Question about Communion in Nursing Homes

[jenny2682]

Blessings to all!!

I wanted some opinions or views on my situation.  I give the Eucharist to nursing home residents once a week.  I have MS and can't drive so i go with a lady from my parish.  She likes to go at 11:00 or even later and I run into the problem of giving the Eucharist in time before they eat lunch.  I am torn because she will give them the host during lunch while they are eating much to the chagrin of the Sister that coordinates  us! If I can only go at this time I feel that if I don't give them the Eucharist they won't receive it at all (which of course they look forward to!) but am kind of squemish   about it being mixed with meals.  I know there are certain exceptions for those who are hospitalized or sick, so what would be the proper protocol?  I feel like I am being put in the middle of the fight of these women and I don't want any third party to suffer!

Thank you,
Jenny

 

[NPC]

According to the Code of Canon Law: Can. 919.3 “The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.”

Therefore, it would be fine for those in the home to receive Holy Communion without observing the one-hour fast (although there may well be residents who would greatly desire to observe the fast & receive Communion before lunch!). However, I would see a problem with distributing Communion during lunch. Off hand I can only think of one document - Redemptionis Sacramentum - which tells us that Mass must not be celebrated in the context of an ordinary meal, or in other words, that the Eucharist is not to be seen as merely being another piece of food. I think that if you cannot get to the home before lunch, then it would be more appropriate to wait until the meal is completely finished before distributing Holy Communion.