ST. MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CATHOLIC CHURCH

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

Rev. 3/27/06

 

ADVANCE PREPARATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTRY:

Distributing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is an extraordinary ministry for lay Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, delegated to them when there are not available the number of ordained ministers, priests and deacons sufficient for the distribution of Holy Communion.  Extraordinary Ministers have the awesome privilege and responsibility to communicate God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, to the Assembly of Christians.  Accordingly, Extraordinary Ministers must prepare themselves to minister effectively.  Please allow your ministry to bring you and your life more into conformity with the model offered to us by Jesus Christ.

 

CHECK-IN BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY MINISTRY AT MASSES:

Fifteen minutes before Mass is to begin, please sign in with the Mass Coordinator in the vestibule.  This check-in is to insure that we have enough Extraordinary Ministers for every Mass, and to give you the quiet time necessary to prepare yourselves, and also to allow for any special instructions.  If you are unable to get to the Mass at which you have committed yourself to serve, then please find your replacement from among the parish’s Extraordinary Ministers and inform the Mass Coordinator of that fact by telephone.

 

IMMEDIATE PREPARATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTRY:

After the Priest has received Communion under both species, the Extraordinary Ministers approach the sanctuary area.  They line up at either side of the altar, and not behind the altar, along with the Altar Servers and the Cantor, all facing the altar and not the people.  The ministers of the Blessed Sacrament stand to the right of the altar, and the ministers of the Precious Blood stand to the left of the altar (in each case - from the congregation’s perspective).

 

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS’ COMMUNION RECEPTION:

All Extraordinary Ministers receive Communion from the Priest or Deacon or from the Extraordinary Minister delegated by the priest.  All receive their vessels for the further distribution of Communion from the Priest or Deacon and proceed to their stations.  The ministers will stand at the stations for which they have signed their names in the book in the vestibule.

 

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION:

Distribute Holy Communion, holding the host or the chalice up and saying “The Body (or Blood) of Christ”, while meeting the eyes of each communicant, always meaning what you are saying.  Wait for the communicant to respond, “Amen”, and then administer with the host (or chalice) to the person.  Let the person hand the chalice back to you, wipe the rim where the person drank, and then turn the chalice a quarter turn before offering it to the next person.  There is no need to rush.

If the minister runs out of Precious Blood, then proceed to the credence table.  If you finish distributing at yourI station and you have Precious Blood remaining, look to assist the other Extraordinary Ministers if any of them have a long line remaining.  The ministers should be on the alert for anyone who cannot come forward in procession for Communion.  Take Communion to those persons pointed out by the ushers.

If the Precious Blood is spilled, use your purificator to cover it and soak it up. Be careful to guard against anyone stepping there.  Then get a new purificator to continue distributing the remaining Precious Blood, if any.  After Mass, advise the Priest or Deacon of the spilled Precious Blood, so that it may be attended to.  If you or a communicant should drop the Blessed Sacrament, the minister should pick it up and consume it.

REPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AND CONSUMING PRECIOUS BLOOD:

The ministers of the Blessed Sacrament take their ciboria to the Priest or Deacon at the altar for his consolidation of all the hosts that remain into the main ciborium and his reposition of the Blessed Sacrament into the tabernacle.  The ciboria will be purified at the altar by the Priest or Deacon.  The ministers of the Precious Blood take their cups to the credence table (except the chalice - which should be returned to the Priest or Deacon at the altar) and consume any remaining Precious Blood.  If the amount of Precious Blood appears to be excessive for you to consume with comfort and safety, then offer the excess to the other ministers.

PURIFICATION OF THE VESSELS:

After consuming the Precious Blood, praying “Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart.  May they bring me healing and strength, now and forever,” the ministers purify their cups by adding some water to the cup, swirling the water to purify the cup of the Precious Blood, and then consuming that from the cup. Wipe the empty cup dry with a purificator and fold the purificator and place it over the cup, never within the cup.  As soon as possible return to your place in the congregation to observe a time of silent prayer after communion. 

After Mass, the sacred vessels, including the flagon (flask or pitcher), will be brought into the sacristy (to the kitchen in St. Angel’s Hall) and washed with soap and water and dried, all under the care of the Mass Coordinator, by the Extraordinary Ministers.  Neither sink is ever to be used for disposing of the remaining Precious Blood nor any particles of the Blessed Sacrament.  Both are always to be consumed by a Extraordinary Minister.

At St. Angela Hall, the tabernacle must be locked between Masses; and the tabernacle key must be secured in the sacristy office.  After the last Mass of the day in St. Angela Hall, all of the reserved Blessed Sacrament is to be returned to the main Church by the Priest or Deacon or by an Extraordinary Minister.

 

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTRY OUTSIDE OF MASS TO THE

HOSPITAL, HOMEBOUND, and NURSING HOME and ASSISTED CARE RESIDENTS

 

 ADVANCE PREPARATION:

Our purpose is to bring the Blessed Sacrament to those who are unable to attend Mass.  First, call ahead, to arrange the day and time.  Get directions if necessary.  Determine the best time to obtain the Blessed Sacrament.  If the church is locked, a key can be obtained from Laura Jarvi in the church office.  Take only the quantity of hosts needed.  The Blessed Sacrament is never to be stored at any place outside of the Church.  The Blessed Sacrament is always carried in a Pyx.

 

IMMEDIATE PREPARATION:

Before the visitation, prepare yourself with a brief prayer.

In a hospital or nursing home situation, check with the nurse to make sure that the person is able to receive by mouth.  Briefly visit with the person.  Ask the person if he or she wishes to receive Communion.  Ask the person if a priest is needed for Confession or for Anointing of the Sick.

Use the Communion Service Guide or prayers in the blue book.  There is a shorter form for hospital or nursing home service in the blue book.  Allow a few moments of quiet time for prayer after administering Communion.  Before departure, note any changes for the next visit.  Return the remaining Blessed Sacrament to the Church and the tabernacle.

 

PURIFICATION OF PYX:

In the purification of the Pyx, the point is for you yourself to consume every particle of the Blessed Sacrament, which may be done by fingering such particles into your mouth and eating them, and then rinsing the Pyx with water, which you are also to consume.  And then you may dry the Pyx.

 

RECORD KEEPING:

Call or E-mail Laura Jarvi after each visit and report the status of the person visited.  The Parish records are important so that the priests may know whether and when persons have been visited, especially if the priests get calls to visit them themselves.  Please note any room changes and any other changes.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Each Extraordinary Minister of the Homebound and Nursing Home and Assisted Living residents will receive a copy of the assignments periodically by E-mail.  Assignments are made from the Parish Office.  Assignments to serve at Masses are distributed on a regular basis in Church.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS AND FAITHFUL SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION