Should I continue to be a Extraordinary minister

[2Bcatholic]

I am a member of a very small parish less than 150 people at mass on Sunday and have been a Extra. minister for only a few months now. I recently learned from a parishioner of another parish that priests are the only ones who should be giving communion to the congregation unless there are many parishoners in attendance and another minister would be needed to help because of time or if a priest is not feeling well.

I’m just wondering if I should quit doing it? I don’t believe that I am worthy to be doing such a ministry but I also realize that even if I decide not to do it then somebody else will most likely be asked to do it.

What are your thoughts?

 

[T700]

Unless it troubles your conscience greatly, I would trust the judgment of the priest in this matter. He may have reasons unknown to you for requiring assistance.

Paul

 

[KingAlfred]

Yeah…keep at it. It’s a great contribution.

 

[nightwalker]

I can’t bring myself to do it as it is, every local parish (although there may be call for a few) uses a small army.

You know what the Church desires, but the choice is yours.

 

[scylla]

It is true the commonly Extraordinary ministers are used to subvert the faith by making it just a free for all in handing out the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. They do this many times unknowing the insult to Christ in His Priesthood that is committed in parishes across the country.

Now some cases Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are legitimately used. There are Masses where there are really large congregations and maybe a not very energetic Priest, who needs help. I know of a pretty elderly (retired) Priest who serves at my parish who has trouble walking and it is very difficult for him to serve communion. We use his help when there are no other priests available.

Also there are sick and homebound who in Parishes who greatly benefit from the help of EMHC’s.

If you serve in both those or similar situations then, it is a good and noble thing to do, I would prayerfully check the reasons to serving if you serve in a parish that abuses the use of EMHC’s.

But do not just give up serving, if this isn’t an appropriate way to serve Christ and His Church seek another, even if it is something as meek as handwashing the linens. Seek to serve Christ in the best way possible putting Him first, even if it means giving up what you do for something behind the scenes.

You did mention a good point, what if someone else does it? The best answer I can give is, do what is right and God will use you in His own way.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Unless it troubles your conscience greatly, I would trust the judgment of the priest in this matter. He may have reasons unknown to you for requiring assistance.

Paul

I agree, but would add that if your conscience troubles you greatly, perhaps look into that. If you do not trust your Pastor in this matter, perhaps you are being too judgemental, but if you really cannot trust your Pastor, there are more serious issues to consider than serving as an EMHC.

Lux

 

[quiet52]

I recently learned from a parishioner of another parish that priests are the only ones who should be giving communion to the congregation unless there are many parishoners in attendance and another minister would be needed to help because of time or if a priest is not feeling well.

The Vatican allows it.

[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.[259] This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

 

[puzzleannie]

I am .

I’m just wondering if I should quit doing it? I don’t believe that I am worthy to be doing such a ministry but I also realize that even if I decide not to do it then somebody else will most likely be asked to do it.

What are your thoughts?

if you have a personal objection to doing this, don’t do it. Consideration about what somebody else might or might not do is out of the equation. You might simply ask the priest his reason for commissioning people for this ministry, it might turn out he discerns a genuine need. If you can continue and have already been trained for this, consider being one of those who brings communion to the sick and homebound (another worthy reason for this ministry) if you don’t feel right about doing this during Mass.

I personally have never done this because I have reservations about the whole thing, and have never been in a parish where there was a real need. (even when there is only one priest, usually attendance is so low anyhow there is not a real need). but in a parish where the priest is judged by how quickly he moves people out to the parking lot, I can see the reasons.

 

[2Bcatholic]

I have been taking communion to the nursing homes for several months as well. I have no doubts that I should continue to do this ministry because all people should have the opportunity to receive Our Lord weekly!

But there’s this little something that keeps gnawing at me saying…2bcatholic, even though you WANT to be an extraordinary minister for the congregation you KNOW this is not your job but the job of the priest and wanting to do something doesn’t make you worthy! (I guess that would be my conscience huh? (However, I don’t want to be offensive to Our Lord if He wants me doing this either.)

