Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Being fully initiated and commissioned to serve the Body and Blood of Christ to the assembly at Mass, the ministers possess a deep love for the sacrament of Eucharist. They undertake it with the intention to grow deeply in an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and with the assembly that celebrates His presence. Training will be provided



 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

(Also known as Communion Minister or CM)

Purpose:
To facilitate the reception of Communion at all Masses at Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish, the following guidelines have been formulated. The Presider will do the fractioning (distribution of the Body and Blood into the individual cups and plates). After the Presider (and/or the Deacon) receive communion, they minister to the Communion Ministers. Then the Presider (and/or the Deacon) together with all the Ministers give communion to the Assembly. 

Schedules:
The schedule is published on a monthly basis. Ministers will receive the schedule via e-mail or mail to those who do not have e-mail from Michele Ladd. Ministers are to send special requests to Michael Piccardo one month prior to the scheduled date of publication. If notice is not sent or the minister becomes unavailable to serve after the schedule has been published, it is the responsibility of the Minister to find a replacement. This will ensure that all positions are filled at the time of Holy Communion for all our Masses.

Dress/Appearance:
All Ministers are encouraged to dress appropriately for Mass. The propriety of dressing is mandatory due to the formal role that Communion Ministers have in the Liturgy. Dress should always be “Sunday Best”. No super casual attires: rugged old jeans, strapless or camisole blouses or shirts, plunging necklines, tank tops, jogging suits, short pants, T-shirts, slippers, old sneakers, flip-flops, baseball caps. If you are not properly dressed and you are scheduled or asked to serve as a Communion Minister, it is perfectly acceptable to excuse yourselffrom serving. 

Check in:
Arrive early. It is expected that scheduled Communion Ministers will arrive about 15 minutes before Mass begins. There is a board in the Hospitality Room where Ministers are asked to sign-in at each Mass for the different positions. If you go to a Mass at which you are not scheduled to be a Communion Minister, you are asked to please advise of your availability to serve as a substitute if needed. If you arrive late, please check the board first to see if you will still be needed to serve as a Communion Minister. 

Guest Presiders:
If there is more than one Priest or if a Deacon is present, this has to be reflected in the sign in board before Mass. Kindly approach the Priest/Presider and speak with him regarding who is distributing what and how many. A Priest should minister the Body of Christ and the Deacon will minister the Blood of Christ.

Hospitality:
One reason to arrive early is that we are all hospitality ministers. We should be greeting and welcoming all who arrive to the Liturgical celebration before and after the celebration of Mass. We should distribute ourselves to cover the three main entrances.

Feeling Ill:
When feeling ill or sick, please excuse yourself from giving Holy Communion and find a replacement for your scheduled spot.

PROCESSION:

Regular Sunday:
All Ministers will line up on either side of the Baptismal Font.
The Procession is in the following order:

It is very important to remember that this is a procession and not a race. All Ministers need to walk slowlyand with reverence, always maintaining spacing, and of course singing with the whole assembly. As soon as the Presider and the Ministers have fanned out at the edge of the Altar, (see below) everybody will make a reverent bow together to the Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle.

Exception:
If there are Baptisms, Communion Ministers do not process in or out. 

Processing Out:
As soon as the Altar server takes the cross and comes to the front of the Altar together with the rest of the Altar Servers, all Ministers should come up to fan out the edge of the Altar the same way as it was done at the entrance procession,(see below). After making a reverent bow together toward the Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle, all process out together.

MINISTERING OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST:

After the “Sign of Peace”, proceed to the sanctuary steps, bow to the altar (GIRM no. 275b) and take your positions as shown below.

Once the Assembly starts singing the Lamb of God, the Presider pours all the Precious Blood into the cups and distributes the Body of Christ to the Communion plates. No Communion Minister should go to the Tabernacle as “it is desirable that the faithful, just as the Priest himself is bound to do, receive the Lord’s Body from hosts consecrated at the same Mass… as a participation in the sacrifice actually being celebrated.” (GIRM No. 85)

The Presider will receive the Body and Blood of Christ first, and then he will turn to the ministers and minister to them. Each Minister should first make a reverential head bow before receiving the Body of Christ and also the Blood of Christ. Once a Minister has received both the Body and Blood of Christ, they should wait for all the CM’s to finish before they proceed to their position. It is the Presider’s responsibility to hand to the CM’s their communion plates and/or Cups.

