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ajecphotos
Guest
I disagree.We have a max of 2 per service if need be as we already have a Deacon. Its not a misery. I love being an EMHC. It is such an honour. I feel so close to God when i carry out my ministry.
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smndtupidisaftr
Guest
Do you disagree that it is a ministry that should eventually be ended once we have more priests?
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ajecphotos
Guest
No as i am sure it is a good thing to get more people involved with the mass and the serving of god and the Eucharist. It is wonderful that an ordinary person is allowed to help a priest and serve god in the most holy part of the mass.
Having more priests would be great but i am afraid this is not going to happen at the moment. Our Diocese only has about 6 priests training at the moment. If i wasnt married it would be one thing i would love to do. But, i am sure that god is grateful of having a Eucharistic minister to help the priest out. It is such a special ministry.
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smndtupidisaftr
Guest
The Church has stated that your ministry does not exist to expand participation. Rather, it exists solely out of necessity.
ewtn.com/expert/answers/EMCs.htm
Again, you are not a Eucharistic Minister, you are an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. I don’t repeat this to be mean, but rather because only the ordained or Eucharistic Ministers. And yes, the problem probably will not be solved overnight, but we have to keep in mind that this ministry is not a right, it exists only because there is a shortage of priests (or rather should only exist in this need).
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Phemie
Guest
You mean it’s not enough to attend Mass, pay attention, and go to Communion to receive Jesus? You need to be ‘involved in the Mass’?
It’s not a good thing that we need EMHCs, it’s a sad thing. In an ideal parish there would be enough priests and deacons to not need them. And if we did need them, there would be enough instituted acolytes to do it instead of having to rely on non-instituted ministers.
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ajecphotos
Guest
But, in this day and age Eucharistic Ministers are needed and i am so grateful to be of service to my priest and God, It is an honour to be able to carry out this ministry and i am sure Our Lord will be pleased to see ‘ordinary’ peolple helping out and bringing people closer to Our Lord.
If it is proven to be short lived then i praise and thank god that i am / was able to help in the Holy Communion.
What a special honour it is.
I was asked to become an Eucharistic Minister to help out and feel highly honoured to be involved in this sacred ministry.
If it is proven to be short lived then i praise and thank god that i am / was able to help in the Holy Communion.
What a special honour it is.
I was asked to become an Eucharistic Minister to help out and feel highly honoured to be involved in this sacred ministry.
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smndtupidisaftr
Guest
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion . . .
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doormouse73
Guest
@ smndtupidisaftr
and to say that some people on here were saying the opposite?
well,well.well. nice to see humility on these threads,i cant stand people being spiteful,envious,and jealous…
all the very best for new year…
so you have to concede that it does exist,and that it is lawful,and every thing that ajecphotos was saying is true and factual.
and to say that some people on here were saying the opposite?
well,well.well. nice to see humility on these threads,i cant stand people being spiteful,envious,and jealous…
all the very best for new year…
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ajecphotos
Guest
Thing is, the priesthood is not as large as it once was. One of the priests in my Diocese has to cover a huge distance covering 3 churches spread over a large area! He has to do it alone as years ago there were many priests doing the same job.
It is great that the church has Eucharistic Ministers to help the priests out and cant see it dying anytime soon as there would be nobody to replace them. The mother church knows this. They are always asking for more to join the ranks.
It is great that the church has Eucharistic Ministers to help the priests out and cant see it dying anytime soon as there would be nobody to replace them. The mother church knows this. They are always asking for more to join the ranks.
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Tigg
Guest
Our service to God and our spiritual measure should not be judged upon “feelings” as we can easily deceive ourselves. The laity have often times decided for themselves that the distribution of Holy Communion is their “job and responsibility.” The danger is that the “extraordinary” then becomes the “ordinary.” This is simply wrong and blurs the distinction between ministry and apostolate. Often times the pastor is blameworthy because he doesn’t want the laity to feel their help is unwanted. I have witnessed EMHC’s go up to the altar while an ordained deacon is sitting in the pew. EMHC’s need to understand what the Church guidelines are and align themselves accordingly.
Good article for you explaining Church documents:
The problem is that EMHC’s are scheduled in advance without knowing the actual count at any given Mass. It is estimated on past attendance, but I have been to several Masses where, due to small numbers they simply are not needed, but there they are anyway and had they stayed in their seats and given the responsibility to the deacon and/or priest (where the role clearly lies), the Mass would not have been unduly prolonged. There are terrible abuses of this during weekday Mass. I have been to our chapel with only ten people present and still they use two EMHC;s to distribute communion.
As laity we need to remember being lector or an EMHC is not our primary function and we need to be open to other avenues of charitable works as well.
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ajecphotos
Guest
Well, the church where i attend has only one deacon and he is also helping in another 5 churches in the area!!
We are always short ‘Staffed’ as it were. We are ‘always’ needed. Poor priest would be snowed under if we didnt help out! Remember, it is his decision that we help out.
We are always short ‘Staffed’ as it were. We are ‘always’ needed. Poor priest would be snowed under if we didnt help out! Remember, it is his decision that we help out.
