Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Meeting Recap

The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) met on September 18 and 21.   Forty nine (49) EHMCs attended the meetings. The role and duties of an EMHC, in accordance with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM), Catechism of the Catholic Church, USCCB, and the Diocese of Oakland, were reviewed. New changes in the distribution of Holy Communion were also discussed. A booklet titled “The Eucharist” was distributed to each minister present.  

Immediate feedback from the attendees were that they appreciated the very informative meeting and were very grateful for the booklet.

EMHCs who were unable to attend the meetings, please contact Deacon Albert ([email protected])   or Joy Belleza ([email protected])

To all our EMHCs, thank you, and God bless you, for your ministry and service to our parish community!
 

Here are the major highlights discussed at the meeting:

 

GUIDELINES FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

St. Catherine of Siena Parish

1) Arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of Liturgy. Sign in on the Liturgical Ministry Schedule sheet and check in with the Mass Coordinator. Please familiarize yourself with your assigned station.

2) Make sure that the necessary wine and hosts have been prepared, and the sacred vessels (chalices, ciboria, and the Presider’s chalice), and purificators are ready. When preparing the Presider’s chalice: place the purificator over the chalice, paten with the large host, pall, then the corporal, in that order.

3) Be at the vestibule to greet and welcome parishioners and guests at least 5-10 minutes before Mass starts.  Please be mindful and listen when the Presider or the Cantor makes the announcements before Mass.

4) Join the rest of the ministers in a prayer led by the Presider or the Deacon, then be ready for the Entrance Procession. Process reverently with hands in prayer position. You are invited to take one of the missals and join in the singing of the gathering hymn. Your good example will encourage the congregation to sing.

5) Upon reaching the sanctuary, pause briefly in front and then walk towards the side by the rails. Wait until the Deacon (or the Lector) had reposed the Book of the Gospel and come back in line, then make a profound bow all together. Proceed to your pews.

6) After you exchanged the “Peace be with you” to those around you, move out of your pew and line up by the rails. (Please make sure to make a profound bow when you are crossing the altar). Ministers of the Precious Body will be on the St. Joseph side. Ministers of the Precious Blood will be on the side of the Blessed Mother. Keep the center aisle unobstructed.

7) After the Presider had consumed the Precious Blood, ministers approach the altar and stand by the sides of the altar table. Ministers of the Precious Body will be to the left with the altar servers. Ministers of the Precious Blood will be on the other side.

8) The Presider will distribute the Precious Body of Christ to all the ministers. Then he will give the chalices to the ministers of the Precious Blood of Christ.  As the Church has asked to do, bow reverently before you receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. The ministers will drink from the chalice and wipe the rim with the purificator. The Deacon will distribute the Precious Blood to the ministers on the other side of the altar table. Ministers of the Precious Body will receive the ciboria from the Presider or the Deacon. Proceed to your stations holding the sacred vessels with utmost reverence. 

9) Distribution of Holy Communion: The proper and only permissible form of distributing Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated host by saying “The Body of Christ” and to offer the consecrated wine by saying, “The Blood of Christ”. No other words or names should be added, and the formula should not be edited in any other way. (GIRM #161; 284-287).

 

a.    Precious Body:  Hold up the consecrated host and say, “ The Body of Christ”.  After the person responds  “Amen”, place the Precious Body of Christ on the hand or tongue. (Ensure that they consume the Body of Christ).
b.    Precious Blood: Present the chalice and say, “ The Blood of Christ”. After the  “Amen” response, allow the communicant to hold the chalice and receive the Precious Blood of Christ. After the chalice has been placed back in your hands, wipe both the inside and outside of the chalice rim with the purificator, and slightly turn the chalice for the next person. If you run out, place your hand over the chalice. Do not put the purificator inside the chalice.   Note: After wiping the rim with the purificator, reverently move or slide towards you the purificator, using a cleaner surface of the purificator each time.

c.  Silent blessing is given by the ministers of the Precious Body to children and adults who are not ready to receive Holy Communion (hands crossed over the chest). EMHCs should not make the sign of the cross as part of the blessing, as they are not ordained ministers. Do not place your hand on the people’s heads.

d.    The elderly and people with disabilities: Holy Communion will be given to them after you finish your station. One of the Ushers will notify you. When the Clergy gives Holy Communion (Precious Body), the Precious Blood minister #4 will follow and offer the chalice to the communicants.

e.   The choir, cantor and all the accompanists will receive Holy Communion after distribution to the congregation is completed. Ministers on the St. Joseph side will be responsible for distributing Holy Communion to them.

f.     Reminder: Please make eye contact with the communicants, and smile. You are serving Christ who is present in the assembly by ministering His Precious Body and Blood to our sisters and brothers. Let your ministry give faithful testimony to Christ’s presence in the Holy Eucharist.

10)   Once distribution of Holy Communion is completed, ministers of the Precious Body bring the ciboria to the altar to be received by the Clergy.

11)   Ministers of the Precious Blood: if you can, please consume all that remains of the Precious Blood of Christ at the altar.

12)   If unable, give the chalice to the Deacon or Presider. Or, ask one of the ministers to consume it. Wait for the clergy to receive the chalice from you.

13)   After Holy Communion, return to the altar and stay at the side of the altar table. Make a profound bow after the Presider had reserved the remaining Precious Body of Christ in the Tabernacle. The Presider or Deacon will purify the sacred vessels, puts them on the tray and gives this to the minister to place on the flower sacristy sink counter. After Mass, the sacred vessels will be rinsed in the Sacrarium, and dried using soft cloth. (See instructions for cleaning of sacred vessels).

14)   When purification is completed, ministers will move down to the sanctuary and wait for the other ministers, the Presider, Deacon and Altar Servers. Facing the altar, make a profound bow all together and return to your pews.

15)   After Mass,  all ministers should help in the cleaning of the sacred vessels to be ready for the next Mass.

 

Important Reminders:  

1) If you are scheduled and not in the vestibule or have not signed in 10 minutes before start of Mass, the Mass Coordinator will look for your substitute. Once a substitute is assigned, please be charitable and take your seat in the pews.

2)    If you can not make it to your scheduled assignment, please find a substitute. Notify the Mass Coordinator if you are unable to find a substitute.

3)   If there are sufficient number of Clergy during Mass, please be mindful and yield your assignment. The clergy are the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

4)   Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) should show the greatest reverence for the Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine (GIRM #280). The reverence is reflected in:

a)       Demeanor at Mass: full, active and conscious participation in the liturgy.

b)       Attire: a neat and reverential appearance is in keeping with the minister’s role and our belief in the true presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The minister’s attire should not detract from that role. (Diocese of Oakland, Distribution and reception of Holy Communion). Please wear modest attire, your “Sunday Best”. (Please note: No jeans, shorts/short hemline clothing, sleeveless dresses, jewelry or clothing which would be distracting to the assembly).

5)     As EMHC, you are a great blessing to our parish. We are grateful for your ministry, and your involvement and participation in our Liturgies. Thank you.

                          God bless you all!

                        Deacon Albert Dizon,
                        Liturgy Coordinator

                       Joy Belleza,
                       Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Coordinator