GUIDELINES FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION in the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey

Transcription

1 GUIDELINES FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION in the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey On the night before he died, Christ gathered his Apostles in the upper room to celebrate the Last Supper and to give us the inestimable gift of his 'Body and Blood. "He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection... " Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #47 Thus, in the eucharistic Liturgy we are joined with Christ on the altar of the cross and at the table of the upper room in "the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and [in} the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood." Catechism ofthe Catholic Church #1382 In the celebration of the Mass the faithful form a holy people, a people whom God has made his own, a royal priesthood, so that they may give thanks to God and offer the spotless Victim not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him, and so that they may learn to offer themselves. They should, moreover, endeavor to make this clear by their deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and sisters who participate with them in the same celebration. They are to shun any appearance of individualism or division, keeping before their eyes that they have only one Father in heaven and accordingly are all brothers and sisters of one another. Indeed, they form one body, whether by hearing the word of God, or byjoining in the prayers and the singing, or above all by the common offering of Sacrifice and by a common partaking at the Lord's table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and postures observed in common by the faithful. General Instruction ofthe Roman Missal nos. 94, To serve at the table of the Lord is a gift. Lay ministers are invited to service by pastors according to the needs of the local community of believers. Great care in administering the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful is vital. How the church prays conveys what the church believes about the mystery celebrated at each liturgy. Proper formation and training of ministers is essential to insure good liturgical practices and to the. safeguarding of the tradition handed down from our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether serving, at Sunday Mass, daily Mass or bringing communion to the sick or homebound the lay minister shares the faith, the tradition, and the love of Christ. These guidelines have been prepared to help ministers to carry out their roles in a prayerful and reverent way. Each pastor is encouraged to provide additional guidance that is appropriate to the local parish community. pg. 1

2 DUTIES AND MINISTRIES AT MAss In liturgical celebrations each person, minister or layman, who has an office toperform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy. Constitution on the Sacred Litw'gy #28 The Eucharistic celebration is an action of Christ and the Church, namely, the holy people united and ordered under the Bishop. It therefore pertains to the whole Body of the Church, manifests it, and has its effect upon it. It also affects the individual members of the Church in different ways, according to their different orders, offices, and actual participation. In this way, the Christian people, 'h chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people," expresses its cohesion and its hierarchical ordering. All, therefore, whether they are ordained ministers or lay Christian faithful, in fulfilling their office or their duty, should carry out solely but completely that which pertains to them. General Instruction of the Roman Missal # 91 SERVICE AND COMMISSIONING Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are to be called and commissioned by their pastor in the name of the Bishop for a specified term of service. The names of those to be commissioned are to be forwarded to the Office of Worship who will seek a mandate from the Bishop. Upon the mandate, the pastor commissions lay ministers at a weekend parish Mass according to the ritual provided in the Book of Blessings numbers At the end of the term, ministers are to be evaluated, and may be reappointed for an additional term(s) at the discretion of the Pastor. SCHEDULING AND SERVING Having a sufficient number of ministers available to serve at each Mass is an important dimension to creating the prayerful environment for Mass and attending to the spiritual needs of the community. Each minister is responsible to fulfill assignments or arrange for substitutes if necessary. >- When known in advance, inform the parish office or the person assigned by the pastor for scheduling ministers about days that you will be unavailable to serve so that you will not be scheduled on those days. >- If you cannot serve for the time assigned, be sure to find your own replacement from one of the parish commissioned lay ministers. Calling the parish office or staff as the weekend begins to report that you are unavailable is not helpful and it's very likely that the message will not get to the appropriate person in time to find a replacement. Therefore, take on the responsibility to find your own replacement - unless your parish has a different policy. pg. 2

3 ,( ~ Be willing to serve if asked as you are available. Ministry often means availability and flexibility. ~ Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass. When you arrive, follow the established parish procedure for obtaining your ministry position or station. Be familiar with where the station is located to avoid confusion during Communion time. Sometimes the configuration of stations will change to accommodate a unique situation. Always check before Mass and be flexible. MINISTER PREPARATION The sacristy is a place for the liturgical leadership to prayerfully prepare for Mass. To help maintain that spirit of prayerfulness for all ministers before Mass, please limit any social conversation in the sacristy. Spend some time before Mass in prayer to help focus on what you are about to do. If it is customary for the ministers to gather to pray before Mass, arrive in sufficient time to participate before taking your place. PROPERA'ITIRE All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverencefor the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine. Norms for the Distribution & Reception of Holy Communion #29 Liturgical leaders are to dress with modesty and dignity, in a way that respects the importance of the sacred liturgy and in a manner that does not call undue attention to the individual. The alb, which is a reminder of the white garment received at Baptism, is the vesture common to all liturgical ministers and may be worn according to local custom. If the alb is not worn, the following offers guidance for the minister: For Women Dresses and skirts of appropriate length Suits, dress pants Sweaters & blouses Shoes - not sneakers For Men Collar shirts Sport coats Suits w/ties Shoes - not sneakers pg.3