Note (1):  Be aware of the elderly and the handicapped individuals in your section to whom you need to minister the Body and Blood of Christ first.
Note (2):  Follow the Hospitality Minister’s instructions as to individuals in the pews of the church who need to have the Body and Blood of Christ brought to them.
Note (3): Ensure the music ministers receive communion at the appropriate time.

MINISTERING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST:

Ministers need to remember that this is something wonderful and sacred being shared: The Body of Christ.

The Minister takes the Host between the thumb and the index fingers and says:  “The Body of Christ” and waits for the person to respond  “AMEN”. Remember that while saying this, eye contact and a pleasant demeanorare very important. Then the Ministers place the Body of Christ into the palm of the person’s hand unless it is taken on the tongue. These are two valid options for receiving Holy Communion. Ministers should not raise the consecrated host high in the air. If an adult or child who cannot receive communion approaches with arms crossed on their chests, ministers can bless them.  (Please see blessing notes & samples on page 5).

If a Minister runs out of consecrated hosts they should go to the altar to replenish their plate from the Ciborium that the Sacristan will have placed on the Corporal that is on the altar.

Ministers need to keep an eye on all people receiving communion in their line for a couple of reasons:
Ensure that anyone who received Communion properly consumes it and does not walk away with it. (example: places it in pocket, or gives it to someone else). If this occurs it is your responsibility (duty) to ask for the Consecrated Host back and consume it yourself or give to the Priest or another Communion Minister to consume. 

If there is shortage of consecrated hosts in the Ciborium, you might need to break the hosts. When breaking the hosts please do it in the plate so no pieces fall out.

Ministers who have finished with their Communion line need to check if help is needed at other stations and proceed to that position to assist. After all have received Communion, the Ministers of the Body of Christ take the remaining hosts to the altar and either place them in the Ciborium or hand their plate to the Presider or another Minister. The empty plates are then placed on the credence table.

Note: When a Consecrated Host is dropped:
When a Consecrated Host is dropped, The CM is to immediately stop giving Communion, the Consecrated Host must be picked up and be reverentially consumed by the CM or given to the Priest to consume.

MINISTERING OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD:

Ministers need to remember that this is something wonderful and sacred being shared: The Blood of Christ.

Ministers should first unfold the purificator fully. The Minister takes the cup and presents it to the person receiving the Blood of Christ by saying “The Blood of Christ” and waits for the person to respond  “AMEN”. Remember that while saying this, eye contact and a pleasant demeanor are very important.  Ministers do not raise the cup in the air. Once the cup is handed back, the Minister wipes the inside and outside of the lip of the cup with the OPENED purificator until it is clean. Then Ministers give the cup a ¼ of a turn before passing it to the next person. Ministers move the purificator to the next clean spot. Do Not use the same spot on the purificator to clean the cup each time. 

Ministers need to check on each other in case there is a need to move over when there is an empty cup. The empty cup is brought to the credence table. After all have received the Blood of Christ, the Ministers consume any remaining Precious Blood. A purificator is placed over the cup. Purificators are never placed inside the cup. If a minister cannot consume the remaining Precious Blood, the help of other Ministers or the Priest is sought. No unconsumed Precious Blood is left on the credence table.

NOTE: If Precious Blood is accidentally spilled:
When the Precious Blood is spilled, the minister is to immediately stop giving the cup and start to blot the Precious Blood with the purificator. Also ask the Sacristan for more purificators to blot it up as much as possible.  Leave a purificator draped over the spilled spot. Then after Mass, use a clean towel to absorb all the Precious Blood. 

BLESSINGS
The Communion procession is when we as Catholics in communion with the Church, receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Bishop McGrath has asked that we not encourage this to include a Blessing procession. 

However, if someone does come up for a blessing, then “bless” them by holding your hand out in front of them with palm open. Do not make the sign of the cross. Do not lay your hand on the person or touch them as this same hand will be used to give Communion to the next individuals. We need to be aware of these hygiene situations. You may say the following or similar short statement that you might be comfortable saying:

For Adults:
God bless you.
Go in peace
The Lord be with you.

Conclude with “Amen” so that they know you are finished.

For Small Children:
Jesus loves you.
God Bless you.

May the Good Lord be always our source of humility, strength and wisdom as ministers of His very own Precious Body and Blood to His Holy Church.