Not Allowed to use the term "Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion"

[Freddy_Medina]

Our Director of Religious Education returned from the 43rd Annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week in Dallas, Texas saying that in two separate workshops/seminars it was explained the term “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” was no longer to be used that the proper term is “Ministers of Communion”. Has anyone seen anything from USCCB or the Vatican on this?

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Freddy Medina:

Our Director of Religious Education returned from the 43rd Annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week in Dallas, Texas saying that in two separate workshops/seminars it was explained the term “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” was no longer to be used that the proper term is “Ministers of Communion”. Has anyone seen anything from USCCB or the Vatican on this?

Hi Freddy!

That’s really strange because Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum says just the opposite:

[156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[mtr01]

Hey Nancy, you know what’s even stranger? If you go to the USCCB website, they tell you just the opposite:

Ministers of Communion: Those who assist in the distribution of communion.

NOTE: The term “EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS” is no longer used. It was changed to “SPECIAL MINISTERS”

usccb.org/comm/glossary.shtml

Perhaps they need to get on the same page, huh?

 

[buffalo]

From Redemptionis Scaramentum

1. The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

[154.] As has already been recalled, “the only minister who can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi is a validly ordained Priest”.[254]** Hence the name “minister of the Eucharist” belongs properly to the Priest alone.** Moreover, also by reason of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon,[255] to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I went to the web page. Yep, the “ministers of communion” terminology is present, along with this gem, “It’s OUR Eucharistic Prayer, not just Father’s. . .time to take these words to ourselves”, and “Come, children, and eat”.

Southwest focus appears to be on community, sharing the table, etc. I saw Cardinal Arinize was scheduled to be the speaker–but BEFORE any of the workshops, and not after. He probably doesn’t know the half of any agenda that might possibly be hidden.

I am very sorry, but I am so disgusted with the lack of unity and the outright defiance and disrespect of those who think that somehow they know better than the Magesterium and, gosh darn it, if they feel they want to be “ministers of communion” they are going to BE ministers of communion. Pride, disobedience, and disunity masquerading as “ministry” seems all too prevalent today. . .

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Freddy Medina:

Our Director of Religious Education returned from the 43rd Annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week in Dallas, Texas saying that in two separate workshops/seminars it was explained the term “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” was no longer to be used that the proper term is “Ministers of Communion”. Has anyone seen anything from USCCB or the Vatican on this?

It’s the other way around. Eucharistic Ministers and Ministers of Communion are no longer to be used to specify Lay ministers. “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” is the correct term.

 

[kmktexas]

mtr01:

Hey Nancy, you know what’s even stranger? If you go to the USCCB website, they tell you just the opposite:

Perhaps they need to get on the same page, huh?

The USCCB site document is from 1987 with revisions only up to 1999. It is probably just this kind of document that RS was refering to.

I’d go with the most current, which is RS.

 

[Illini]

Our parish recently implemented RS and changed the terminology from “Eucharistic Ministers” to “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.” I have seen other parishes do the same.

 This is nothing new. The *Code of Canon Law *already called them EMHC's (*extraordinarius sacrae communionis minister*). Can. 910 sec. 2. Those instructing the DRE in Dallas are simply wrong.

-Illini

 

[Defensor_Fidei]

Freddy Medina:

Our Director of Religious Education returned from the 43rd Annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week in Dallas, Texas saying that in two separate workshops/seminars it was explained the term “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” was no longer to be used that the proper term is “Ministers of Communion”. Has anyone seen anything from USCCB or the Vatican on this?

Freddy,

Just as other have pointed out, the conference is incorrect. Go to the vatican web site and print out RS and keep it with you. If anyone questions you, you can show them the document.

-Ted

 

[Freddy_Medina]

Defensor Fidei:

Freddy,

Just as other have pointed out, the conference is incorrect. Go to the vatican web site and print out RS and keep it with you. If anyone questions you, you can show them the document.

-Ted

Thank you, I do have my own copy of RS. I’ll pass the word on.

 

[Bill_A]

I got permission from the bishop in my diocese to be an EMC, I prayed to God if it was not the right thing to do and all this bizare bad stuff started happening. So I left and went to another parish… I am wondering if they COnference of Bishops is planing to replace the shortage of priests with EMCs? last wednsday the EMCs gave out AShs and I was very uncomfortable with it.

 

[Nota_Bene]

Bill_A:

I got permission from the bishop in my diocese to be an EMC, I prayed to God if it was not the right thing to do and all this bizare bad stuff started happening. So I left and went to another parish… I am wondering if they COnference of Bishops is planing to replace the shortage of priests with EMCs? last wednsday the EMCs gave out AShs and I was very uncomfortable with it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with laypersons helping to distribute the ashes.

No, laypersons may not take the place of an ordained priest.

 

[mtr01]

kmktexas:

The USCCB site document is from 1987 with revisions only up to 1999. It is probably just this kind of document that RS was refering to.

I’d go with the most current, which is RS.

It’s funny, that’s the only term I’ve ever known to use (EMHC). It wasn’t 'til I was doing some surfing that I saw the link to the glossary and saw the “special minister” term. Thanks for pointing out to me that the document was from the 80’s, I never thought to look (duh!).

I wonder why the USCCB wanted the change in the first place? I also wonder if there is some way to let them know their website is in error? If so, I wonder if they would listen.