No one in difficult person's communion line?

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Augustinian said:
The priest would have to spend a lot more time recruiting and training new people for the roles, and it could be difficult to get people involved. A lot of people don’t want to make such a large commitment of their time.
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I don’t think so. We have a Catholic HS right across the street. If I was the pastor I would ask the football coach for a list of players who are both Catholic and attend Mass. That alone would provide 20+ strong potentials each years.

The best part is that within 5 or so years, an esprit de corps would develop and boys/young men would be joining on their own.

I would also create a “Knights (and pages) of the Altar” program at my parish for dads and their sons.
Augustinian said:
Entrenched folks are really invested in staying, its part of their entire weekend routine. The position remains filled.
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Agreed, and it can be a huge problem. Some parishes have maximum lengths liturgical ministers and “coordinators” can serve. Sounds like a good idea to me.
 
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I’m not saying this isn’t a difficult person. I don’t know her, but certainly know the type. I left a very large ministry that I enjoyed immensely because of one.

I’m saying that if I had to stand before God tomorrow, there is no way I can imagine trying to justify treating this person in this way by saying, “But, my Lord, my ability to concentrate on the Eucharist would have been compromised because instead of turning to you, I would have had to focus on just how much I resent her.”

Two wrongs don’t make a right. And it doesn’t make either less wrong.
 
Duesenberg said:
I don’t think so. We have a Catholic HS right across the street
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If this is the parish high school, I can see where it could be a good place to recruit. If the school’s enrollment comes from a large region, and the Catholic students come from many different parishes, it won’t be as fruitful of a strategy.

Here in Pittsburgh, I don’t think that their are any parish secondary schools left, they are all diocesan or owned by religious orders. There certainly aren’t more than a few.
 
When all is said and done, if the effort was made, EVERY liturgical ministry at my parish could be filled by males from say 13 to 25 years old – if such a desire existed.

I forgot to mention, I would also recruit from the local Newman Center.

I suspect it would help vocations.
 
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It sounds like there is a desperate need for some mediation here. Suppose there was someone new attending the parish, maybe new to the area and seeking a parish, maybe someone who had been away from church and contemplating returning, how do you think they would feel watching that performance?
 
ConfusedLucy said:
It sounds like there is a desperate need for some mediation here. Suppose there was someone new attending the parish, maybe new to the area and seeking a parish, maybe someone who had been away from church and contemplating returning, how do you think they would feel watching that performance?
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I agree.

Even worse if they were new to the area and trying to get their kids signed up for conformation prep.
 
What about when people refuse to go to the EMHC line at all? At our church, the priest and an EMHC used to make two lines in the center. Eventually, the priest had to eliminate the center EMHC line entirely, because few would go in that line at all, regardless who was EMHC (although usually a woman). The EMHC would be standing there with no one in line, with thirty or so in the priest’s line. So now, the priest distributes to both center lines… In your case, I think people are sending a message to your pastor in the only way they can. Either he or she will get the message eventually.
 
In my parish most people ignore the EMHC next to the priest.

You go down the center aisle, when you get to the front there is the priest or you can step to the side and go to the EMHC. Most opt for the priest. I have never seen or heard the priest indicate this was improper.
 
anon64350612 said:
So now, the priest distributes to both center lines…
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That probably should have been the way from the very beginning, aye?
anon64350612 said:
In your case, I think people are sending a message to your pastor in the only way they can. Either he or she will get the message eventually.
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Possibly, but more probably I think people are just tried and want to preserve the peace/calmness of their souls prior to receiving communion.
 
Yes, he asked for that from the beginning and they actually refused him. Sad.
 
LOL I would have crossed over to receive from the Pope, also!
(Sorry other EMs 😏)
 
Duesenberg said:
She treats people poorly. Very poorly in some cases.
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If that is the case, it is prudent to avoid her, at least for fear that one may be hurt by her or one may react to her action. Avoiding her in that case is not so much about getting angry with her but rather to protect oneself as stated.

OF course having said that, what happen in that mass when her line was empty, was really a regretful state of affair.
 
I am an EMHC. I found that even putting the host in the hand (if they receive in the hand) of the communicants can be a tricky affair. I have no problem though as I would always be gentle, look at them in the eye, and audibly say, “the Body of Christ”.

However, we have people who are unhappy about the way the priests/EMHCs giving Communion, especially if they ‘push’ the host heavily or roughly in their hands. There are some priests who are indifferent in giving the host or his word barely audible. Receiving Communion is a very meaningful event for the communicant during the mass, our Archbishop emiritus would often tell us that our voice must be loud enough, wait for the communicants to say Amen and see that they eat the Body of Christ before giving to the next person.

Thus, probably in that situation, there may be reasons why people may avoid a particular EHMC, not that I say they should, but there may be a personal reason strong enough that they would rather not receiving Communion from her.
 
Reuben_J said:
I am an EMHC. I found that even putting the host in the hand (if they receive in the hand) of the communicants can be a tricky affair. I have no problem though as I would always be gentle, look at them in the eye, and audibly say, “the Body of Christ”.
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I hold the host up so I am looking in their eyes just past the elevated host. Every now and then I take a bit of extra time to pick up the host out of the ciborium if a sense the person needs a moment to settle and focus.
Reuben_J said:
However, we have people who are unhappy about the way the priests/EMHCs giving Communion, especially if they ‘push’ the host heavily or roughly in their hands.
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I have only experienced this once in our parish from an EMHC who was rather heavy handed in general.
Reuben_J said:
There are some priests who are indifferent in giving the host or his word barely audible.
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Ouch. We had one visiting priest (my RCIA instructor from years before!) who rolled his eyes while giving communion to a number of people, including me. He has not been back.
Reuben_J said:
Receiving Communion is a very meaningful event for the communicant during the mass
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It’s a BIG DEAL!
Reuben_J said:
our Archbishop emiritus would often tell us that our voice must be loud enough, wait for the communicants to say Amen and see that they eat the Body of Christ before giving to the next person.
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Indeed. I watch for two things. When I say “The Body (or Blood) of Christ”, I will give it a second or two. Sometimes that will illicit a “thank you” or silence. If it does, I will say “The Body (or Blood) of Christ” followed by “amen” making careful (but never threatening or severe) eye contact. Very few don’t catch on and say “amen.” For the few that have not, I simply say “the correct response is amen” and that has always done the job.

The second thing are the “grabbers” (if they are receiving in hand.) I will simply say “please put your hands together, palms up to receive the sacrament.” It has always worked.

Two overall things is to smile and to never ever rush.
 
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About the smile part - how true. This is another feedback that I often received - priests/EMHCs do not have a smile disposition. And if we are old, that may appear as scowl or frown. I do make myself look smiling. To be honest, sometimes I am taken aback by communicants who smiled at me as they came forward to receive Communion. Then I realize that my smile must be quite obvious for them to do that.

For me it is a joy to give Communion, real joy, a joy to be able to give the Body of Christ to the people, and to see them receiving it. Probably that reflect naturally in my disposition.
 
Well, when we had an EMHC that was cohabitating, I would avoid receiving from her.
 
You can bring this information to the bishop or the rector of your parish. In our parish, EMHCs are apointed by the Archbishop and recommended by two persons in the parish, preferrably someone who know the candidate. The EMHCs term of service is renewable yearly rather than lifelong. The EMHCs must be in good standing - at least not obviously living in sin.
 
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