Ministry of Holy Communion

Purpose of the Ministry of Holy Communion: To assist at Mass in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Some Important Recommendations for Parish Ministers of Holy Communion:

• Know that you are a minister of the church.
• Prepare yourself before every Mass with a moment of quiet prayer.
• Communicate reverence and dignity at all times in the performance of your duties.
• Participate fully in all parts of the liturgy at which you are serving by singing, praying, and listening attentively to the homily. Try not to let your role distract you from worshiping fully at Mass.
• Develop a devotion to the Eucharistic presence of Christ, knowing the Christ of the Eucharist, not just knowing about the Eucharist.
• Educate yourself about the practice of celebrating Eucharist – its description in the Bible; its several aspects: thanksgiving, meal, sacrifice, memorial, sign of unity, and its history in the church.

Taken from: (Smith, Karen Sue, “Eucharistic Ministers – Some Do’s and Don’ts” National Pastoral Life Center.)

Some Specific Reminders:

Please:

• Secure a substitute if you are unable to attend your scheduled Mass.
• Arrive at least fifteen to twenty minutes before Mass
• Dress appropriately.
• Sign in at the Station Board in the Sacristy.
• Fill the two Host Stations first (#3 and #4). The Presider takes (#1) and the second Priest takes (#2).
• Pass quickly and quietly through the Sacristy.
• Sit in the front half of the church to be able to approach the altar in a timely fashion.
• If you are not scheduled for a Mass that you are attending, please enter the Sacristy and check the stations sign-in ten minutes prior to the start of Mass. (Please, no sooner.)
• Participate fully in the Mass.
• Come forward immediately when the Celebrant receives the Eucharist.”
• Approach the altar using the main altar steps.
• Do not shake hands or greet another while on the altar.
• When receiving the Body and Blood, remember to make a reverent bow before or as you say “Amen”.
• If the Precious Blood ministers run out of Precious Blood, cover the Cup with your hand and the Purificator and step back far enough so people will know that you no longer are offering the Precious Blood Cup.
• When offering the Host or Precious Blood, look at the person and hold the Cup and Host at eye level. Give the person a chance to bow before saying “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ”.
• Do not rush, even if the line is waiting.
• After Communion ends, the two Host Ministers will hand their dishes to the Celebrant and Priest in stations #1 and #2. The four Precious Blood Ministers will ascent the Main Altar Steps and will go to the table on the right side (Pieta Shrine side). There they will consume the remaining Precious Blood or cover the remaining Precious Blood with the Purificator. All Ministers will cover the Cups with the Purificator, whether there is Precious Blood remaining or not. Those ministers with special physical limitations may use the steps on the Pieta Chapel Side or may want to hand their Cup to the other Cup Minister on their side.
• Precious Blood Ministers will remain at the table facing the Tabernacle until the priest closes the Tabernacle door, bowing with the priest. All ministers will then exit the altar by way of the steps on the Pieta Shrine.

Taken from: (“Minister of Holy Communion Training” information written by Rita Lambert, Coordinator of the Ministry of Holy Communion.)

For more information contact Pat Stockdale through the Parish Center at 375-5887.