Practical Training and Requirements for EMsHC?

[ElToro]

Based on some other threads I am wondering just rigorous the practical training and requirements should be for EMsHC?

First, I think they need to have the physical tools (stability, hand/eye coordinating, etc.) to distribute communion at Mass. One older lady is very unstable (physically) at my parish. She has to lean again a railing in order to distribute communion. Sooner or later she is going to slip and she’s going to dump a ciborium. THEN it will be dealt with. Actually, she’ll probably retire on her own at that point.

If they serve in this ministry it’s my feelings that they need to practice and then demonstrate competence is distributing both COT and CIH. I would guess something like 20-30% of all EMsHC who distribute Holy Communion at my parish do not have the motor control to execute COT. More than 10% already do not distribute the Precious Blood for this reason. Some even struggle with their balance while distributing CIH.

What should those who shovel-out hosts as if they were candy? Absolute lack of reverence. What sort of training should they receive?

 

[smh1978]

I’m an EMHC, and was rather surprised at how little training I received–just an hour on a Saturday morning with my parish’s coordinator of EMsHC and three other “new recruits” where she went over the basic procedures. After that I was on the schedule to start serving. I assumed I would get some instruction or a blessing from the priest, but haven’t gotten anything like that. We are a parish with 3,000 families and one priest, so I assume he just has to delegate a lot.

 

[GwenL]

Our rector instituted a 3-hour formation session for EMHCs. It’s a group formation session (EMHCs have a choice of a morning or evening session and he ran four in one week) and the rector conducts it himself. He spends some time on the actual physical requirements–where to stand, how to hold the cup or ciborium or paten, how to administer COTT and CITH, what to do when someone presents themselves for a blessing, how to handle drops and spills, and how to handle people who walk away without consuming. He spends the majority of the time on spiritual formation–discussing the snyoptic Gospel passages on the Last Supper, the Bread of Life discourse in John, the sections in Acts, and the Emmaeus Road passage. He also discussed the passages in the Epistles about the Eucharist. He also spent time on the CCC sections on the Eucharist.

Motor control is necessary, but much more important is firm faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. From that, all other actions follow.

The rector blesses a new EMHC their first time serving as EMHC. He does this during Mass, in the sanctuary, after giving that person Holy Communion.

 

[ElToro]

I’m an EMHC, and was rather surprised at how little training I received–just an hour on a Saturday morning with my parish’s coordinator of EMsHC and three other “new recruits” where she went over the basic procedures. After that I was on the schedule to start serving. I assumed I would get some instruction or a blessing from the priest, but haven’t gotten anything like that. We are a parish with 3,000 families and one priest, so I assume he just has to delegate a lot.

That’s close to the experience at my parish. The “coordinator” will sit on stools with a few new recruits in a circle in rhe sacristy also on Saturday mornings. She’ll ask if they are practicing Catholics. She’ll spend 5-10 minutes going over the mechanics – where to sign in, where the schedules are kept, when to enter the sanctuary, etc. Possibly another 5-10 minutes on home visits. No “hands-on” at all. Probably 30 minutes total.

In my case she asked me, I reluctantly agreed (I am a server) and a few weeks later she gave me a commisioning certificate with my name and the bishop’s signature.

A couple of years later we did have a general meeting of all EMsHC – over 100 in attendance. The level of ignorance astounded me. It should have triggered a series of catechetics. Nothing at all came out of it – except that they are now not to enter the sanctuary until the priest takes communion.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

This is awesome!!

Our rector instituted a 3-hour formation session for EMHCs. It’s a group formation session (EMHCs have a choice of a morning or evening session and he ran four in one week) and the rector conducts it himself. He spends some time on the actual physical requirements–where to stand, how to hold the cup or ciborium or paten, how to administer COTT and CITH, what to do when someone presents themselves for a blessing, how to handle drops and spills, and how to handle people who walk away without consuming. He spends the majority of the time on spiritual formation–discussing the snyoptic Gospel passages on the Last Supper, the Bread of Life discourse in John, the sections in Acts, and the Emmaeus Road passage. He also discussed the passages in the Epistles about the Eucharist. He also spent time on the CCC sections on the Eucharist.

Motor control is necessary, but much more important is firm faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. From that, all other actions follow.

I received this kind of instruction only because I have a friend who is a priest and he is very patient with all of my questions!
What I experienced in “training” at both parishes where I have been an EMHC was nothing more than getting a diagram of where to stand with a half a page of instructions.

Just goes to prove my point, good & meaningful catechesis is the answer to everything!!

 

[Newbie2]

I train the EMHCs at our parish, and it takes about an hour; usually we do it inbetween masses on Sunday. About half the hour we talk about schedules and protocol, the other half about the ministry itself and the seriousness of the tasks at hand.

Our deacon usually comes in for a few minutes and talks a bit as well.

