Taking Hosts home if no daily Mass

[BroIgnatius]

BroIgnatius:

In nearly 100% of cases, or pretty darn close to that, bishops depute that task to the pastors. It is the installed offices of Acolyte and Lector, which are restricted to men only, that must be installed by the bishop.

Not around here…

Acolytes and lectors are not “installed.” They are permanently instituted.

I said nearly all. There are always exceptions.

Acolytes and Lectors are called Installed Offices, and also called Instituted offices. If you like I can show you that from some diocesan websites. Here is one example.

You remind me of a person who once told me that the Vatican II Mass was invalid because it used the word “cup” instead of “chalice” in the Eucharistic Prayer. My response was “earth to guy. A chalice is a cup.”

 

[BroIgnatius]

BroIgnatius:

In nearly 100% of cases, or pretty darn close to that, bishops depute that task to the pastors. It is the installed offices of Acolyte and Lector, which are restricted to men only, that must be installed by the bishop.

Not around here…

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 12-28-2000:
Every man on the way to the diaconate or priesthood has already been through the selection process of his diocese or religious community and receives the ministry of acolyte in the course of formation, prior to the diaconal ordination. The installation of acolytes who are not in such formation is the perogative of the bishop. I have heard of only one bishop who installs Lectors and Acolytes for parish service, rather than using delegated (usually for a year) readers and EMEs.

The general guidelines, as well as the rite of installation, can be found in volume II of Rites.

The same is true of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, who can perform many of the duties of the Acolyte. Altar servers require only the appointment of their pastor, and are appointed solely to serve at the altar, not to distribute Communion.

Excerpt of EWTN Q&A

Around here the Pastors commission Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and Readers. I have been commissioned more than once by my pastor.

 

[Duesenberg]

You remind me of a person who once told me that the Vatican II Mass was invalid because it used the word “cup” instead of “chalice” in the Eucharistic Prayer. My response was “earth to guy. A chalice is a cup.”

How terribly rude.

I suspect in MOST (arch)dioceses in the US, the bishop and not individual pastors do the commissioning for EMsHC – whether in person or not. After all, you didn’t provide any proof to back up your personal belief.

 

[BroIgnatius]

BroIgnatius:

You remind me of a person who once told me that the Vatican II Mass was invalid because it used the word “cup” instead of “chalice” in the Eucharistic Prayer. My response was “earth to guy. A chalice is a cup.”

After all, you didn’t provide any proof to back up your personal belief.

Actually, I did. And you offered nothing for your personal belief.

I personally have been commissioned more than once by my pastor.

 

[Duesenberg]

Actually, I did.

“Diocesan” guidelines aren’t proof.

 

[BroIgnatius]

BroIgnatius:

Actually, I did.

“Diocesan” guidelines aren’t proof.

oooookay. Tell you what, you argue your personal beliefs with the bishop, since you obviously know more than the bishop does.

 

[Duesenberg]

oooookay. Tell you what, you argue your personal beliefs with the bishop, since you obviously know more than the bishop does.

I’m just pointing out that your diocese’s guidelines aren’t proof in this context.

 

[BroIgnatius]

a chalice is a cup

 

[BroIgnatius]

By the way, on the issue of the term “installed”, the USCCB uses the term “installed”:

On November 17, 1999, the Latin Rite de iure members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved complementary legislation for canon 230, §1 of the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States.

The action was granted recognitio by the Congregation for Bishops in accord with article 82 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus and issued by decree of the Congregation for Bishops signed by His Eminence Lucas Cardinal Moreira Neves, Prefect, and His Excellency Most Reverend Franciscus Monterisi, Secretary, and dated June 14, 2000.

Complementary Norm: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of canon 230, §1, hereby decrees that a layman who is to be installed in the ministries of lector or acolyte on a stable basis must have completed his twenty-first (21) year of age. The candidate must also possess the skills necessary for an effective proclamation of the Word or service at the altar, be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church, be free of any canonical penalty, and live a life which befits the ministry to be undertaken.

