Is it ok to consume remaining hosts after bringing Communion to the sick?

[adrift]

The problem I ran into but slightly different is there were particles left of Jesus. . It only happened once and the priest consumed them at that time but he told me the next time to consume the pieces myself that it was not self communication. Feels like it to me though.

 

[Marauder]

I think we are also missing something here. EMHC should not be taking a dozen Hosts to a hospital and then see how many Catholic patients they can find! Hospital or nursing home visits should be arranged IN ADVANCE. The person receiving must be given a chance to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation if they want, before receiving Holy Communion, and be offered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. These will require a visit by the priest. You should be going with a specific number of Hosts for a specific number of people. If you discover a few “extra” Catholics they should be “visited” (after all the Hosts are distributed) to find out who they are, if they are active Catholics and members of a parish, if they want Fr. to stop by for Reconciliation or Anointing., etc.

Someone may have listed on their hospital form that they are “Catholic” but they have not seen the inside of a Catholic Church for 25 years!

Making a lot of assumptions aren’t we. For your information the way it works at the hospital I go to and every hospital I have dealt with is people list their religious preference on their admission form and they can “opt-out” if they don’t want to be visiting. That list is then supplied to the chaplains office which supplies it to security. We get the list from them. Whenever someone new is added to the list the first person that visits them starts talking to them in a way that we can usually tell within a few minutes whether they are a practicing Catholic or not. Since people from our Church visit the hosptial EVERY day including, but not limited to two days from a priest, two days from deacons, two days from nuns, and 1 day from EMHCs (usually Sunday) odds are that the EMHC is not the first person to see the new patient. If the person that sees the patient first determines that they need to see a priest first they a) let the patient know a priest will be around soon b) if the need is great (i.e. patient ready to die) the priest is called right away c) the person just prays with the person.

Do fallen away Catholics sometimes receive communion when they shouldn’t? Yeah but probably a lot less then receive in the communion line at church. Usually we can get a good feel whether the person is practicing or not but just like at Church an EMHC is not supposed to make the ulimate choice. If we can tell the person is not practicing we usually say things like, “Would you like to pray with me?” or something like that. But if a person insists on receiving there is nothing we can do.

Maybe in a small country hospital every person that wants/needs communion can arrange with the parish and people to receive it, not in bigger city/suburban hospitals. But if you only are ministering to the people that specifically call the parish, you are missing out on numerous chances to a) bring people back to the faith b) to help with people that are admitted in emergencies c) to help with people that have nobody to call for them and can’t call for themselves.

 

[Marauder]

As an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, why would you be dealing with those of other faiths at all? You are not an ordained minister so it seems to me that your purpose is to deliver Holy Communion only to those who are eligible to receive, a fact that I would hope you already knew prior to even going there. I would hope that you do not take this opportunity to play at being an ordained minister by preaching, delivering sermons, dispensing theological advice or opinions etc. Also since you are not a priest or a health care professional, I would reccomend that you not engage in too much discussion with those that might be delusional. I would reccomend that you refer those situations to the Priest, as he just may have a better handle on it then you do. I didn’t think that you were there to minister to peopleas much as you were to deliver Holy Communion to them, which are two totally different things.

Actually after reading your post I am starting to think that maybe the whole idea of Extraordinary Ministers is wrong. If these situations that you have cited are actually happening it seems to me that a Priest or Deacon is much better suited to handle them than a lay person. I had come around toaccept the idea that they were acceptable to deliver to the sick and homebound but based on your post I guess I should revise my opinion about their use altogether…

Wow, I guess since you have revised your opinion of things I should stop in my tracks and do nothing at all. And since you have never dealt with these situations I guess I must take you advice immediately.[/sacrasm]

For your information, the ministry of the sick to the hospital involves more then just taking Communion to those in the hospital it involves actual talking to the people who in some cases may be the only person they have talked to in months and you may be the first religious person they have talked to in years. We have found that some people are brought back to faith, not by the priests or deacons that visit but by the average every day people that visit them.

