy is a good point. There always seems to be extra time to allow for announcements before the Mass begins, an extended entrance procession, a little first homily after the sign of the cross, welcoming visitors and wishing everyone a happy birthday or anniversary, announcements, speeches, presentations, and all kinds of ceremonies after Communion, long homilies (sometimes in the plural), the priest shaking everyone’s hands as they leave (which means people take a long time to actually get out the door)but…

…isn’t it amazing, that when it comes time to distribute Holy Communion, suddenly “we don’t have time” for only the clergy to distribute and it’s absolutely necessary that we get out of church before the next Mass starts.

 

[zab]

That realy is a good point. There always seems to be extra time to allow for announcements before the Mass begins, an extended entrance procession, a little first homily after the sign of the cross, welcoming visitors and wishing everyone a happy birthday or anniversary, announcements, speeches, presentations, and all kinds of ceremonies after Communion, long homilies (sometimes in the plural), the priest shaking everyone’s hands as they leave (which means people take a long time to actually get out the door)but…

…isn’t it amazing, that when it comes time to distribute Holy Communion, suddenly “we don’t have time” for only the clergy to distribute and it’s absolutely necessary that we get out of church before the next Mass starts.

And don’t forget those endless thank yous following the Christmas and Easter Masses to everyone who somehow participated in making the Liturgy so beautiful, and clapping between each- the deacon, the liturgist, the altar servers, the Reader, the head sacristan, the choir, the choir leader, the banner committee, the volunteers who picked up the trees, the couple who made the wreaths, the youth who helped decorate, the ushers, the people who donated the pointsettias or Easter lilies and flowers, the maintainance man… And sometimes there is a message in the bulletin the following week, "We forgot to mention ______in our list of thank yous last week.’