As President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, I hereby decree that the effective date of this decree for all the Latin Rite dioceses in the United States will be September 1, 2000.

Given at the offices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2000.

Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza
Bishop of Galveston-Houston
President, NCCB

Reverend Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr
General Secretary

 

[PJM]

WOW someone GETS it
I absolutely agree, so WHY doesn’t it happen?
God Bless you,
Patrick

BroIgnatius
October 7 |

Duesenberg: PJM:

PJM:

No, such would be an abuse.

Even “Extraordinary Ministers” MUST be approved by the Pastor

Actually they are commissioned by the local ordinary.

No, such would be an abuse.

Even “Extraordinary Ministers” MUST be approved by the Pastor

In nearly 100% of cases, or pretty darn close to that, bishops depute that task to the pastors. It is the installed offices of Acolyte and Lector, which are restricted to men only, that must be installed by the bishop.

Visit Topic or reply to this email to respond.

In Reply To

Duesenberg
October 7 |

Actually they are commissioned by the local ordinary.
Visit Topic or reply to this email to respond.

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[Phemie]

I have to say that I’ve been an EMHC in many parishes in different dioceses and only in one did my name get submitted to the Bishop for approval and acceptance. That was in the mid '80s, my first time being asked to serve my parish in this way. At that time I received a personal letter from my bishop laying out my responsibilities and my limitations.

In all the other parishes they called for volunteers, I signed up and I was distributing Communion a week later. I was even training new recruits to the ministry. In 2002 we got a new Pastor, who happened to be the Vicar General. For the first time in 18 years this Pastor submitted names to the bishop, each candidate received a commissioning certificate from the bishop. That was not repeated by subsequent Pastors.

 

[BroIgnatius]

Can one receive extra Hosts if there’s no daily Mass and you’re only able to attend a weekend Mass?

No, we cannot take the Host with us home. Under normal circumstance Extraordinary Ministers are not suppose to carry around the host generally. They are suppose to go directly to the people they are serving, or as soon as possible.

Not sure of the context of your question, but we are not to take the host home for family members to consume who were not able to come to Mass. Only those commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion can do something like that.

 

[Gorgias]

I suspect in MOST (arch)dioceses in the US, the bishop and not individual pastors do the commissioning for EMsHC – whether in person or not. After all, you didn’t provide any proof to back up your personal belief.

Hmm… no.

IIRC, a pastor deputes a person to be an EMHC (whether for a given Mass or for service at his parish). The diocese keeps track and requires the pastor to notify them. The pastor is required to re-depute EMHCs periodically (since it isn’t a permanent office).

If memory serves, isn’t there a blessing in the Book of Blessings, deputing a person to service as a reader or EMHC? If so, then it’s available for use by priests (not just bishops).

 

[BroIgnatius]

In the presence of two or more witnesses

 

[Phemie]

Note also the language. That was the translation back in 1973. If we use “special minister of the Eucharist” we get scolded, Rome having said that the term “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion” is the only term to be used.

 

[lilypadrees]

No, definitely not.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes, but…

a priest (even one who is also a pastor) can only appoint an EMCH “ad actum” meaning “for the act”

Technically, a priest must appoint an EMCH for every single time there is a need.

For example, if I put in the bulletin that “John” is scheduled as the EMHC for daily Masses this week: I appoint him to help me at the Monday Mass. Once Communion-time is over, his appointment ends. The next day, I appoint him to assist at the Tuesday Mass. Etc. etc.

We usually do not see it this way, but that’s what is happening.

Only the local Ordinary can appoint an EMHC “ad tempus” meaning “for a time.” That might be for a year, 10 years, or even a week.

The practical difference is none. Nothing. It only matters because it reminds us that EMHC is not an office in the Church. It is a temporary solution to a problem that applies only to that particular moment of necessity.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Sometimes I wonder why a thread has as many replies as this one does when the question was answered in the first or second reply. But then there are posts like the one above from @FrDavid96 that are worth getting to.