Extraordinary Ministers - would you resign?

[PASCENDI]

Crusader:

Sounds a great deal like my parish. Our “masters of ceremonies” are termed “Mass captains.” They “set-up” and “supervise” during the Mass. It would normally take one person 15 minutes of silent work to set-up. Now it takes twice that with all the chatter and trips across the sanctuary.

The Tridentine Mass will not eliminate these people. However, said people are precisely the type who would never attend a Tridentine Mass. Moreover, a Tridentine Mass tends to draw people who have had enough with liturgical abuses.

Reminds me of what Fr. Hardon called “priest envy”

Once, he forcibly removed a lady from the altar. “Excuse me maddam, I’m saying MASS!”

 

[Paul_W]

baltobetsy:

I picture the pastor of a parish with too many EMs feeling very stressed about having to reduce the use of them, being afraid of the reaction he might receive - hurt feelings, resentment of the Church…whatever. If an EM realized on his/her own that he was contributing to an abuse in the parish, he might be doing the pastor a huge favor by stepping down.

Betsy

Typically an EMHC is commissioned for a specifc term of service, usually three years. At the end of the term, the EMHC may be re-commsssioned for an additional term, or asked to participate in a different ministry.

If the parish has superfluous EMHC’s the pastor can simply let the term expire. If he anticipates hurt feelings, he can invite the eMHC to become a reader, lector, usher, etc.

 

[Paul_W]

Our parish has one priest (in his late sixties) for 3400 parishioners. Although our parish is growing, we will probably always have only one priest, because the Archdiocese keeps raising the threshold at which they’ll assign a second priest.

For many years we have been assisted by a number of visiting priests. Typically they are in their late seventies or early eighties. Typically they commute about 45-60 minutes each way. There aren’t younger priests who are closer, who aren’t already saying Mass somewhere else.

In this situation, EMHC’s are used at Sunday Mass and the Saturday vigil. They are used on Holy days only when attendance warrants. They are rarely used for daily Mass, except when the pastor is on retreat. Sometimes we’re unable to find a visiting priest to say Mass in the evening, (they don’t like to drive after dark) and an EMHC will hold a Communion Service.

If you have plenty of available priests and you feel that EMHC’s are superfluous in your parish --thank God!

 

[buffalo]

I would be obedient!

 

[Proud2bRC]

Absolutely outstanding question!

I also wonder if any other of you have been asked to be EMHCs (it’s almost a closed guilde around here), and felt you had to deline because you simply couldn’t add to the abuse?

Definitely a needed discussion!

I have been asked to be an EME but refused for the reasons on this thread.

 

[sinkspur]

Anyone who does not want to be an EM should not be one.

Logistically, our Masses would run together on Sunday if we didn’t have EMs.

 

[_veritas]

I would like to jump in here…

My parish does overuse EMHCs at times, but most of the time I would say that they are needed in an extraordinary capacity. There are, however, probably too many of them at some of our Masses (but we are scheduled, and many people just do not show up when they are supposed to). Also, many of the EMHCs are poorly trained and very irreverent themselves.

So, I have thought about whether I should stay or go… am I simply prolonging or aiding the abuse by staying?

I have decided “no”, for one reason and one reason only – I am an example. I hope I do not sound boastful in this, I am not trying to be, I quite simply mean that we NEED commited and good people to remain in this ministry (always for Christ, never for themselves–always willing to resign when called to do so). With my presence there, I try to fully align myself to the true wishes of our Church and our Lord and to act, dress and speak accordingly.

When I look around me in the sanctuary and see women in miniskirts and individuals whom everyone knows are in a long-term gay relationship (“married” actually), and people who hand out Hosts as though they were pieces of candy, just slapping them into whatever hand is there, and who tend not to care (or know?) that people should be consuming the hosts immediately… good grief, the list goes on and on.

We currently come up to the altar at the Sign of Peace, which is clearly not correct (hopefully our new pastor will correct this at some point soon…). Thus, I have tried to place myself as far from the altar as I can, and I have noticed that now others are starting to follow my example. It is still not correct, but it is less intrusive than it could be…

I also fully know that my leaving will not make a difference either in the number of EMHCs or in how they act in their duty… I feel I can do better work from within by being an example, and gradually hopefully (unless our pastor steps in and hurries it up) I can begin to change mindsets (even things as simple as always referring to us by our real title, not just EMs).

Also, I feel that it is worthwhile to have an EMHC around who is careful of the spillage of the Sacred Hosts or Precious Blood… just last Sunday one of the other EMHCs spilled some Blood and just walked away from it… I made sure to go over and cover the spot with my purificator until I could come back to blot it up. I then approached our new pastor about it, and hopefully all EMHCs will get more training on this.

If all the good generals leave the army, who will protect the troops from their own ignorance?