 

[Joannm]

In our diocese all potential EMHCs have to be recommended to the bishop and we require that they be practicing and contributing parishioners who have been involved in other ministries and demonstrate a love of the Eucharist. They must attend a four hour diocesan course which includes talks on the Mass itself, the spirituality of the Eucharist, and the practicalities of being an EMHC. If they intend to also be a homebound or hospital minister they must attend another 4 hour class.

Once they complete the diocesan class they meet with either me or our EM coordinator to go over the practicalities in the parish. We also have three EM meetings a year. I usually send out a monthly newsletter with tips, suggestions, and sometimes criticisms of the ministry.

We have had to ask some EMs to step down because of age or physical impairments and usually they feel a bit disappointed but they usually understand. Some feel that they should quit but since we are always in need of EMs they feel they should stay on Some take themselves off the regular schedule and only serve when needed.

 

[ElToro]

I train the EMHCs at our parish, and it takes about an hour; usually we do it inbetween masses on Sunday. About half the hour we talk about schedules and protocol, the other half about the ministry itself and the seriousness of the tasks at hand.

Our deacon usually comes in for a few minutes and talks a bit as well.

One hour? That’s tragic, yet it’s the same way at my parish.

 

[ElToro]

In our diocese all potential EMHCs have to be recommended to the bishop and we require that they be practicing and contributing parishioners who have been involved in other ministries and demonstrate a love of the Eucharist. They must attend a four hour diocesan course which includes talks on the Mass itself, the spirituality of the Eucharist, and the practicalities of being an EMHC. If they intend to also be a homebound or hospital minister they must attend another 4 hour class.

The 4 hour class from the diocese sounds excellent, as does the additional 4 hour class. I don’t know about the “involved in other ministries and demonstrate a love of the Eucharist” UNLESS the judging is done bysomeone other than the pastor/other clergy. The liturgical “coordinators” in my parish are the sort of people I make an effort to avoid. I certainly would not want them passing judgement on me or others.

Once they complete the diocesan class they meet with either me or our EM coordinator to go over the practicalities in the parish. We also have three EM meetings a year. I usually send out a monthly newsletter with tips, suggestions, and sometimes criticisms of the ministry.

Wow, now that’s excellent. As I think about this I realize just how different things are in your parish. The “coordinators” for servers, EMsHC, readers, etc. are universally dislike people who have held their positions/turf with a vengence for many years each. I think they would be very reticent to open themselves up to potential criticism in public.

We have had to ask some EMs to step down because of age or physical impairments and usually they feel a bit disappointed but they usually understand. Some feel that they should quit but since we are always in need of EMs they feel they should stay on Some take themselves off the regular schedule and only serve when needed.

I saw that happen once with a reader. For many months their voices would go “out” while reading – each and every week. Finally they stepped down.

 

[ElToro]

The 4 hour class from the diocese sounds excellent, as does the additional 4 hour class. I don’t know about the “involved in other ministries and demonstrate a love of the Eucharist” UNLESS the judging is done by -]someone other than/-] the pastor/other clergy. The liturgical “coordinators” in my parish are the sort of people I make an effort to avoid. I certainly would not want them passing judgement on me or others.

Typo.

 

[Joannm]

I do the initial interview and then give the name to the pastor. If he doesn’t know the person he asks to see them. As Pastoral Associate I have a good sense who is involved in the parish or not. If it is someone who is new to the parish but says they have volunteered in another parish I contact that parish to send a letter a reference. Also their mandate to serve is only three years, so every three years I contact each EM to see if they want to continue. If I see they have been lax in showing up for assignments or treat the ministry casually then it is suggested that they take a break. I never just take them off but give them a chance to redeem themselves so to speak. If they don’t answer my calls or letters then I take them off.

 

[Newbie2]

One hour? That’s tragic, yet it’s the same way at my parish.

Tragic? I don’t know if I’d use such a dramatic term. It’s not the quantilty but the quality that counts.

The only other thing I’d like to see is the priest come in and talk for a while and add a prayer and blessing, but the way we schedule it between masses, the best we can do is a deacon, lol

(No slight to our deacon or deacons in general )

 

[ElToro]

Tragic? I don’t know if I’d use such a dramatic term. It’s not the quantilty but the quality that counts.

The only other thing I’d like to see is the priest come in and talk for a while and add a prayer and blessing, but the way we schedule it between masses, the best we can do is a deacon, lol

(No slight to our deacon or deacons in general )

There is absolutely no way that the average person can be adequately catechised/trained to be commissioned as an EMHC in one hour.

 

[MarkThompson]

There is absolutely no way that the average person can be adequately catechised/trained to be commissioned as an EMHC in one hour.

Maybe you couldn’t turn an atheist into a suitable EMHC with one hour’s catechesis, but, no offense, rocket science it ain’t.

 

[ElToro]

Maybe you couldn’t turn an atheist into a suitable EMHC with one hour’s catechesis, but, no offense, rocket science it ain’t.

No one said it was “rocket science.” But 1 hour simply is not enough to do a good job.