1. Ministry. Eucharistic ministers, also assist the celebrant, allowing him to lead the congregation in as fully a spiritual way as possible.

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1 The Church is most fully and visibly itself when it gathers for the Eucharist. There the Church expresses what it already is by God's gift, and what it must more truly become - a community of faith and love, one in Christ, holy by the power of the Spirit, catholic in the integrity of its faith and the universal scope of its outreach, apostolic in its living continuity with the faith and mission of the apostles and the Church throughout the ages. This communion with the Church across continents and centuries is a communion in the Spirit, but 'made flesh' in a visible way, above all in the Eucharist and through the ordained minister who presides at the Eucharist. (One Bread One Body, 19) 1. Ministry To be a minister is to serve. Within a celebration ministers serve the people present. On other occasions, ministers go to those unable to gather with the community. During Mass, Eucharistic ministers contribute to the dignified and unhurried distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ to those present the people of God thus allowing them to gain the greatest spiritual benefit. Eucharistic ministers, also assist the celebrant, allowing him to lead the congregation in as fully a spiritual way as possible. Eucharistic ministers serve the Lord, present in the bread and wine, in the Word, in the congregation and in the celebrant. To be a good servant of the Lord is the highest honour and a good servant is a beloved part of His household, loved and cherished by Him. This ministry is also one of humility: it does not belong to us. The minister is asked to share in service for as long as required so that when it is time for another to serve instead, the minister rejoices in that sharing of service. 1

2 The minister does not serve because of goodness or worthiness. So when one is inclined to consider oneself inadequate or unworthy the minister ought to reflect not on him or herself but on God s love for all in Jesus, offering Himself for all. In commissioning, the Church calls to ministry, recognising God-given gifts and asking that they be used in the Lord s service. It is a calling by the Church, for the Church and not an individual idea or desire. A particular charism of the Eucharistic minister is found in our ministry of distributing bread broken for you and blood poured out for you. It occupies only a few minutes during the celebration of mass yet symbolises a fundamental attitude and choice to be lived in all of life: at home, at work, on the street... Such a choice is deepened by spending time in prayer and preparation, reflecting on the meaning of what is being done. A further aspect of the mass is being sent forth at the end. The whole congregation is charged with taking the Good News in word and service out into the world. Eucharistic ministers will go forth to continue the act of service they perform at God s table: serving His people. This is especially manifest in the taking of Holy Communion to the sick and housebound. As ministers share the Word spoken at mass and distribute the Body of Christ from mass, Christ comes in compassionate love and care to His own. Normally, commissioning is for three years, which can be renewed. As individuals grow in the experience of exercising ministry they are asked to invite others to join and also to make opportunities for others to share in this expression of service. Each year there is an annual opportunity for all ministers to renew commitment to ministry and to the prayer and service it symbolises and strengthens. 2

3 Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist for St Stephen s commit to serve in some or all of the following ways: administering Communion at the Saturday evening and Sunday masses as laid out by the rotas administering Communion at Holy Days masses administering Communion at weekday masses taking Communion to the sick and housebound in the absence of a Priest, preparing and leading Services of the Word and Holy Communion. In line with national and diocesan practice, safeguarding policies and procedures will be applied. Suggested reading: (The first three documents can be found on the Bishops Conference of England and Wales website ( under Publications or Liturgy and Prayer) One Bread, One Body. Celebrating the Mass. Instruction on the Roman Missal. Dei Verbum. Documents of Vatican II Special Ministers of Holy Communion by Fr William McConalogue, CTS, about 2. 3

4 2. Agreed practice for the ministry of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at St Stephen s, Skipton (Lent 2012) Preparation The dignity demanded by due reverence for the Lord in the Eucharist as well as in His people requires appropriate preparation. Spiritually, all ministers at the Lord s banquet need to prepare themselves so that they are fully ready in heart and mind. Time, prayer and stillness are important parts of this process. Ministers can also avail themselves of opportunities for prayer and retreats as offered throughout the Church s year. Ministers should attend to their dress and cleanliness. Washing and cleansing your hands before coming to the altar is the most appropriate way of doing this. In terms of organisation, ministers are expected to take responsibility for their rota commitments. If a commitment cannot be fulfilled, each Minister takes it upon him or herself to arrange a replacement. When attending Mass, but not on the rota, a minister is asked always to be ready to step in, should any of the scheduled ministers not be available. During Mass During the Sign of Peace, after having exchanged the sign of peace with those immediately around, those who are to serve as extraordinary ministers, move from their places in the congregation, walk to the front of the Church, wait before the altar until all are present, bow to the altar and then proceed to the left hand side of the altar, ready for the Angus Dei. Immediately upon arriving on the sanctuary, the minister who is to administer the Body of Christ goes to the tabernacle, genuflects, takes out the ciborium containing the reserved consecrated hosts and places it upon the altar, if possible on the corporal. The minister removes the lid and places it beside the ciborium. 4