This parish has had Eucharist ministers for as long as I can remember and just recently we have had another priest to come in and He has continued this tradition.

 

[KingAlfred]

I have been taking communion to the nursing homes for several months as well. I have no doubts that I should continue to do this ministry because all people should have the opportunity to receive Our Lord weekly!

But there’s this little something that keeps gnawing at me saying…2bcatholic, even though you WANT to be an extraordinary minister for the congregation you KNOW this is not your job but the job of the priest and wanting to do something doesn’t make you worthy! (I guess that would be my conscience huh? (However, I don’t want to be offensive to Our Lord if He wants me doing this either.)

This parish has had Eucharist ministers for as long as I can remember and just recently we have had another priest to come in and He has continued this tradition.

I believe the Lord called you to this task. The fact you’re thinking so much about its propriety reflects your sound character and commitment to the Church. Personally, I suspect the day will come when the laity will have an even bigger role in conducting the Mass. Dunno. I see nothing wrong with a high degree of lay participation, as long as it remains respectful and tasteful.

 

[puzzleannie]

nobody is worthy to be a minister of any kind. the pope is not worthy, your paster is not worthy, I am not worthy, the other people you see assisting at Mass in your parish are not worthy, the Lord alone is worthy. get that word out of your vocabulary when speaking about service to the liturgy, to the parish and wider Church and the people of God. If you have been called you are worthy by virtue of that call from the Holy Spirit so cut it with the excuses.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

so cut it with the excuses.

Pretty harsh, don’t you think?

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

What are your thoughts?

I think you should continue to do it because your unworthiness is the right attitude. Thank you for your humble service.

 

[AMDGtoo]

My advice to you is pray, pray, and pray some more and do it before the Tabernacle. IMO it is not that we feel unworthy, because we are. And it’s not about having another take your place if you no longer do it. IMO, it is about being faithful to Our Lord and being obedient to His Church.

Yes, EMs are necessary in some cases and therefore their service is allowed. But there are restrictions and abuses have crept in (now that is not merely my opinion–there are documents showing it.)

Since you do see some of the abuses (that the documents mention), after much prayer and speaking charitably to those in charge (perhaps you will not be required to perform the abuses that are spoken about in the documents), your decision to continue is ultimately yours. Afterall, we can only control our own actions and we must be true to our formed consciences.

 

[2Bcatholic]

Puzzleannie:

Don’t think it’s EXCUSES-think it’s more on the lines of trying to discern what is right but thanks for the remark anyway!!!

 

[sbriton]

I was an EMHC when I first came back into the Church in my early 30’s (now early 40’s). We normally had about 5 EMHC’s at the busiest Mass on Sunday. I don’t know how many parishoners there were but I can say even with all 5 of us and the priest it still took about 15 minutes to complete Holy Communion. Even the one EMHC who handled the cry room took most of that time (a lot of families with babies!!). In this case I think it was necessary. However, I have been to churches where there were about 100 people attending and they still used 5 EMHCs. Unnecessary IMHO.

Simon

 

[scylla]

Personally, I suspect the day will come when the laity will have an even bigger role in conducting the Mass. Dunno. I see nothing wrong with a high degree of lay participation, as long as it remains respectful and tasteful.

I agree…(except I am not sure what you mean by conducting the Mass, I hope you mean participate)
I certainly hope there is a greater degree of lay participation also, but not on the altar. We have a mess as it is and in many parishes the meaning of the Mass has been forgotten, not only that many times the sanctuary is disrespected and Christ is often insulted.

We participate fully by joining the Priest with our mind and soul in prayer to Christ, offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

If only more would focus and participate more, which is possible with good catechesis and communication of the importance of the Mass.

