The Bottom Line on Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

[AltarMan]

I attend the same church (same physical facility) that I did as a child. Back in those days (the 1970’s) a single priest distibuted Holy Commuion.

Usually it was done via one species, but on holidays we received via intinction. There is no question that Masses had higer attendance back then, but it could be argued that fewer people received Holy Communion each week (maybe they actually committed sins that had not yet been absolved back then, or perhaps they were stricter about following the fasting rules.)

Now that we routinely receive Holy Communion via both species, I could see how it would take perhaps a total of two EMsHC to minister the Precious Blood. ** Two.**

Instead we now have SEVEN EMsHC and TWO “captains” (nine people plus the priestly celebrant) distributing Holy Communion. When questioned in the past, the excuse of “getting people involved” was often invoked. That excuse has long come under fire and now they suggest the gang of nine is required to distribute communion in a “timely manner.” (They don’t mention the fact that they actually tried to reduce the number of EMsHC during Holidays when the church is packed in order to speed-up Communion.)

On top of that we now have a woman whose job it is to schedule nine people/Mass. She’s made a career out of it. It seems odd to even schedule EXTRAORDINARY ministers.

With a new bishop and pastor on the horizon I am going to do everything I can to end this abuse once and for all…

 

[slewi]

I don’t have it as bad as you. We only have one EMHC at a mass. But we have SO many of them that they rotate their schedule and I don’t believe I have ever seen the same one twice!

S

 

[marty1818]

Altarman,
How many people are at a typical mass? We only use EMHC’s at our parish when mass would be prolonged 15 minutes or more because of communion. The number of EMHC’s at your parish is a little much and the reason of getting people involved is not acceptable and JPII says this. Hopefully things will change for your parish soon.

God Bless,
Matt

 

[msproule]

Altarman,

I wish you the best in this worthy effort! I also find it troubling when there is a scheduled number of EMHC regardless of the number of people in attendance at Mass. There is terrible misunderstanding and abuse of this policy.

This is one end of the EMHC spectrum. The other is like in my former parish, where during the Agnus Dei the priest uses his fingers to indicate the number of EMHC he needs. The corresponding number of people get up and approach the altar. This is good in the sense that he only gets as many as he “needs”, but bad in that the process seems sloppy (not to mention that he still always has the same number, regardless of how many people are at Mass)! So if the deacon is present, he may ask for three instead of four.

 

[AltarMan]

marty1818:

Altarman,
How many people are at a typical mass? We only use EMHC’s at our parish when mass would be prolonged 15 minutes or more because of communion. The number of EMHC’s at your parish is a little much and the reason of getting people involved is not acceptable and JPII says this. Hopefully things will change for your parish soon.

God Bless,
Matt

Attendance is down – maybe 300-400/Mass. The bottom line is that ONE PRIEST used to distribute Holy Communion. Now it takes the same priest plus NINE laypersons…

 

[buffalo]

Will the Real Vatican II Please Stand Up?

                                             By Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas

It is nothing but diabolical that the teachings of this Council should be hijacked by “left” or by “right”—and it is high time for the record to be set straight. So, if you:

• prefer a more extensive use of Latin in the sacred liturgy,
• are upset by liturgical experiments or practices such as lay distribution of Holy Communion or Communion in the hand,
• hold that God wants every human being to be a Catholic,
• can’t understand why religious wear lay attire,
• treasure the charism of priestly celibacy,
• think our seminaries have been derailed,
• find it difficult to comprehend the lack of support for Catholic schools,
• accept the teaching authority of the pope and bishops in union with him,
• accept the Gospel portraits of Jesus as real and historical,
• prefer to see laity representing Christ in the world rather than in the sanctuary,
• believe it is your responsibility to evangelize the world for Christ,

then rejoice, and stake your claim as a true disciple of the Second Vatican Council. And make sure to tell others who hold opposing positions to find another Church council to appeal to for their private projects and agendas.

more…

 

[Confiteor]

AltarMan:

I attend the same church (same physical facility) that I did as a child. Back in those days (the 1970’s) a single priest distibuted Holy Commuion.

