Problem With Parish Communion for Homebound

[Frosty]

I’m sorry if my comment offended you. Some Eucharistic Ministers can and do a good service to the Church. However, in the case of the original poster, she has clearly “fallen through the cracks” to say the least. This service to the Church (providing the Eucharist for the homebound) should be a major priority, in my opinion. There is never a shortage of EM at mass, and should not be a shortage to provide something so important.

I could understand someone not being comfortable to go in someone’s home, but that should not be the person that is selected to be a EM. It also doesn’t explain the countless elderly in nursing homes not having the Eucharist provided to them. The liability at a public facility would be lessened, and yet the elderly also suffer.

Have you volunteered to provide this service?
In the city where I live there are several nursing homes [and they are not populated just by the elderly] that have large Catholic populations which are served by the parish in whose jurisdiction they lay. In each one, the Mass is celebrated at least once a month and in most cases two or three times. I will only speak of what happens in the 2 that are in my parishes charge. We only have one priest but he celebrates Mass every week at each of the 2 nursing homes. We also say the Rosary at both twice a month. The second home only opened in December and we had originally thought that we would have to cut back on the weekly Masses at the first one and perhaps do alternating weeks to accomadate both but Father flat out said “no”. He asked for more volunteers and the responses poured in, much to everyone’s delight. We now have over eighty people involved in this ministry. It is a huge commitment and really time consuming. At both sites we average about 75 people at the Masses, Actually it is a bit of a problem since we have grown out of room in the chapels and now have to use the dining areas which makes some of the other residents unhappy. There are always at least 6 EHMC’s at each Mass and they help Father with the distribution of Communion which is really necessary otherwise it woud literally take another hour to finish. Anyone who is involved in this type of ministry will know what I mean. After Mass has ended, the EHMCs take Communion to those who are bedridden and have requested Communion. Also, there are several other EHMCs who take Communion immediately after each morning Mass to the nursing homes as well as those who bring it to the homebound.
I do understand that what we do is unfortunately not the case everywhere. People have to be fully commited to doing whatever they can for the entire community and to take their responsibility seriously and follow through so that no one “falls through the cracks”.
By the way, the liability at a public nursing home is not lessened whatsoever. In this diocese, it is the law {and diocesan policy] that everyone who has any ministry in a nursing home [even those whose job is just to bring the patients to Mass] must be vetted by their pastor and receive a police clearance. It is also diocesan policy that each EHMC is approved by the Bishop after the pastor has sent him a request for each individual who wishes to become one.

 

[VeronicaPorres]

Just a point of clarification: only the priest and the bishop are Eucharistic Ministers because they alone can confect the Eucharist. Laity who assist with the distribution of Holy Communion are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, hence the abbreviation EMHC. EM, in this case, stands for Extraordinary Minisster.

Thank you for the clarification. I am aware that is the correct thing, but for whatever reason, in my parish they do refer to themselves as eucharistic ministers and even write it in the bulletin and on the schedule as Eucharistic Ministers. I know, however, that is an ordained state, not to be used by the laity. I don’t know if it is widespread, but it is in my parish. (Even the priests refer to them as eucharistic ministers.)

 

[VeronicaPorres]

Have you volunteered to provide this service?
In the city where I live there are several nursing homes [and they are not populated just by the elderly] that have large Catholic populations which are served by the parish in whose jurisdiction they lay. In each one, the Mass is celebrated at least once a month and in most cases two or three times. I will only speak of what happens in the 2 that are in my parishes charge. We only have one priest but he celebrates Mass every week at each of the 2 nursing homes. We also say the Rosary at both twice a month. The second home only opened in December and we had originally thought that we would have to cut back on the weekly Masses at the first one and perhaps do alternating weeks to accomadate both but Father flat out said “no”. He asked for more volunteers and the responses poured in, much to everyone’s delight. We now have over eighty people involved in this ministry. It is a huge commitment and really time consuming. At both sites we average about 75 people at the Masses, Actually it is a bit of a problem since we have grown out of room in the chapels and now have to use the dining areas which makes some of the other residents unhappy. There are always at least 6 EHMC’s at each Mass and they help Father with the distribution of Communion which is really necessary otherwise it woud literally take another hour to finish. Anyone who is involved in this type of ministry will know what I mean. After Mass has ended, the EHMCs take Communion to those who are bedridden and have requested Communion. Also, there are several other EHMCs who take Communion immediately after each morning Mass to the nursing homes as well as those who bring it to the homebound.
I do understand that what we do is unfortunately not the case everywhere. People have to be fully commited to doing whatever they can for the entire community and to take their responsibility seriously and follow through so that no one “falls through the cracks”.
By the way, the liability at a public nursing home is not lessened whatsoever. In this diocese, it is the law {and diocesan policy] that everyone who has any ministry in a nursing home [even those whose job is just to bring the patients to Mass] must be vetted by their pastor and receive a police clearance. It is also diocesan policy that each EHMC is approved by the Bishop after the pastor has sent him a request for each individual who wishes to become one.

No, I haven’t and won’t volunteer for that ministry. In terms of liability, in a nursing home, that is a facility that has many people there (more witnesses) and nurses that are available at all times. I have ideas as to what exactly liability would be concerning administering communion to the homebound, but I’m not sure what specifically you and others are referring.

 

[VeronicaPorres]

In terms of the length of the mass, if everyone was at the altar rail, kneeling and received under one species, there would be less of a need for EMs.

 

[thomas_jd]

I have answered the Church’s call by doing altar linens for 2 parishes for several years, teaching religious education to small children and also being a lector. I declined the offer to be a eucharistic minister. I’m a traditional Catholic in a N.O. parish and am not suited for E.M. (and question heavily my serving as a lector - but due to the shortage of those willing to do that, continue at the present time).

Not everyone should be an E.M.H.C. (they shorten the term to eucharistic minister in my diocese and parish). But, those that are can excel at certain things, such as what the original poster discussed - bringing the Eucharist to someone’s home that is unable to regularly attend mass.

The original poster is someone in need. Hopefully there will be someone that will step up to the plate and help her.

The issue isn’t what you do but rather the disrespect shown to those answering a call from the church.
As you are not a E.M.H.C. do not presume to know what motivated those that are.

 

[VeronicaPorres]

The issue isn’t what you do but rather the disrespect shown to those answering a call from the church.
As you are not a E.M.H.C. do not presume to know what motivated those that are.

I meant no disrespect. I’m going from my own observations in my parish, which include EM giving blessings with the sign of the cross, dropping the host, talking throughout mass - even at the most sacred times, laughing with each other while the priest is giving the altar servers the communion, etc.

I am aware there are very humble are reverent people serving in this capacity and am sorry if I offended you.

 

[thomas_jd]

I meant no disrespect. I’m going from my own observations in my parish, which include EM giving blessings with the sign of the cross, dropping the host, talking throughout mass - even at the most sacred times, laughing with each other while the priest is giving the altar servers the communion, etc.

I am aware there are very humble are reverent people serving in this capacity and am sorry if I offended you.

Thank you for understanding the issue.