5 The minister who is to administer the Body of Christ stands nearest to the Lectern. Those who are to administer the Blood of Christ stand nearest to the Lady Altar. The minister who receives the Blood of Christ first from the celebrant, then turns and administers the Blood of Christ to the minister who will distribute the Body of Christ. The second minister of the chalice should stand well forward to allow the chalice to be offered to the minister who will distribute the Body of Christ. The minister distributing the Body of Christ stands adjacent to the celebrant to distribute communion. The ministers distributing the Blood of Christ stand side by side with their backs to the sacristy door. At all times ministers should be aware of the needs of the less mobile. As each member of the congregation comes forward to receive Holy Communion, the minister says either The Body of Christ or The Blood of Christ, allowing the faithful to express their faith and consent by saying Amen Once all the faithful have received Communion, the minister distributing the Body of Christ takes the ciborium held by the celebrant and returns to the main altar with both ciboria. There, the minister places all the hosts in the ciborium for the tabernacle, puts the lid on the ciborium, returns it to the tabernacle, genuflects and locks the tabernacle. The minister then takes the empty vessel to the sacristy. Cleansing of the ciborium and chalices takes place in the sacristy, using the water and purificators provided. When completed, the ministers leave the sacristy, walk to the front of the altar, bow and return to their places. Ministers are asked to exercise prudent judgement in the case of a long celebration, in which case they will spread the purificators over the uncleansed vessels and leave them for cleansing after the Mass is over. If possible, this will be done by the ministers themselves. Altar servers and the celebrant should be made aware of this. 5

6 3. Prayers of Preparation Anima Christi Soul of Christ, be my sanctification; Body of Christ, be my salvation; Blood of Christ, fill all my veins; Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains; Passion of Christ, my comfort be; O good Jesu, listen to me; In Thy wounds I fain would hide; Ne'er to be parted from Thy side; Guard me, should the foe assail me; Call me when my life shall fail me; Bid me come to Thee above, With Thy saints to sing Thy love, World without end. Amen. Jesus, bless these hands you have chosen as your tools. Jesus, always keep us aware and in awe of our sacred mission. Jesus, make us worthy of this great ministry we have humbly accepted. Jesus, send us out into the world to distribute your love. Amen

7 Lord, As the apostle John stood next to your Son s Cross, so I am privileged to stand next to your altar table and serve in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In a long tradition of priestly people, I am grateful for the honour that is mine. May my behaviour and the attitude of my heart reflect that holy honour as I strive to serve in a sacred way. With awe and wonder, I will hold in my hands the Body of Christ and his Sacred Blood, so that my sisters and brothers may be fed with the food of life. Make my heart and hands clean. Free me from anything of vanity and pride that might divorce me and the service that is mine from the heart of the Divine Mystery residing in this holy meal. May I, with your constant assistance, truly wait upon you and your people in this Holy Liturgy of praise and adoration. Amen 7

8 4. Official Guidelines / Instructions A: Celebrating the Mass Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales 2005 Extraordinary (Commissioned) Ministers of Holy Communion 44. Since the Eucharistic Celebration is the Paschal Banquet, it is desirable that the faithful who are properly disposed receive the Lord s Body and Blood as spiritual food as he commanded. 45. Bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. If a large number are to receive Communion, the ordinary ministers will frequently need assistance in distributing Communion, so that the Communion rite is not unduly long. It will regularly be needed when Communion is given under both kinds, the form of Communion in which the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly signified. This assistance is given by extraordinary ministers, be they instituted acolytes or commissioned ministers of Communion, formally commissioned for a given period or, in case of necessity, deputed by the priest celebrant for a particular occasion. 46. These various ministers serve Christ present in the assembly by ministering his Body and Blood to their brothers and sisters. They also serve the unity of the worshipping community by taking communion to those members who are prevented by sickness, old age, or other cause from taking part in the gathering for Mass. In accordance with an ancient tradition, it is appropriate for Communion to be taken directly from the Sunday Eucharist to the sick and to those unable to leave their home Communion. Faithful to the Lord s command to Take and eat, Take and drink, the assembly completes the Eucharistic action by together eating and drinking the elements consecrated during the celebration. It is most desirable that the faithful share the chalice. Drinking at the Eucharist is a sharing in the sign of the new covenant (Luke 22 v 20), a foretaste of the heavenly banquet (Matthew 26 v 29), a sign of participation in the suffering Christ (Mark 10 v38-39) The Communion procession expresses the humble patience of the poor moving forward to be fed, the alert expectancy of God s people 8

