Repose of Blessed Sacrament by a Layman

[mattwcu]

Hello,

I recently signed up to volunteer once a week at a local adoration chapel and they put me in the closing spot for the day. I asked if a priest would come to repose the sacrament and the kind lady told me that we do it, not a priest, and that she would instruct me how for this coming week.

Now I looked up “repose of blessed sacrament by laymen” here on the forums and found that members of groups of pious laymen or laywomen may expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament as they are appointed by the Bishop.

My question is do I have to be personally commissioned by the Bishop as an EMHC or an Extraordinary Minister of Exposition? Or do the bishops recognize the entire group and allow it to decide who can and who cannot expose and repose?

From my short conversations with my contact, it seems this is an organized group of people with some kind of leadership structure. The woman I am meeting tomorrow for instruction called herself my “team leader”.

I ask this only because I do not want to break Church Law or commit a sacrilege, or abuse.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Spiller]

Hello,

I recently signed up to volunteer once a week at a local adoration chapel and they put me in the closing spot for the day. I asked if a priest would come to repose the sacrament and the kind lady told me that we do it, not a priest, and that she would instruct me how for this coming week.

Now I looked up “repose of blessed sacrament by laymen” here on the forums and found that members of groups of pious laymen or laywomen may expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament as they are appointed by the Bishop.

My question is do I have to be personally commissioned by the Bishop as an EMHC or an Extraordinary Minister of Exposition? Or do the bishops recognize the entire group and allow it to decide who can and who cannot expose and repose?

From my short conversations with my contact, it seems this is an organized group of people with some kind of leadership structure. The woman I am meeting tomorrow for instruction called herself my “team leader”.

I ask this only because I do not want to break Church Law or commit a sacrilege, or abuse.

Thanks,
Matt

A layperson may licitly expose or repose the Most Blessed Sacrament in the absence of an ordained male. They may not however conduct Benediction. I would ask your pastor for his blessing…

 

[mattwcu]

Thanks for your reply. Does this apply in all cases? I spoke with a priest and he said it sounds a little strange to him but that I should check with those running it to make sure what is going on is licit.

He mentioned that if I did get commissioned as an EMHC or an Extraordinary Minister of Exposition that it would be a good service to the Church.