Usually it was done via one species, but on holidays we received via intinction. There is no question that Masses had higer attendance back then, but it could be argued that fewer people received Holy Communion each week (maybe they actually committed sins that had not yet been absolved back then, or perhaps they were stricter about following the fasting rules.)

Now that we routinely receive Holy Communion via both species, I could see how it would take perhaps a total of two EMsHC to minister the Precious Blood. ** Two.**

Instead we now have SEVEN EMsHC and TWO “captains” (nine people plus the priestly celebrant) distributing Holy Communion. When questioned in the past, the excuse of “getting people involved” was often invoked. That excuse has long come under fire and now they suggest the gang of nine is required to distribute communion in a “timely manner.” (They don’t mention the fact that they actually tried to reduce the number of EMsHC during Holidays when the church is packed in order to speed-up Communion.)

On top of that we now have a woman whose job it is to schedule nine people/Mass. She’s made a career out of it. It seems odd to even schedule EXTRAORDINARY ministers.

With a new bishop and pastor on the horizon I am going to do everything I can to end this abuse once and for all…

When our parish started distributing the Precious Blood on Sundays, there was a call for 80 “additional EMHCs” so that we have about a dozen people distributing communion at each Mass. You’d think it was a cathedral, but it isn’t. Maybe 2500 registered families (I don’t know how many attend Mass each week, maybe half?) and four weekend Masses. Communion is more efficient than your typical McDonalds, and quite a few of us don’t partake of the chalice. But it does make for quite the distracting “tea party” effect afterwards as they gather to clean the vessels…

 

[warrior71]

Will the Real Vatican II Please Stand Up?

                                             By Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas

From the article:

A friend of mine once remarked about a mutual priest-friend of ours that he had gone so far to the right that he was now on the left. Both extremes are often united in their assertion that the Second Vatican Council created a brand-new Church. The far left maintains happily that the Council or “the spirit” of the Council brought down any semblance of a hierarchical Church, leaving in its wake a new liturgy and the elimination of any serious transcendental dimension to Catholic worship. The far right agrees unhappily, pointing to the destruction of ecclesiastical discipline and citing liturgical horror stories.

I have said for years that the content of the conciliar documents may well rival the third secret of Fatima for speculation and inscrutability. The only way to uncover the genuine teachings of the Council is to highlight texts that show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, no traditional practice or doctrine is contradicted—on the contrary, tradition is reinforced in convincing ways. Allow me to serve as your tour guide through the real Second Vatican Council, taking the documents in order.

…

body of the article
…

Stake Your Claim

I was in fourth grade when Pope John XXIII announced the calling of the Council. In fifth grade, Sister Regina Rose suggested we all keep a daily scrapbook of news items related to what she predicted would be a momentous event in the life of the Church. She was right—as the sisters usually were.

I kept to that project with great diligence. Regrettably, that scrapbook got lost in a family move, but the Council was indeed a moment of great grace for the Church and has always formed my vision of the Church and the priesthood.

It is nothing but diabolical that the teachings of this Council should be hijacked by “left” or by “right”—and it is high time for the record to be set straight. So, if you:

• prefer a more extensive use of Latin in the sacred liturgy,
• are upset by liturgical experiments or practices such as lay distribution of Holy Communion or Communion in the hand,
• hold that God wants every human being to be a Catholic,
• can’t understand why religious wear lay attire,
• treasure the charism of priestly celibacy,
• think our seminaries have been derailed,
• find it difficult to comprehend the lack of support for Catholic schools,
• accept the teaching authority of the pope and bishops in union with him,
• accept the Gospel portraits of Jesus as real and historical,
• prefer to see laity representing Christ in the world rather than in the sanctuary,
• believe it is your responsibility to evangelize the world for Christ,

then rejoice, and stake your claim as a true disciple of the Second Vatican Council. And make sure to tell others who hold opposing positions to find another Church council to appeal to for their private projects and agendas.

more…

Great article. But it does present a vexing question. Where did all the nonsense that we have now come from if not from the council itself?

From reading the article it appears that there were no changes mandated, few changes encouraged and in fact most were discouraged. So logically, things should be almost the same as they were in 1962. But obviously they are not. That leaves only one possible conclusion.

