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Eucharistic Ministers
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
The instruction Immensae Caritatis states that the "wonderful gift of the Eucharist demands that such an important mystery should be increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared." The same instruction goes on to state that "provision be made lest reception (of the Eucharist) become impossible or difficult owing to a lack of a sufficient number of ministers," and further spells out the various circumstances in which a lack of sufficient ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion can occur, namely:
- during Mass, because of the size of the congregation or a particular difficulty in which a celebrant finds himself;
- outside of Mass, when it is difficult because of distance to take the sacred species, especially the Viaticum, to the sick in danger of death, or when the number of the sick, especially in hospitals and similar institutions, requires many ministers
"The person who has been appointed to be an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is necessarily to be duly instructed and should distinguish him/herself by his/her Christian life, faith, and morals. Let him/her strive to be worthy of this great office; let him/her cultivate devotion to the Holy Eucharist and show him/herself as an example to the other faithful by his piety and reverence for this most Holy Sacrament of the altar." (Immensae Caritatis)
Purpose
To serve the Body of Christ by ministering the Eucharistic Body and Blood of Christ in a reverent and respectful way for the Faith Community of St. Thomas the Apostle.
Mission
To serve the Community by distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to our fellow Parishioners at Mass, to our sick and home bound, and to those residing in nursing homes.
Opportunities
Sharing the Eucharistic Feast with our Faith Community. Meet other parishioners that share your love of the sacrament and witness the joy of bringing communion to the sick and home bound.
Requirements for Eligibility
To serve as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, persons must:
- be practicing Catholics, distinguished in their Christian life, faith and morals;
- be at least 19 years old;
- have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist;
- demonstrate a deep reverence for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist;
- be an active registered member of a parish in the Archdiocese;
- if married, the marriage must be a valid Catholic marriage.
Training
All candidates, even those commissioned for other dioceses, must attend one Archdiocesan training session before being commissioned. Once notification is received by the parish that the candidates have completed the training session, the candidates may be commissioned.
The commissioning takes place at a Sunday Eucharist and the commissioning is done by the pastor. Once you have been commissioned by the pastor, you will be paired with an experienced Eucharistic Minister who will serve with you for your first two masses, or until you feel comfortable with your responsibilities.
Schedule
The ministry schedule is composed to cover approximately twelve weeks. It will be distributed at least two weeks in advance of the starting date. The schedules will be sent via email and placed in the sacristy for pick up. The announcement that they are ready will be placed in the church bulletin for two weekends. Please be faithful to your assignment. Everyone will receive a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Eucharistic Ministers. If you are unable to serve, it is your responsibility to get a replacement. If that is not possible, please call the coordinator at least 24 hours before you are scheduled to serve. If you are aware of vacations or other commitments in advance, please let us know and we will not schedule you during those times.
Commitment
When scheduled, you need to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to Mass and sign in. This will avoid last minute problems and will allow you to prayerfully prepare for the liturgy. Albs & cinctures and crosses are located in the priests' sacristy. All Eucharistic Ministers, if a cincture is worn, should wear a red cincture, except during Lent when purple is worn.
Most Extraordinary Ministers are scheduled every 3-4 weeks. You will be asked to participate in special Holy Day masses, as well as Christmas and Easter. You must attend refresher training and/or meetings when scheduled. There will be a meeting at least once each year for prayer, reflection and training. This meeting is part of the commitment you make.
Other special functions, such as distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday or assisting with the St. Blaise Blessing of the Throats may be entrusted by the pastor to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
Funeral and Wedding Ministry
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may also be asked to serve at weddings and funerals. If you are interested in these ministries, please contact Linda Ferguson.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Contacts
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the coordinator, Linda Ferguson (236-2195) or ldferguson@comcast.net.
Homebound Coordinators
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the ministry for the homebound (including nursing homes), please contact Bertha Calabrese (236-0107) or Bertandtedcal@comcast.net
Further information
Guidelines for Serving at Mass