Many times participation has been reduced to how we can physically do something, instead of the more important internal participation. The Priest is the one in Persona Christi who leads the congregation to Christ, it seems many have forgotten that and replaced the Priest with themselves, (at least in their mind)

God Bless
Scylla

 

[KingAlfred]

I agree…(except I am not sure what you mean by conducting the Mass, I hope you mean participate)
I certainly hope there is a greater degree of lay participation also, but not on the altar. We have a mess as it is and in many parishes the meaning of the Mass has been forgotten, not only that many times the sanctuary is disrespected and Christ is often insulted.

We participate fully by joining the Priest with our mind and soul in prayer to Christ, offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

If only more would focus and participate more, which is possible with good catechesis and communication of the importance of the Mass.

Many times participation has been reduced to how we can physically do something, instead of the more important internal participation. The Priest is the one in Persona Christi who leads the congregation to Christ, it seems many have forgotten that and replaced the Priest with themselves, (at least in their mind)

God Bless
Scylla

You’re definitely knowledgable on the matter.

 

[benedictgal]

Rather than give my opinion, because I am an EMHC myself (who has some questions about the practice), I submit to you a quote from Francis Cardinal Arinze, the Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrements. This is how he addresses the issue at hand:

It’s very important to stress that, because some people do not understand the whole point of these Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Some people think that it is a power struggle for lay people to prove that what the priest can do, so can they. Which means if there are not many people to receive Communion – suppose there are three priests or two priests and one deacon and 100 people to receive Communion – then there is no need for even one single Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

…So the full answer to the question is, if the communicants are not too many and the ordinary ministers – that means priests and deacons – are enough; the question of Extraordinary Ministers does not arise. Therefore, there is no question of choosing them.

Now, here is what Redemptionis Sacramentum says regarding the issue of Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

156.] This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist” nor “special minister of the Eucharist”, by which names the meaning of this function is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.

[157.] If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons.258

[158.] Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.259 This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.

The problem in my diocese is that we are being over-used, especially when the number of communicants is enough for the priest to handle by himself. Now, if the parish is distributing Holy Communion under both species, then, there is a need for us because the priest (unless he is distributing via intinction) can’t very hold the chalice, the ciborrium and distribute,.

However, even during daily Mass, I have seen the celebrant call for an EMHC to help him even when the communicants number under 30. I had a serious talk with my best friend (who is my parochial vicar) because he tends to do this. I told him that even though he’s being gracious in asking an elderly woman to help him, the well-meaning gesture doesn’t ustify what he is doing. I told him to read Redemptionis Sacramentum (he has my copy because, oddly enough, he wanted to see a few items related to EMHCs). Even though we got into an argument, he managed to see the point. He still does this on Sunday evenings and I told him that he can’t just deputize someone on the spot, especially if the person doesn’t have a clue as to what to do, as we experienced when he called the ushers to help him distribute the Precious Blood. The poor guys were confused and the pastor wasn’t too happy about it.

My pastor is having us read Msgr. Champlain’s book on EMHCs. The book is full of errors and misconceptions, even though the author claims to have brought it up to speed to cover the revised GIRM and RS. There are still some questionable things that don’t jibe with the documents of the Church. Occasionally, during our training, I have to address those issues.

 

[Charles_A_Rose]

I am a member of a very small parish less than 150 people at mass on Sunday and have been a Extra. minister for only a few months now. I recently learned from a parishioner of another parish that priests are the only ones who should be giving communion to the congregation unless there are many parishoners in attendance and another minister would be needed to help because of time or if a priest is not feeling well.

I’m just wondering if I should quit doing it? I don’t believe that I am worthy to be doing such a ministry but I also realize that even if I decide not to do it then somebody else will most likely be asked to do it.

What are your thoughts .

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It is not wrong for y ou to give out the Body and Blood of Christ, in fact, it is an asset to the priest. You should be honored to be able to handle the Body and Blood of Christ. The only time it would be wrong if the priest just sat there and had the lay-people doing it This is not permitted. Be at ease and continue with your ministry.
God bless you. Charles A Rose, OSFD+.

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