St. Vincent - Crookes, Sheffield at 40 Pickmere Road, Crookes, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 1GY UK - Extraordinary Lay Ministers of the Eucharist (St Vincents)

Extraordinary Lay Ministers of the Eucharist (St Vincent's)

EXTRAORDINARY LAY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST

AT ST VINCENT'S

The office of minister of lay Holy Communion was officially instituted by Pope Paul V1 in 1973.

The principle behind the move was and is the spiritual good of the faithful. Reception of Holy Communion must not become impossible or difficult because of a shortage of priests or because a priest is not available. Hence the need for lay ministers.

Ministers exercise a noble office, confident in the knowledge that by their ministry they are serving their fellow Catholics and promoting their spiritual wellbeing by making it possible for Christ’s body and blood to be received by the faithful.

It is forbidden for priests and deacons, who are, of course, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, to sit down and leave the distribution to lay ministers. This doesn't apply where the priest is incapacitated.

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SOME OBSERVATIONS

It might be best if the ministers of communion left their places before the ‘sign of peace’ begins. Sometimes the priest is saying the ‘lamb of God’ during the opening of the tabernacle which doesn’t seem right.

One of them goes to the tabernacle to remove the ciborium.

The procession of the people to Holy Communion should not be carried out with military precision i.e. seat after seat. People should be at liberty to leave their seats whenever they wish whether they be at the front or back of the church. The Bishop is keen on this and I can see why.

We seem to have two groups of Eucharistic ministers

1. Those willing to officiate in church only

2. Those willing to officiate in church and also take communion to the sick.

At present the second group seems to be few in number. The ideal situation is where the minister has only one person to go to on Sunday. That will require more people getting involved or even changing the Mass which you normally attend.

If you take on the ministry of communion, I believe you should be willing to take on all aspects of the ministry i.e. distribute Holy Communion and take it to the sick unless otherwise impeded.

Ministers of communion are also allowed to expose the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for exposition and repose it afterwards. They are not allowed to give the blessing.

Ministers of communion should also be available to preside over communion services where the priest is unable to be present. This may happen when a supply priest cannot be found and the parish priest is away. This is quite likely to happen in the future.

I think it is important that each Eucharistic minister should have a list with telephone numbers provided of all the other ministers in the parish If one of them is unable to come then they should ring up someone else. I presume this is happening.

TAKING COMMUNION TO THE SICK

Here at St Vincent's people are 'send out' towards the end of the morning Mass (before the concluding rites) accompanied by a prayer

In the communicant’s housel there should normally be a table covered with a white cloth on which should stand a crucifix with lighted candles. Ministers are not required to take those items with them. The sick or housebound person will normally be expecting you. Where appropriate, the communicant should be preparing themselves beforehand to receive the Lord. A period of silence should be observed after the person has received. Appropriate spontaneous prayers can be said after communion. They can be read from a book or based on the Gospel of the Sunday. The reading during the service should be short and be Eucharistic in character.

The communicant can drink some water after receiving the host if he or she so wishes.

The pyx should normally be brought back to the church empty of consecrated hosts. The pyx should be purified.

Except in a an emergency, sacred hosts should not be kept in your house overnight except in cases where a room has been designated as a semi private oratory with a secure tabernacle installed

THE SPIRITUAL CARE OF MINISTERS

A half day or full day of recollection a year would seem right for Eucharistic ministers. Have you any suggestions about the practical arrangement for this? If you remember last year we gave all liturgical ministers the opportunity of going on a weekend Retreat at Hull. Some took up the offer. I think the person who is in overall charge of rotas should be able to arrange this.

The Deanery sometimes arranges half days of Recollection for Eucharistic ministers at the end of which new ministers are commissioned. All our ministers are encouraged to go on these. If I remember rightly Eucharistic ministers are commissioned for a period of five years after which, if they wish to continue as a minister, they should be re-commissioned. Where do you stand? Could you please bring me up to date on your situation by email, letter or telephone?

The minister of communion are conscious that they hold a liturgical ministry confirmed by the Church and that they should endeavour to live lives in conformity with the Gospel. They should cultivate a warm and friendly attitude towards the community to which they belong and get along well with everybody - young and old. Communion time with a sick person will normally involve exchanging pleasantries but not in title tattle or gossip. These things do not become a Eucharistic Minister or anyone else for that matter. However the exchange of ordinary parish news and general information does not seem out of place. Ministers should be discreet about the condition of the sick or housebound person since it is private information. However, you should always let the priest know if, in your judgement, the time has come for the person to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. The family of the sick person should be aware that we are taking communion to their sick or housebound relative. Please let the sick person know that the priest is always willing to come and hear their confession if they so desire it. The Sacrament of the Sick may be given to any weak or infirm person especially those who have grown weak under the burden of their years. We have community anointing sessions within Mass in church twice a year. (Advent and Lent) Please encourage the sick and housebound to come to these.

It would seem to me not to be in keeping with the spirit of the ministry if communion ministers only showed up at Church on the Sunday which they are scheduled to give out communion or take it to the sick.

I notice this happens with some of our Readers.

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St. Vincent - Crookes, Sheffield at 40 Pickmere Road, Crookes, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 1GY UK - Extraordinary Lay Ministers of the Eucharist (St Vincent's)