Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

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NanaGigi

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My understanding is that they are to be used sparingly. My Pastor thinks he needs 5 when he celebrates Mass for about 30-40 people! He has just singled out 5 of us daily Noon Massers to see him about becoming “Eucharistic Ministers” as he calls them. He says he can’t do it all and if he doesn’t get hlep, he will just have to discontinue the second daily Mass.

I think he is abusing the use of Extraordinary Ministers. What are the guidelines? I do not want to participate in this ministry and I want some good reasons why. I have read “Redemptionis Sacramentum” but I would like something even more specific about this practice.

Thanks,

Gigi
 
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NanaGigi:
My understanding is that they are to be used sparingly. My Pastor thinks he needs 5 when he celebrates Mass for about 30-40 people! He has just singled out 5 of us daily Noon Massers to see him about becoming “Eucharistic Ministers” as he calls them. He says he can’t do it all and if he doesn’t get hlep, he will just have to discontinue the second daily Mass.

I think he is abusing the use of Extraordinary Ministers. What are the guidelines? I do not want to participate in this ministry and I want some good reasons why. I have read “Redemptionis Sacramentum” but I would like something even more specific about this practice.

Thanks,

Gigi
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The guidelines are fairly straight-forward: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to be used when there are insufficient ordinary ministers (bishops, priests and deacons) to provide communion in a timely fashion. These are my words, but they distill what Rome has said. BTW, a cleric who is simply attending Mass is not considered to be “present” for the distribution of communion. So, for 30 or 40 people I could see a second minister if communion were being given under both species. However, there is no reason for that if only the host is being used, unless, of course, the priest is physically incapacitated or elderly.

Deacon Ed
 
You will probably get tons of responses to this thread from folks with far more liturgical horsepower than I (like Deacon Ed for example), but in my opinion your priest is misapplying Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (first of all by incorrectly referring to them as “Eucharistic Ministers”).

It’s hard to tell from your post, but I hope he doesn’t think he needs 5 EMHC’s at each Mass :hmmm:

With so few in attendance that doesn’t make much sense. It certainly can’t be because it takes too much time to distribute the Eucharist.

At our small parish we use three EMHCs at weekend Masses where the Eucharist is distributed in both forms. One EMHC assists the priest as a distributor of the Host, and two serve as distributors of the Precious Blood (I think our priest could do without the EMHC assisting with the Host, but he thinks it would take too long without having two lines (we get about 300 at a typical weekend Mass) and he’s the boss. Actually he is a pretty orthodox priest (we are fortunate) so I shouldn’t complain.

During weekday masses only the Host is distributed and attendance is light, so no EMHCs are used.

I suppose that many would argue that your priest should not use EMHCs at all since attendance is so small, but if you distribute in both forms, it makes sense to me to use an EMHC as minister of the cup. But I can’t see why you would need more than one EMHC at any single Mass.

There are many other threads that address EMHCs so you might want to do a search for more opinions.

This is a topic that generates some pretty strong opinions, so get ready. 😉
 
Gigi,
The number of EMHC needed is a judgement call, and there are many opinions, but basically it is between your pastor and his Bishop.

Yes, many parishes do overuse EMHC (according to some), but what should someone in your situation do?

Speak to your Pastor, and ask him about his need for so many ministers. Perhaps there is a specific need as to the time restrictions of this Mass?

Just ask questions, and then take time to think about his response. Remember he is your Pastor and deserves your support. Look at the whole picture. If you feel that there is an overuse of EMHC, just respectfully decline his invitation to serve.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

Only the Host is distributed at our weekday Masses. At all Sunday Masses we have 9 EMs at all 5 Masses (counting Sat. p.m.) The church holds about 500. The weekly 8 a.m. usually has about 100 people and the Pastor wants 5 EMs, while the 12 Noon Mass has about 30-40 people, which is likely to increase as snowbirds arrive. When our other priest says the Mass, he is satisfied with the three EMs designated to help at the Noon Mass; when the Pastor celebrates the Noon Mass, he continually says he needs two more. I know that time is of the essence for him, but geeeeeze, 5 EMs for 30-40 people???

Gigi
 
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NanaGigi:
Thank you all for your replies.

Only the Host is distributed at our weekday Masses. At all Sunday Masses we have 9 EMs at all 5 Masses (counting Sat. p.m.) The church holds about 500. The weekly 8 a.m. usually has about 100 people and the Pastor wants 5 EMs, while the 12 Noon Mass has about 30-40 people, which is likely to increase as snowbirds arrive. When our other priest says the Mass, he is satisfied with the three EMs designated to help at the Noon Mass; when the Pastor celebrates the Noon Mass, he continually says he needs two more. I know that time is of the essence for him, but geeeeeze, 5 EMs for 30-40 people???

Gigi
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Sweetheart, if 5 rather than 3 EMs is the biggest problem in the Catholic Church, we should drop to our knees and thank the Lord.
 
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katherine2:
Sweetheart, if 5 rather than 3 EMs is the biggest problem in the Catholic Church, we should drop to our knees and thank the Lord.
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Given that the Mass is the very source and summit of our faith, glossing over liturgical abuse would seem to be the work of Satan…
 
Nana - may I inquire which Diocese you are in “snow birds” seems to be somewhere in Arizona.

If you are in the Phoenix Diocese, I have found them to be very responsive in answsering any questions I have about the liturgy.

If you are, let me know and I’ll give you the e mail addresses for both the office of worship and where to write about liturgical complaints.
 
You might want to refer such questions to Father Edward McNamara who is the Liturgy expert writing for Zenit.org which is a daily newsletter from the Vatican.
 
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NanaGigi:
My understanding is that they are to be used sparingly. My Pastor thinks he needs 5 when he celebrates Mass for about 30-40 people! He has just singled out 5 of us daily Noon Massers to see him about becoming “Eucharistic Ministers” as he calls them. He says he can’t do it all and if he doesn’t get hlep, he will just have to discontinue the second daily Mass.

I think he is abusing the use of Extraordinary Ministers. What are the guidelines? I do not want to participate in this ministry and I want some good reasons why. I have read “Redemptionis Sacramentum” but I would like something even more specific about this practice.

Thanks,

Gigi
Click to expand...
Generally speaking there is two ministers of the Cup for each minister distributing the Body of Christ. So in this situation I could see two EMHC’s of the Cup, one on each side.
 
At My parish, there are 2(sometimes 3) eucharistic ministers of the bread and 4 of the cup. There is nothing wrong with that(and we only have the priest)

Podo:D
 
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Podo2004:
At My parish, there are 2(sometimes 3) eucharistic ministers of the bread and 4 of the cup. There is nothing wrong with that…
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Says who? You?
Perhaps you should consult a higher authority?
:hmmm:
 
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Podo2004:
Who says it’s not allowed? You?
Podo
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Not me. I wouldn’t presume to judge that there is “no problem” with the use of EMHCs in any particular situation. That judgement belongs to the local Ordinary.

From Redemptionis Sacramentum:
151. Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the Liturgy. Such recourse is not intended for the sake of a fuller participation of the laity but rather, by its very nature, is supplementary and provisional.252 Furthermore, when recourse is had out of necessity to the functions of extraordinary ministers, special urgent prayers of intercession should be multiplied that the Lord may soon send a Priest for the service of the community and raise up an abundance of vocations to sacred Orders.253
 
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