Special interest groups managed to gain control over isues they were passionate about due to the experimentation that was permitted, and the rest of us were left at the starting lline so to speak, eating their dust.

Now I know that is exactly what happened in many female religious communities. I have several relatives in them, In fact, an outstanding book on that subject “Sisters in Crisis” actually details that particular scenario in great, almost excruciating detail.

So I would ask, is that what happened with the Church as a whole?

 

[findinghumility]

Buffalo…

It’s nice that you see the Traditional aspect of Vat 2… however…the problem is that there was so much ambiguity in the documents that liberals can point to in defense of their positions. If you search some of the Traditionalists websites you can find several books such as “The Murky Waters of Vatican II” that fully explain this.

Secondly, when Anabale Bugnini wrote the “New” mass, there were two Cardinals, Ottaviani and Bacci who wrote to pope Paul VI to try to get him to re-think this decision. Bugnini ( under the authority) of Paul VI re-wrote the mass and reshaped catholic theology to be more acceptible to Protestants. It’s time for Catholics who are concerned about the so called “abuses” to come out of the denial that we have been in and to realize that we have been robbed of our faith by the intentional ambiguities of Vatican II and resulting demolishion of our Mass, and our sacraments.

 

[thistle]

It doesn’t sound like Mass attendence is very good in the USA from what I get from the posts.
On Sunday at our church there are 10 Masses. Every one is full and with about 1500 at each Mass it would be impossible for the priest to handle this on his own. We have on average 4 EMHC’s assisting the priest.
When I say the Mass is full I mean it. We even have people having to stand outside. The church is open at three sides so they can also fully participate.
By the way in our church before the EMCH’s can handle the Hosts there is a table at the side of the sanctury where they wash their hands in holy water and dry them with cloths specially put there for that purpose.

 

[AltarMan]

findinghumility:

Buffalo…

It’s nice that you see the Traditional aspect of Vat 2… however…the problem is that there was so much ambiguity in the documents that liberals can point to in defense of their positions. If you search some of the Traditionalists websites you can find several books such as “The Murky Waters of Vatican II” that fully explain this.

Secondly, when Anabale Bugnini wrote the “New” mass, there were two Cardinals, Ottaviani and Bacci who wrote to pope Paul VI to try to get him to re-think this decision. ** Bugnini ( under the authority) of Paul VI re-wrote the mass and reshaped catholic theology to be more acceptible to Protestants.** It’s time for Catholics who are concerned about the so called “abuses” to come out of the denial that we have been in and to realize that we have been robbed of our faith by the intentional ambiguities of Vatican II and resulting demolishion of our Mass, and our sacraments.

So YOU say. That’s nothing but personal conjecture.

 

[AltarMan]

thistle:

It doesn’t sound like Mass attendence is very good in the USA from what I get from the posts.
On Sunday at our church there are 10 Masses. Every one is full and with about 1500 at each Mass it would be impossible for the priest to handle this on his own. We have on average 4 EMHC’s assisting the priest.
When I say the Mass is full I mean it. We even have people having to stand outside. The church is open at three sides so they can also fully participate.
By the way in our church before the EMCH’s can handle the Hosts there is a table at the side of the sanctury where they wash their hands in holy water and dry them with cloths specially put there for that purpose.

Mass attendance in the USA sure beats the heck out of Mass attendance in the UK/Europe…

My parish has 7 Sunday Masses – each perhaps 3/4 full. Not a very healthy situation (we need more parishes, and have for many years), but it’s nothing like the problem your parish faces.

4 EMsHC for 1500 people isn’t too bad – it would be interesting to see what they did before EMsHC were allowed.

BTW, Holy Water should NOT be used for ablutions at the credence table, and the ablution should come AFTER handling the Blessed Sacrament…

 

[netmilsmom]

thistle:

It doesn’t sound like Mass attendence is very good in the USA from what I get from the posts.
On Sunday at our church there are 10 Masses. Every one is full and with about 1500 at each Mass it would be impossible for the priest to handle this on his own. We have on average 4 EMHC’s assisting the priest.
When I say the Mass is full I mean it. We even have people having to stand outside. The church is open at three sides so they can also fully participate.