Occasionally you do deal with people of other faiths, when you are enter a room that may have someone that is Catholic next to someone that isn’t, sometimes they want to talk to someone. I have been walking throught the hospital and a nurse sees me and tells me that so and so patient would like to see “anyone” of faith.

I can’t speak for other people but I am not playing at being ordained. I am just talking to the person as another lay person. I have said the line, “I am not a priest, just a lay person” numerous times.

All the things I mentioned happen and it’s not like I go looking for the situations, they come to me.

 

[Marauder]

If these situations that you have cited are actually happening it seems to me that a Priest or Deacon is much better suited to handle them than a lay person.

Oh I forgot to mention, every time one of the “unusual” sitiutations have happened where I was not totally sure whether I did the right thing, I have talked it over with a priest at my parish and every single time the priest said that everything I did was correct. That is why I have been saying all along that the EMHCs that do this need proper training so that they know all the policies and the “spirit” of the policies so they can think on their feet.

 

[tee_eff_em]

… including, but not limited to two days from a priest, two days from deacons, two days from nuns, and 1 day from EMHCs (usually Sunday) …

I think you mean: “… two days from a priest, two days from deacons, and 3 days from EMHCs (who may be a nun) (usually Sunday) …”

tee

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The problem I ran into but slightly different is there were particles left of Jesus. . It only happened once and the priest consumed them at that time but he told me the next time to consume the pieces myself that it was not self communication. Feels like it to me though.

When you take Holy Communion to shut-ins you celebrate a Communion service with them. You say prayers and read the readings including the Gospel. Which normally is reserved to only a priest or deacon. But because of the special circumstances you can read the Gospel and consume the remaining Blessed Sacrament without violating any rules.

These situations are considered rare. Because visiting the Hospital, nursing home, and shut-ins is the pastors responsibility. (Spiritual assistance, Blessings, Confession, Anointing, Holy Communion, Last Rites)
He may be assisted by another priest, or a deacon (Holy Communion, prayers, and Blessings)
OR when necessary by a Lay person specifically trained for this as an EMHC.

That is why you won’t find any of the practicalities in any church document, but instead in training materials for EMHC’s developed by dioceses. A generic book I used in training is An Important Office of Immense Love - by Joseph Champlin.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Making a lot of assumptions aren’t we. For your information the way it works at the hospital I go to and every hospital I have dealt with is people list their religious preference on their admission form and they can “opt-out” if they don’t want to be visiting. That list is then supplied to the chaplains office which supplies it to security. We get the list from them. Whenever someone new is added to the list the first person that visits them starts talking to them in a way that we can usually tell within a few minutes whether they are a practicing Catholic or not. Since people from our Church visit the hosptial EVERY day including, but not limited to two days from a priest, two days from deacons, two days from nuns, and 1 day from EMHCs (usually Sunday) odds are that the EMHC is not the first person to see the new patient. If the person that sees the patient first determines that they need to see a priest first they a) let the patient know a priest will be around soon b) if the need is great (i.e. patient ready to die) the priest is called right away c) the person just prays with the person.

Do fallen away Catholics sometimes receive communion when they shouldn’t? Yeah but probably a lot less then receive in the communion line at church. Usually we can get a good feel whether the person is practicing or not but just like at Church an EMHC is not supposed to make the ulimate choice. If we can tell the person is not practicing we usually say things like, “Would you like to pray with me?” or something like that. But if a person insists on receiving there is nothing we can do.

Maybe in a small country hospital every person that wants/needs communion can arrange with the parish and people to receive it, not in bigger city/suburban hospitals. But if you only are ministering to the people that specifically call the parish, you are missing out on numerous chances to a) bring people back to the faith b) to help with people that are admitted in emergencies c) to help with people that have nobody to call for them and can’t call for themselves.