9 sharing the Paschal meal in readiness for their journey, the joyful confidence of God s people on the march towards the Promised Land. In England and Wales it is through this action of walking solemnly in procession that the faithful make their sign of reverence in preparation for receiving Communion All signs of discrimination or distinction among persons at the Lord s Table are to be avoided.. There should be a sufficient number of ministers to assist in the distribution of Communion. This will normally mean two ministers of the Precious Blood to each minister of the Body of the Lord.. It is most desirable that all who minister the Eucharist take full part in the entire Liturgy: sharing in the proclamation of the Word, the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice, and in Holy Communion.. The pastor or priest celebrant should see to the full and proper implementation of Communion under both kinds in accordance with the provisions made by the Conference of Bishops. Even when Communion is given under both kinds, however, the communicants may refrain from drinking from the chalice.. The Conference of Bishops allows the reception of the Body of the Lord in the hand. However, the choice whether to receive in this manner is the prerogative of the communicant.. By tradition the deacon administers the chalice. Beyond this, no distinctions are made in the assignment of the consecrated elements to particular ministers for distribution. Therefore when a concelebrating priest or priests and other ministers share in the distribution, the elements are not assigned on the basis of any distinction between ministers, cleric or lay, male or female. All may minister either element. This avoids any seeming depreciation of one or other of the consecrated elements or of a particular ministry Purification of the Eucharistic Vessels. When Communion is completed, the altar table is cleared again and the Eucharistic vessels are purified. The purification of the vessels should be performed with reverence, though briefly and inconspicuously. Especially if there are several vessels, their purification is preferably left until after Mass. 9

10 B: General Instruction on the Roman Missal Purification of the vessels after Holy Communion 279. The sacred vessels are purified by the priest, the deacon or an instituted acolyte after Communion or after Mass, insofar as possible at the credence Table. The purification of the chalice is done with water alone or with wine and water, which is then drunk by whoever does the purification. The paten is usually wiped clean with the purificator. Care must be taken that whatever may remain of the Blood of Christ after the distribution of Communion is consumed immediately and completely at the altar If a host or any particle should fall, it is to be picked up reverently. If any of the Precious Blood is spilled, the area where the spill occurred should be washed with water, and this water should then be poured into the sacrarium in the sacristy. Communion under Both Kinds 281. Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when distributed under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clear expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the relationship between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Father s Kingdom Sacred pastors should take care to ensure that the faithful who participate in the rite or are present at it are as fully aware as possible of the Catholic teaching on the form of Holy Communion as set forth by the Ecumenical Council of Trent. Above all, they should instruct the Christian faithful that the Catholic faith teaches that Christ, whole and entire, and the true sacrament, is received even under only one species, and consequently that, as far as the effects are concerned, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any of the grace that is necessary for salvation If Communion of the Blood of Christ is carried out by communicants drinking from the chalice, each communicant, after receiving the Body of Christ, moves and stands facing the minister of the chalice. The minister says: The Blood of Christ, the communicant responds: Amen, and the minister hands over the chalice, which the communicant raises to his or her mouth. Each communicant drinks a little from the chalice, hands it back to the minister, and then withdraws; the minister wipes the rim of the chalice with the purificator. 10

11 5. Rite of Commissioning of Ministers of the Eucharist Celebrant: I present to you the following to be appointed as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist in this Parish of St Stephen s As their names are called, the ministers come forward to stand in front of the altar. Celebrant: Are you resolved to undertake the office of giving the Body and Blood of the Lord to your brothers and sisters, and so to serve to build up the Church? R: I am Celebrant: Are you resolved to administer the Holy Eucharist with utmost care and reverence? R: I am. This examination is followed by the Prayer of Blessing Celebrant: Dear friends in Christ, let us pray with confidence to the Father; let us ask him to bestow his blessings on our sisters and brothers, chosen to be ministers of the Eucharist. Pause for silent prayer. The celebrant than continues: Merciful Father, creator and guide of your family, bless + our brothers and sisters N and N. May they faithfully give the bread of life to your people. Strengthened by this sacrament, may they come at last to the banquet of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R: Amen. 11

12 or Celebrant: Gracious Lord, you nourish us with the body and blood of your Son, that we might have eternal life. Bless + our brothers and sisters who have been chosen to give the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation to your faithful people. May the saving mysteries they distribute lead them to the joys of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R: Amen. The newly commissioned ministers then come forward to the altar to sign the Book of Ministers. 12