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doormouse73
Guest
there are four priests what have to look after at least ten churches where i live…
it will change for the better,you can see the fruits of the Holy spirit working in the place where i live.
but it is with the help of people like ajecphotos that are helping it grow.
the primary one is the priest for sure.but Christ works through people…like St Francis says …
make me channel of your peace…
that is for all Christians in what ever position you hold in the body of Christ…
it will change for the better,you can see the fruits of the Holy spirit working in the place where i live.
but it is with the help of people like ajecphotos that are helping it grow.
the primary one is the priest for sure.but Christ works through people…like St Francis says …
make me channel of your peace…
that is for all Christians in what ever position you hold in the body of Christ…
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missadeangelis
Guest
The overuse/misuse of EMHCs contributes to the vocation problem IMHO. There is less and less delineation between the Priest and the lay faithful to the point that the critical role and the faculties of the ordained Priest are sometimes not clearly evident with so many lay people milling about. It takes quite a bit of education/formation (7-9 years) to become a Priest, so if young men see their Pastors consistently relegated to little more than “presiders” who are at the mercy of the parish council or some other committee, I would argue that it hinders the growth of vocations. Yes, the Priesthood is a unique and special calling, but a domineering lay involvement where the laity feels they have to actually be “doing” something in order to feel “involved” does not foster new vocations at the parish level, especially when those functions used to be priestly functions. Just a thought…
mda
mda
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ajecphotos
Guest
Problem where i am is where they cannot get anyone to enter the priesthood! This then leaves the current level of priest low and getting lower due to age. Eucharistic Ministers in my Diocese are there to ‘help’ the low level of priests, not to ‘take over’.
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doormouse73
Guest
do you think EMHCs contributed when the Christiada was happening in Mexico not so long ago?
or any other places where the priests are in demand,that there is a great shortage of them in some places,
be glad,that some people find it a honour in being asked to such a thing for the love of God.through his son Jesus Christ…
or any other places where the priests are in demand,that there is a great shortage of them in some places,
be glad,that some people find it a honour in being asked to such a thing for the love of God.through his son Jesus Christ…
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doormouse73
Guest
one thing i would like to point out to some is…
its not a case of what YOU like,its a case of THEM(EMHCs) doing a must.
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AlanFromWichita
Guest
Of course, we’re all assuming there was a mortal sin involved. That would be my first question; without mortal sin involved the best thing I can do is to take Holy Communion, better than a “blessing” any day.
Alan
Alan
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AlanFromWichita
Guest
Does the Eucharist cease being God because the EMHC handles it?
No? Then afa I’m concerned I’m getting the same Sacrament, whether from the EMHC or the priest.
The priest is solely in control of the Mass, and how he chooses to distribute Communion is not mine to second guess.
Whether it is or is not proper, Intellectuals can argue about. AFA I’m concerned they are welcome to avoid Communion from EMHC’s. But if they think the Church is wrong, then at least take it up with the bishops, or just be quiet and sit down. Because when it escalates – as it so often does – into an argument that feeds ill will among siblings in Christ, then we’re just rocking the boat and maybe all should “sit down.”
Suddenly I’m thinking of Nicely Nicely in Guys, and Dolls, “You’re Rocking the Boat.”
What about unauthorized blessings? Would I be in the wrong to pray thus: “Dear Lord, please bless the posters and lurkers on this thread; and help us all become closer to You and each other. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Since I’m not a priest does that mean we’re not blessed by this prayer? What if I had repeated the exact words a priest told me to say?
Alan
No? Then afa I’m concerned I’m getting the same Sacrament, whether from the EMHC or the priest.
The priest is solely in control of the Mass, and how he chooses to distribute Communion is not mine to second guess.
Whether it is or is not proper, Intellectuals can argue about. AFA I’m concerned they are welcome to avoid Communion from EMHC’s. But if they think the Church is wrong, then at least take it up with the bishops, or just be quiet and sit down. Because when it escalates – as it so often does – into an argument that feeds ill will among siblings in Christ, then we’re just rocking the boat and maybe all should “sit down.”
Suddenly I’m thinking of Nicely Nicely in Guys, and Dolls, “You’re Rocking the Boat.”
What about unauthorized blessings? Would I be in the wrong to pray thus: “Dear Lord, please bless the posters and lurkers on this thread; and help us all become closer to You and each other. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Since I’m not a priest does that mean we’re not blessed by this prayer? What if I had repeated the exact words a priest told me to say?
Alan
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missadeangelis
Guest
The use of EMHCs is not always a must. There are many not so extraordinary cases where EMHCs are utilized anyways. It is up to the Priest, but sometimes I think a false sense of entitlement develops (in some cases), so it’s understandable that a Priest might not want to say anything and cause a ruckus in the parish by suggesting a different practice. The Church got by just fine in the past when EMHCs didn’t exist and the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the ordained clergy alone, distributed the Blessed Sacrament to the Faithful.
Regarding Cristiada - we are not in a counter-revolutionary war at the present time, so I do not see its relevance to this discussion.
mda
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missadeangelis
Guest
The Church’s official teachings and practices are always correct and this is no exception. The issue comes about when Her instructions are not followed or keep getting stretched out further and further by individuals, not by the Church Herself.
mda
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