When you became an EMHC. .

[Cristiano]

There is an interesting booklet that you might want to read. I think that the title is “Pastoral Care for Lay People” and it should be a paperback with a green cover.

 

[JDHallKY]

We had a two-hour training session, but no formal installation at Mass, which I was expecting. But, the training was composed of an hour of reflection on the Eucharist and the importance of reverence in being an EMHC. The second hour was the practical aspects of what to do, such as where to stand, how the schedule worked, etc. We were also all given a book to read that is directed toward EMHC’s. It’s actually quite a good little book on the Eucharist.

 

[twosweetgirls]

We had a two-hour training session, but no formal installation at Mass, which I was expecting. But, the training was composed of an hour of reflection on the Eucharist and the importance of reverence in being an EMHC. The second hour was the practical aspects of what to do, such as where to stand, how the schedule worked, etc. We were also all given a book to read that is directed toward EMHC’s. It’s actually quite a good little book on the Eucharist.

You might not have the title of that book, would you?

 

[JDHallKY]

Sorry for the slow response. This is the book I was given:

Broken & Poured Out: A Spirituality for Eucharistic Ministers

 

[japhy]

I wonder if there are any guidebooks that use the official title of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion…

 

[DebChris]

I was originally commissioned as a Eucharistic Minister in the Diocese of La Crosse, WI in the 1980s. A special commissioning service was integrated into the Mass in recognition of those authorized to handle the Host and Cup. Each of our names was submitted to the Bishop. The Bishop, who preceded Bishop Raymond Burke, wanted to know every person who was handling the Eucharist.
On earlier threads, I have been criticized for using the term Eucharistic Minister rather than EMCH. The terminology has changed with time and while EMCH is now the official title, Eucharistic Minister is the term under which I was commissioned and is the term most often used in my current parish.
There was no formal commissioning celebration in the parish where I am now an EMCH.

 

[japhy]

Each of our names was submitted to the Bishop. The Bishop, who preceded Bishop Raymond Burke, wanted to know every person who was handling the Eucharist.

As well he should! He already knows the priests and deacons in his diocese; if there are going to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the Bishop should want to know who they are! And (now Arch-)Bishop Burke is just the kind of man who would do so.

The terminology has changed with time and while EMHC is now the official title, Eucharistic Minister is the term under which I was commissioned and is the term most often used in my current parish.

I agree the title has changed. , I.Immensae Caritatis (from 1973) which established the permission, refers to them as “special ministers for distributing communion”, “special ministers of the eucharist” “special ministers who … give communion”, and “special ministers of communion”. As of 1997, from the Instruction , Art. 8Ecclesia de mysterio, the official title is “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion”; this was reaffirmed in 2004 by , n. 156Redemptionis Sacramentum: 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.
There is only one minister of the Eucharist: the priest. There is no such thing as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. There is no such thing as a “special” minister of Holy Communion; the proper classifications are “ordinary” and “extraordinary”. When there are enough “ordinary” ministers of Holy Communion, there is no need to employ “extraordinary” ministers.

 

[DebChris]

Any minister who is not ordained is an extraordinary minister.

 

[japhy]

Any minister who is not ordained is an extraordinary minister.

That depends entirely upon the ministry being performed.

There is no such thing as an “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist”, and a deacon, even though ordained, is not an “ordinary minister of the Eucharist” (nor an “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist”).

The “ordinary minister of Confirmation” is the diocesan Bishop (CIC, can. 882); some priests and those who are equivalent to diocesan bishops in jurisdiction are extraordinary ministers of Confirmation (CIC, can. 882-883). The deacon, even though ordained, is not an “extraordinary minister of Confirmation”.

 

[DebChris]

This thread seems to be going off track already. The OP asked whether or not those of us who serve as EMHC underwent any special prayer or blessing. I do not want anything that I have written to become a source of quibbling, especially over terminology…
Being able to distribute Communion is an awesome and humbling experience. Because of the sacredness of what we hold in our hands, it is only right that the bishop be informed of who has been given this awesome responsibility.
When I first became a Eucharistic Minister, I was commissioned within the Mass. I received a special pin to wear identifying the role I had been comissioned to performed.
Each of us is called to stewardship.Some serve as ushers or sing in the choir. Another person may lector while somebody else teaches faith formation. One person may find his/her role in the parish as sacristan while others cook, set up chairs for parish activities, or take care of gardening around the rectory. In any case, each of us shares the gifts he/she has received from God. None of us is any more or less important than anybody else.
In my parish in WI, it was not only the eucharistic minister who was commissioned. The same was done for lectors and catechists, each receiving a pin identifying his/her role in the parish community. In no way does this special recognition deflect from the contribution of any other member of the parish.
In my current parish, I only remember the cathecists being called forward for recognition so the parishioners would know who was teaching their children.

 

[THurifer2]

The title of the book is a misnomer. The title should be Extraordinary ministers of Holy communion.

The Eucharistic Minister is the PRIEST.

This is serious enough for the vatican to address the issue. Redemptionis Sacramentum goes to mention that the term EUcharistic Ministers is NOT to be used when referring to the laity.