4 Inappropriate Dress: jeans, t-shirts, shorts, uncovered shoulders, flip-flops or beach footwear, tight fitting pants, uncovered midsection, spandex, tight or low cut slacks, form fitting clothes, shirts, or blouses. When in doubt, consult a trusted church leader. Although you may not be scheduled for a particular Mass, because of scheduling difficulties you may be called upon to serve to fill in for someone else. With this in mind it would be helpful, where possible, if you dressed for this eventuality. SERVING AT MAss Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it is 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. General Instruction of the Roman Missal #281» Come forward during the Communion Rite according to your parish custom as directed by your pastor.» Unless there is good medical reason, lay ministers are to receive both the Body and Blood of Christ.» When there is a deacon, he administers the chalice to the communicants. (GIRM #182) If there is an additional station of the Body of Christ near the priest celebrant and there are no other priest concelebrating, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion assists with administering the Body of Christ next to the priest celebrant.» When administering the Body or Blood of Christ to a communicant, the minister says either: "The Body of Christ' or "The Blood of Christ' respectively. The communicant responds "Amen." No other words are to be added. It is inappropriate to address the communicant by name. All are welcome at the Lord's table whether we know them or not. While it may seem like a sign of hospitality to address those you know by name, it inadvertently creates an atmosphere of exclusivity if we cannot address everyone by name. Keep it simple and welcoming for all by using the ritual words given in the Roman Missal.» The chalice may not be left on the altar or another place to be picked up by the communicant for self-communication (except in the case of concelebrating bishops or priests), nor may the chalice be passed from one communicant to another. There shall always be a minister of the chalice. pg.4

5 » After each communicant has received the Blood of Christ, the minister carefully wipes the inside and outside of the rim of the chalice with a purificator. This action is a matter of both reverence and hygiene. For the same reason, the minister turns the chalice slightly after each communicant has received the Precious Blood.» Ministers of the Body of Christ - Return to the sanctuary and wait for the priest or deacon to take the plate from you. Wait until the remaining Blessed Sacrament is consumed or returned to the tabernacle. Since only enough hosts for the faithful participating at Mass should be consecrated, there may be times when there are no hosts remaining to be returned to the tabernacle. Be attentive to the situation and follow your parish custom.» Ministers of the Precious Blood - Return to the sacristy or credence table and immediately consume whatever is remaining in your chalice of the Precious Blood. Leave your vessel and purificator there. Do not use the purificator to wipe the inside of the cup before it has been purified or place it inside the cup.» Purification of the Sacred Vessels - The vessels are purified by a priest, deacon or instituted acolyte. This may be done at the credence table or in the sanctuary after Mass according to the pastor's direction. Know your parish custom.» At weekday Masses the above guidelines may be slightly modified, please know the parish policy and custom. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Children under age approach. Simply extend your hand toward them and say ''May the Lord bless you and keep you" If someone, other than a child, approaches with arms crossed over their heart follow the same guidance. Dropping a consecrated host. Pick it up and consume it or hold it in your other hand until you have finished distributing Communion. Once back in the sanctuary, place the host in water in a dish to dissolve. Inform the priest/deacon after Mass so that appropriate actions ~an be taken. Spill some of the Precious Blood. If possible, cover the affected area with a purificator and when finished make it known to the priest or deacon so that the affected area may be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium. Additional purificators should be available on the credence table so that you can continue administering the Precious Blood. pg. 5

6 Someone takes a host but does not consume it. If still in close proximity, kindly ask the person to consume it. Do not follow after the person. During the liturgy is not the time for creating a distracting discussion. Someone approaches you with a pyx. Give the person Communion themselves but ask them kindly to see the priest or deacon after Mass to get a host. Do not put a host in the pyx. You distribute all of Body or Blood of Christ in your vessel. Simply return to the sanctuary and place your empty vessel on the credence table and remain in place until the distribution of communion is completed. If another ciborium or chalice is available, an acolyte or deacon may ask you to return to your station. Do not stand at a station with an empty vessel. Someone is in my spot. Look around to see what other spot is empty and then move to that position. Clear up any confusion after, not during Mass. Handicapped or disabled person near my station. Communicate the handicapped person first and then return to your position. Ask an usher or family member if assistance is needed steadying the person's head or if the person has other needs. Someone brings host to Precious Blood for intinction. Cover the Precious Blood to indicate that intinction is not appropriate. Kindly ask the person to consume the host and administer the cup to the person as normal. Someone approaches that you believe should not receive Communion. It is not up to the minister to decide who should or should not receive Communion nor should this be a time to educate the person on how to receive. If the person approaches to receive, Communion should be offered. Discuss the matter after mass with the priest celebrant or your pastor. DISMISSAL FOR BRINGING COMMUNION TO THE SICK If you are bringing Communion to the sick, it is proper that you be dismissed after Communion as a public witness and reminder to the congregation that the sick are remembered at Mass and are an important part of our community. Before Mass, bring your pyx into the sacristy and place the needed number of unconsecrated hosts into the pyx. Make it known to the priest or deacon so that they can place the pyx on the credence table before Mass and know that you will need to be dismissed after Communion. pg.6

7 After Communion, come forward to receive your pyx from the priest who will give you a blessing and dismiss you. Once dismissed, there is no need to bow or reverence the altar because you are carrying the Sacred Eucharist. Simply leave the church immediately and go to bring Communion to the person(s). Again, as a sign of reverence for the sacred Body you carry, you should not stop and chat or make any other unnecessary stops before visiting the person to whom you are bringing the Eucharist. To Bow OR NOT To Bow A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body. There is very little direction given in the liturgical documents on the custom. Typically a bow of the body is reserved for the altar and ambo. The following are some helpful hints for Extraordinary Communion: Ministers of Holy ~ When the Eucharistic Ministers approach the sanctuary at Communion time, it is appropriate to bow when passing in front of the altar. ~ When returning to the sanctuary after distributing Communion, if you are carrying the Consecrated Hosts or the Precious Blood, it is inappropriate to bow to the altar or the tabernacle. ~ When serving in ministry during the liturgy, your actions can help to model for the congregation the actions and gestures they should also be using during the Mass. For example, bowing during the creed at the words "by the power of the Holy Spirit he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became Man." )- Bowing your head before receiving Communion in both species. pg. 7