No matter where it takes place being an EMHC for a hospital is not an Evangelization or returning Catholics ministry. I’m not saying that those functions are not important but they should be done by different people or at least at a different time by the same people. When carrying the Blessed Sacrament it is not a time to be “visiting”! You should not be discovering “Catholics” in the hospital. Your pastor should be directing you to bring the Eucharist to Mr. John in room 213. Here every parish is responsible for taking care of their own faithful in the five hospitals. It is important and announced in every parish to receive Holy Comunion in the Hospital you or a family member must contact your parish and let them know that you are in the hospital. Priests will go by during the week for Confession, Anointing, and Holy Communion. Deacons are also there during the week with Holy Communion. EMHC’s go on Sunday and Saturday evening, from Mass to specific people, in specific hospitals, nursing homes and private homes. If someone new is “discovered” because they did not call the parish or someone is from out of town. The EMHC leaves the information with the parish and Father visits the following week, and if necessary they are then assigned to a deacon and EMHC. (Emergencies are handled differently)

 

[Marauder]

I think you mean: “… two days from a priest, two days from deacons, and 3 days from EMHCs (who may be a nun) (usually Sunday) …”

tee

Yes technically the nuns are EMHCs but the distinction is that they aren’t just lay EMHCs they are a little different from the standard lay EMHCs. At least in our case the nuns have more training then the lay EMHCs. A patient that has a nun visit them views them differently then a standard lay EMHC.

 

[Marauder]

No matter where it takes place being an EMHC for a hospital is not an Evangelization or returning Catholics ministry. I’m not saying that those functions are not important but they should be done by different people or at least at a different time by the same people. When carrying the Blessed Sacrament it is not a time to be “visiting”! You should not be discovering “Catholics” in the hospital. You pastor should be directing you to bring the Eucharist to Mr. John in room 213. Here every parish is responsible for taking care of their own faithful in the five hospitals. It is important and announced in every parish to receive Holy Comunion in the Hospital you or a family member must contact your parish and let them know that you are in the hospital. Priests will go by during the week for Confession, Anointing, and Holy Communion. Deacons are also there during the week with Holy Communion. EMHC’s go on Sunday and Saturday evening, from Mass to specific people, in specific hospitals, nursing homes and private homes. If someone new is “discovered” because they did not call the parish or someone is from out of town. The EMHC leaves the information with the parish and Father visits the following week, and if necessary they are then assigned to a deacon and EMHC. (Emergencies are handled differently)

And can you tell me anywhere where this is documented. This may be the policy in your parish/diocese but it isn’t the policy in my diocese or the neighboring dioceses. Also policies change depending on the type of hospital and the regulations of the hospital itself and the relationship that hospital has with the neighboring parishes.

I was specifically told that this is a type of Evangelization ministry, the primary purpose is to bring communion to patients, but there are other purposes to the ministry as well.

Take a look at the following link:
catholicherald.com/articles/05articles/hospital0407.htm

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Wow, I guess since you have revised your opinion of things I should stop in my tracks and do nothing at all. And since you have never dealt with these situations I guess I must take you advice immediately.[/sacrasm]

For your information, the ministry of the sick to the hospital involves more then just taking Communion to those in the hospital it involves actual talking to the people who in some cases may be the only person they have talked to in months and you may be the first religious person they have talked to in years. We have found that some people are brought back to faith, not by the priests or deacons that visit but by the average every day people that visit them.

Occasionally you do deal with people of other faiths, when you are enter a room that may have someone that is Catholic next to someone that isn’t, sometimes they want to talk to someone. I have been walking throught the hospital and a nurse sees me and tells me that so and so patient would like to see “anyone” of faith.

I can’t speak for other people but I am not playing at being ordained. I am just talking to the person as another lay person. I have said the line, “I am not a priest, just a lay person” numerous times.

All the things I mentioned happen and it’s not like I go looking for the situations, they come to me.