Well part of the difference is that we have a parish on every corner (almost).
We have 12 churches in my Vicariate, all within five miles of each other. I can personally walk to three parishes.
I choose to drive to mine.

 

[thistle]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

Well part of the difference is that we have a parish on every corner (almost).
We have 12 churches in my Vicariate, all within five miles of each other. I can personally walk to three parishes.
I choose to drive to mine.

Actually where I live we have 3 churches within walking distance. I would hazard a guess and say here in the Philippines we have a bigger concentration of churches than in the West which of course is not surprising as 85% of the 86 million people here are Catholic so they are needed.

 

[netmilsmom]

thistle:

Actually where I live we have 3 churches within walking distance. I would hazard a guess and say here in the Philippines we have a bigger concentration of churches than in the West which of course is not surprising as 85% of the 86 million people here are Catholic so they are needed.

I’m sure that’s part of it but it’s hard to say that our attendance is poor because you hear that some of our churches are not full. We are not as concentrated in Catholic as you and some of the people here are in rural parishes.

Also, the innovative masses drive people away. Thank God our parish and the Grotto are bringing people back.

 

[findinghumility]

AltarMan:

So YOU say. That’s nothing but personal conjecture.

What do you mean conjecture, Bugnini and secretary are on record proudly stating these intentions.

 

[AltarMan]

findinghumility:

What do you mean conjecture, Bugnini and secretary are on record proudly stating these intentions.

Absolutely nothing but personal conjecture.

If you want to make a point, how about a link to a Church document from a reputable (no geocities) website that backs your conjecture?

 

[Chris_Jacobsen]

I always receive Holy Communion from a priest.

If I have to switch lines, I switch lines. If I have to walk half way across the church, I walk half way across the church.

There are times when there is a line in front of the priest and no one moves to go to the lay distributor.

If everyone boycotted the lay distributors, and went to the priest for Holy Communion, the lay distributors would be out of business.

 

[thistle]

Chris Jacobsen:

I always receive Holy Communion from a priest.

If I have to switch lines, I switch lines. If I have to walk half way across the church, I walk half way across the church.

There are times when there is a line in front of the priest and no one moves to go to the lay distributor.

If everyone boycotted the lay distributors, and went to the priest for Holy Communion, the lay distributors would be out of business.

As I mentioned in an earlier post our church has 10 Masses on Sunday with 1500+ attending each Mass. It could not be done without EMHC’s. Are you telling me that because you would only have a priest distribute we (in our parish) should tell people to stay home because they have no chance to receive Communion because we would have to cut down the number of Masses if we were not using EMHC’s

 

[AMDG1]

AltarMan:

I attend the same church (same physical facility) that I did as a child. Back in those days (the 1970’s) a single priest distibuted Holy Commuion.

Usually it was done via one species, but on holidays we received via intinction. There is no question that Masses had higer attendance back then, but it could be argued that fewer people received Holy Communion each week (maybe they actually committed sins that had not yet been absolved back then, or perhaps they were stricter about following the fasting rules.)

Now that we routinely receive Holy Communion via both species, I could see how it would take perhaps a total of two EMsHC to minister the Precious Blood. ** Two.**

Instead we now have SEVEN EMsHC and TWO “captains” (nine people plus the priestly celebrant) distributing Holy Communion. When questioned in the past, the excuse of “getting people involved” was often invoked. That excuse has long come under fire and now they suggest the gang of nine is required to distribute communion in a “timely manner.” (They don’t mention the fact that they actually tried to reduce the number of EMsHC during Holidays when the church is packed in order to speed-up Communion.)

On top of that we now have a woman whose job it is to schedule nine people/Mass. She’s made a career out of it. It seems odd to even schedule EXTRAORDINARY ministers.

With a new bishop and pastor on the horizon I am going to do everything I can to end this abuse once and for all…

Oh come on. If they didn’t have all those EMHC’s, your priest would have to cut down his homily to 10 minutes. Or, he’d have to reduce some of the singing. We wouldn’t want that now, would we?