 

[S_Corda]

It is interesting that in this long thread, no mention of acolytes distributing Holy Communion was mentioned. (There was one mention of acolytes acting as servers). (Emphasis/bold below was added by me.)

from GIRM:

1. In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers.

from Canon Law :

Can. 910
1 The ordinary minister of holy communion is a Bishop, a priest or a deacon.
2 The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte, or another of Christ’s faithful deputed in accordance with can. 230

so, we go to Can. 230:]

Can. 230
1 Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite.
…
3 Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions,
… and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Now for my point. (Since we’re talking about distributing Holy Communion, I’m writing about acolytes, not lectors.)

In my diocese, I have never been at a Mass when a “duly instituted acolyte” is not available. To me, the quotes above indicate that people who are not instituted acolytes only are supposed to fill in “In the absence of an instituted acolyte.”

From reading this thread, I’m starting to think that my diocese is the only one following this part of GIRM and Canon Law!

 

[Thomas2]

First off - Thank you very much Veritas for hanging in there with your example and patience. I haven’t either patience nor the prudence to do so, but then again I’m a weak willed woman who tends to open mouth and regret it later! In fact, I used to get to do the Readings, but I’ve “complained myself out of a job” in my parish. One Pastor told me I was a “nut bag” because I complained about the spilled Blood of our Lord! And he had just done the Consecration of said Blood!

To S Corda - Thank you for the quotations so that everyone can compare what is supposed to happen to what is really happening in their parishes. I came from a parish that though rather large, over 3700 families, had four priests in residence in the Rectory. At each Mass these men would “appear” from behind the sanctuary to help with the distribution of the Eucharist. Sure we used EMHC’s when necessary but they were given proper training and were always discreet in their presence. Now I live where th opposite is true - the EMs are there to relieve poor tired over-worked Fathers who would rather sleep in then distribute Communion! We also have quite a few women who do this “job” rather flambouantly. In fact, you’ll see more women than men serving the altar around here and it ain’t pretty! When I get frustrated to tears, I think back to St. Michael’s and know in my heart that there are folks on earth doing all they know how to be reverant and holy and hopefully making reparation to God for all those who really make Him mad in other places. Keep up the good works!

Peace and all good,

Thomas2

 

[TeDeum]

baltobetsy:

In addition to the issue of obedience, I think this question concerns the usurpation of priestly duties by lay people, and the resultant impoverishment of the liturgy and the denial of the fullness of what Christ wishes to give the people. For me, the sign value of the priest distributing Communion is very important; acting through the priest, Jesus feeds Himself to the people. No EM can replicate this experience.

As for taking Communion to the sick, the homebound and nursing home patients, what happens if they need to go to Confession? We cannot assume that the condition of being old or sick or confined renders a person incapable of mortal sin. So what happens - the person has committed a mortal sin, has no access to a priest without calling attention to himself by making a special request, and is presented with an EM bringing the Eucharist. How many people will say they don’t want to receive until they’ve seen a priest? Their right to their good name is infringed by this situation. No one should have to announce the fact that they are in mortal sin to anyone else, even if only by implication.

In my opinion, priests should place their Sacramental responsibilities first on their priority list. Nothing is more important than service to those in their spiritual care. If this were more routine, I believe that priests would find much more personal fulfillment in their ministry and there would be less of a vocations crisis. We must let priests be priests!

Betsy

 

[TeDeum]

I 100% agree. The lay peple are acting like priests and the priest are acting lay people. Let the priest be priests and let the lay people stay as lay people.

 

[Tressa]

[Originally posted by Bud Stewart]
However, one of my ‘functions’ is to take Communion to the sick. I, and a fellow Extraordinary Minister from my parish, visit a local hospital each month. Our pastor, the only resident priest we have, is unable to bring the Eucharist to the hospital, so I am blessed to be able to bring Christ to those who dearly need it.

One problem I have with EMHC taking Communion to the hospitals is that one church (or several maybe) is usually assigned to take care of a certain hospital. They seem to go to all the people that are registered as Catholic. I had an Aunt in the hospital once who, although has some mental difficulties and has not practiced her faith for many years, was capable of knowing about her faith. Holy Communion was given to her with no questions asked. I asked the priest about it who came to see her and he just said that it is better to administer Communion than not in the case of hospitals. She was not in danger of dying, the Nun who visited her should’ve left this up to the priest who then should’ve heard her confession first. My brother-in-law was in the same situation just recently and was visited by an EMHC. He told them he could not receive the sacrament and the EMHC preceeded to ask WHY!!! This is none of their business, only that of a priest! These are the kinds of situations where the dangers of sending EMHC to hospitals exists. If they go to the homes of people in their own parish, these people have already been screened by the parish priest for approval to receive Holy Communion.
I resigned as an EMHC before the new GIRM even came out. New pastor, new unothodox demands.