The parish is trying to do too much with one ministry. There should be a Hospital Visitation Ministry. People that go and visit the sick and injured, pray with them and determine their needs. This could be a very good source for returning Catholics or evangelizing for RCIA.

This must be separate and distinct from those EMHC’s that carry the Blessed Sacrament to the faithful in the hospital.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

And can you tell me anywhere where this is documented. This may be the policy in your parish/diocese but it isn’t the policy in my diocese or the neighboring dioceses. Also policies change depending on the type of hospital and the regulations of the hospital itself and the relationship that hospital has with the neighboring parishes.

I was specifically told that this is a type of Evangelization ministry, the primary purpose is to bring communion to patients, but there are other purposes to the ministry as well.

Take a look at the following link:
catholicherald.com/articles/05articles/hospital0407.htm

That link is great and shows the great need for a hospital visitation ministry. Bringing the Eucharist to those who are unable to attend Mass with their parish community is a bit different than an evangelistic visitation ministry.

This should all be documented in your diocese training materials.

Because of HIPPA I believe that most hospitals are prohibited from contacting a parish unless the patient specifically requests it. This is why it is so important for patients and family to do so.

 

[Marauder]

The parish is trying to do too much with one ministry. There should be a Hospital Visitation Ministry. People that go and visit the sick and injured, pray with them and determine their needs. This could be a very good source for returning Catholics or evangelizing for RCIA.

This must be separate and distinct from those EMHC’s that carry the Blessed Sacrament to the faithful in the hospital.

And in an ideal world that could happen, but in reality it doesn’t in any of the parishs here. Also HIPPA requirements at most hospitals would make it very difficult. It is hard enough for all the hoops that the priests, EMHCs etc. have to jump through now especially at non-Catholic hospitals to see patients due to the new HIPPA policies, to have more people visiting the patients wouldn’t be allowed by the hospitals. The hospitals you go to, if you are a EMHC to the sick, may not be stricktly enforcing HIPPA but the ones around here are. Like I said, for some people the Ministry of the Sick people are the only people that they see other then the doctors and the nurses.

This is within the Minstry as long as the talking is within the Ministry. We are not talking about discussing the latest football game or something like that, most discussions involve their sickness and issues they may be having. To come in, do the rite and walk out without even talking to the patient other then the rite would IMHO be very uncharitable and go against my archdiocese level training.

 

[Marauder]

Bringing the Eucharist to those who are unable to attend Mass with their parish community is a bit different than an evangelistic visitation ministry.

I guess you missed the line in the link that said.

“The greatest role of those who minister to the sick is to “learn to listen and teach them to come closer to the Lord,” Father Wynants said. “It is so important to be there and be gentle.””

How can you learn to listen and teach them to come closer to the Lord if you are not talking to them?

This should all be documented in your diocese training materials.

I am doing everything as taught by my archdiocese.

Because of HIPPA I believe that most hospitals are prohibited from contacting a parish unless the patient specifically requests it. This is why it is so important for patients and family to do so.

Already mentioned HIPPA in another post. The way a hospital interprets HIPPA defines how the people in the Ministry of the Sick can approach patients at the hospital.

 

[Pug]

it involves actual talking to the people who in some cases may be the only person they have talked to in months and you may be the first religious person they have talked to in years. We have found that some people are brought back to faith, not by the priests or deacons that visit but by the average every day people that visit them.

Occasionally you do deal with people of other faiths

So many different situations can come up in the hospital. For example, in oncology, you can come upon a dying person, and their relative needs someone right at that moment. So I talk to them and hold their hand.

Or I pray with a Catholic patient and the person on the other side of the curtain begins to cry and calls me over to say they have backslidden (a Protestant). Of course I talk with them for a moment.

Or I feel the urge to ask someone if they need a rosary while in the hospital, and lo and behold, they do. So I give them one.

Almost anything can come up, it seems. I am always mindful that Jesus is with me and that I need to bring him to the next person.