Tabernacle

[michaelk]

A Church in a nearby parish offers Perpetual Adoration which I stop by frequently. This is a fairly large parish with only one priest, however 6-8 deacons. Nearly every time I stop in to visit, a lay Eucharistic Minister stops by to take a Host(s) from the Tabernacle to take assumingly to someone in need. I do not question the sincerity of Eucharistic Minister and doing what there told, but rather I thought taking of the Host from the Tabernacle was reserved only for Priests and Deacons and this was pre-arranged after Mass or otherwise. Could someone clarify teaching on this? Sometimes I feel like it is a free for all in the chapel with 2 or 3 people coming at various times helping themselves which seems disruptive if not outright wrong.

 

[RCTechGeek]

I think this falls under practice rather than under doctrine. Anyway, there is no problem with priests and deacons accessing the tabernacle when they need to. A concern with lay people is preventing unauthorized access to the tabernacle (God-forbid the wrong person gets access to the tabernacle and steals a host for nefarious purposes). The tabernacle key should be under close watch by the priests and deacons, being stored in a secure location (like in the sacristy, which is usually locked unless there is a need for access) and not just left out for anyone to use. You are correct in that priests and deacons should be the ones accessing the tabernacle. Lay people should not be accessing the tabernacle on their own whim. If they need extra hosts for bringing to the sick and homebound, father will lay out instructions on when to do this (which should include his approval somehow for each time the tabernacle is accessed)

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I thought taking of the Host from the Tabernacle was reserved only for Priests and Deacons…

I am sure that there is no such universal rule. It seems to be up to each bishop/pastor to regulate tabernacle access. There should be a secure system.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Where I live, it is perfectly acceptable for EMHC’s to access the tabernacle for the reserved Eucharist to bring Communion to the sick or those in nursing homes.

 

[pianistclare]

Same here. The key is hidden in the working Sacristy, and they help themselves.
Outside of Mass, this only happens twice a week at my old parish, and nearly never at my present parish because we have noon Mass. It’s a much more convenient for those who visit.

 

[tawny]

Where I live, it is perfectly acceptable for EMHC’s to access the tabernacle for the reserved Eucharist to bring Communion to the sick or those in nursing homes.

Same in my Parish. Also, our EMHC are required to take a refresher course each year on the rubrics of their functions prior to recommissioning.