What Are The Requirements to Be An EMHC?

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KathleenElsie

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I have wondered about this. So other then being willing to do it what are the actual requirements?
 
KathleenElsie said:
I have wondered about this. So other then being willing to do it what are the actual requirements?
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In our diocese you have to be 18 years old and a practicing Catholic living in accordance with Catholic moral teaching (in other words not in an irregular marriage or living with someone)and must have been fully initiated. The candidate must request it in writing to the pastor, stating his or her reasons for wanting to become an EMHC. The pastor, once accepting them, then sends the name to the Bishop. The candidate must attend a 1/2 day diocesan training session on the theology and spirituality of the Eucharist and an overview of the Mass., They then are trained in the practicalities of the ministry in their particular parish and then be publically commissioned at a mass. If the person wants to bring Communion to the homebound or hospitalized they must attend another 1/2 day session. EMHC’s are commissioned for three years and must formally request renewal every three years. In our diocese it is done on a Vicariate level every three years automatically. So last year all EMHC’s in our parish had to request to continue or be dropped, even if they were only commissioned the year before. It makes it easier for the diocesan office and for our record keeping in the parish. We also have two mandatory meetings each year in the parish and an evening of recollection.
 
Does it differ from Diocese to Diocese? Or parish to parish?
 
Joannm, how I wish it was done that way in my parish/diocese.

I was asked by the Mass Coordinator if I wanted to be an EMHC, and after much prayer I said yes. I was taught How to handle the Holy Eucharist/Cup and what to do if our Lord was to be dropped or spilled. Then I was taught what blessing to say for those not receiving.

The whole training took less then 10 minutes. That was IT.:eek:

And after 3 years, I am still waiting for our FIRST meeting to update training and changes that have occured in the diocese.
 
“The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith, and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar. No one is to be chosen whose appointment the faithful might find disquieting.” (Immensae Caritatis, I)
 
KathleenElsie said:
I have wondered about this. So other then being willing to do it what are the actual requirements?
Click to expand...
To be an EM around here it is be confirmed rather than being 18, the willingness to do it and whatever training the parish prefers. Like others said it varies quite a bit from parish to parish. Some have long, drawn out processes and some not very much. Of course almost all parishes only give you the location training for mass if you have been trained in at another parish in the recent past.
 
It is the duty of the priest or deacon to distribute holy communion not a lay person. Time is no excuse!!.
 
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