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I tend to think that if Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion were thoroughy trained, and the many very possible --even probable–ways in which they might (even unwittingly) profane the Most Blessed Sacrament were explained to them, fewer would accept the position in the first place!

I know I never want to handle the Host, nor distribute it to others, within or outside the Mass. What a grave responsibility, and one all too often abused.

Just as we are to avoid occasions for sin, I avoid occasions for abuse of the Eucharist or Liturgy.

Pax Christi. <><

 

[net]

I have been asked to be an extraordinary minister and declined. It just doesn’t seem right to me. I belong to a small Church. The priest and 6 emc give the Body and the Blood. I find it distracting. We have been told that receiving under both forms is the preferred practice of the Church. Do you think that is true? What about the Blood that is left over? Isn’t it poured down the drain? How does diluting it make it any less Christ’s Blood? What do you think about women giving Communion when there are men there also who could do it? How many are too many people for just the priest to give Communion? Do you think most people think it’s ok just because they’ve been asked and want to help? I better not ask any more questions. This has really been on my mind though. Net

 

[davy39]

No I wouldn’t. I take the position very seriously, and I feel I’m doing something positive when I’m taking communion to shut ins, nursing homes, etc. We live in a rural area with one priest to cover 2 parishes of about 1500members total. But if I was asked to resign by the priest, I would. Since our priest will retire soon, the parishes will probably be closed, so the whole issue will be meaningless. God bless you all.

 

[Hyla_Crucifer]

Many years ago, whilst residing in the Diocese of Richmond, I declined an invitation to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (I believe they used other terms) on the grounds that the Parish which extended the invitation already had and employed at each Mass entirely too many EMHCs. The functionary who extended the invitation was aghast at my reasoning.

If I had ever become an EMHC in such a Parish I would have resigned long ago.

My current Parish has only a handful of them, and they are seldom employed.

-Hyla

 

[davy39]

Net: maybe I can help you on a few things. In a small parish such as ours, we usually have 2 em’s at each mass, mainly to distribute the precious blood. What precious blood is left is either consumed by the priest or by the em’s. As far as men vs. women distributing, I don’t think it makes any difference. I believe that you receive all the divinity of Christ in either the body or blood or both. Years ago, the precious blood was never consumed by anybody except the priest. I hope that helps a little.

 

[haole]

Yes, i have resigned-after having been an EM for 12 years. g.d., the “liturgist” was giving his annual “teaching” of the EMs, was asked a questions from one of those stubborn EMs who think they are above priests ( “if we have to keel in the pews during the consecration, why does the priest not come with us?” ).g.d did not know thw answer. when i stood up and told them the priests role as persona christi, they kind of looked at me as if i were a leper. the same “liturgist” allowed liturgical dancing during the 15 mins of adoration after the Holy Thursday Mass ( the people and priests were kneeling when these two sacntily clad teens danced up and down the aisles with incense bowls ). The head of faith formation is run by an ex-nun who says “the Church is :too vertical-that WE ARE CHRIST”…
The same EMs each weekend fight for position, usuall ignore the priests, and take away duties from him.

 

[Carol_Pyle]

Redemptionis Sacramentum tells us that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should be used only in extraordinary circumstances where there are not enough priests and deacons to distribute Holy Communion without unduly prolonging the Mass. In many parishes, there is a virtual army of EMHCs at every Mass, even lightly attended daily Masses. If you are one of these EMHCs, would you consider resigning in light of the instructions in this document?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Betsy

I did resign - and before current document came out – I found that I was way too busy up on the altar and not paying attention to what was happening there! When we got “lessons” on how to do dramatic readings as lectors, and more strangely weird instructions re: EMHCs, and found that our daily Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion was not being done according to the newer regulations, I was given the grace to resign all of that stuff and participate from the pews – was embarrassing explaining what I couldn’t really do well, but has been spiritually rewarding!

 

[larryo]

Regarding EMEs, the standards for determining when the use of EMEs seem somewhat elastic. How many Holy Communion recipients unduly prolong the Mass? Should there be a specified maximum number of recipients for each priest and deacon reached before employing EMEs? By the way, at our parish, such “ministers” are called Special Ministers of the Eucharist (SMEs). I believe this terminology comes down from the Archdiocesan office. I am in a large parish that has 9 weekend Masses. The pastor relies heavily–maybe too heavily–on SMEs and I must confess that my wife and I are two of them. We are scheduled every third Sunday at noon. I must also admit that I was uneasy–on principle I believe lay ministers should be used as sparingly as possible–, when we were approached about a year ago by the Director of the RCIA program, a woman my wife feels indebted to because she went through the RCIA process when she converted about 9 years ago. We have made a two-year commitment. I hope to resign next year. Several months back, I attended a concelebrated Mass with 8 priesta and a deacon. At Communion time, only the chief celebrant and the deacon distributed the Eucharist, along with 8 SMEs. I thought this was abusive.