This booklet is designed to assist you in your participation in the Liturgical Ministry of Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (more commonly known as Extraordinary Minister), here at St Michael the Archangel Parish.

Your willingness to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, reflects not only response to your Baptismal call to serve the people of God, but a commitment to Christ as you share in the preaching, teaching and leading aspects of the church. You offer the Eucharist, recognize the Body of Christ in those to whom you offer Eucharist and ultimately you act as the Body of Christ by fully participating in the life of the parish and the wider community. Your willingness to commit to a monthly schedule, to prepare properly for your service and to arrive on time dressed appropriately for Mass, further reflects that commitment.

Canon Law
Can. 230 §3 - When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay
persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside offer liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute holy communion, according to the prescripts of the law.

Can. 910 §1 - The ordinary minister of Holy Communion is a bishop, presbyter, or
deacon.

The extraordinary minister of Holy Communion is an acolyte or another member of
the Christian faithful designated according to the norm of can. 230 §3


Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon
requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon
extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., formally instituted acolytes or even some of
the faithful who have been commissioned according to the prescribed rite. In case of
necessity, the priest may also commission suitable members of the faithful for the
occasion." (GIRM) Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. When recourse is had to Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, especially in the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds, their number should not be increased beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord. In all matters such Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop.

Holy Communion under both Kinds (Species)

From the first days of the Church’s celebration of the Eucharist, Holy Communion
consisted of the reception of both species in fulfillment of the Lord’s command to “take
and eat … take and drink.”

The practice of Holy Communion under both kinds at Mass continued until the late 11th century, when the custom of distributing the Eucharist to the faithful under the form of bread alone began to grow.

By the 12th century, theologians speak of Communion under one kind as a “custom” of the Church. The practice spread until the Council of Constance in 1415 degreed that Holy Communion under the form of bread alone would be disturbed to the faithful.
In 1963, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council authorized the extension of the
faculty for Holy Communion under both kinds … at the Bishop’s discretion.(Code of Canon Law, norms 18, 19 & 20)

Holy Communion has a more complete form as a sign when it is received under both
kinds. For in this manner of reception a fuller sign of the Eucharistic banquet shines
forth. Clearly, there are some pastoral circumstances that require Eucharistic sharing in one species. (Norms 15).

The Church has always taught the doctrine of concomitance, by which we know that
under each species alone, the whole Christ is sacramentally present and we “receive all the fruit of Eucharistic grace.” (General Instructions of the Roman Missal 281 & Catechism of the Catholic Church 1390)

Qualifications
The Ministry Coordinator, after consultation with the pastor, issues an invitation in
the name of the pastor to those parishioners that have deemed to be appropriate
members of the ministry.

Those invited to serve in this ministry are designated only for service in this parish.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist should not take it upon themselves to bring
Communion to a parent, family member, friend or neighbor, unless permission is given
from the pastor or his designee.

Invitation to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist is a reflection of the
diversity of the parish.

To be an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist you must:

• be a fully initiated Catholic (have received the sacraments of Initiation)
• be in good standing with the church
• be a registered member of St Michael’s
• be of good morale standing and cultivate devotion to the Holy Eucharist and distinguish themselves by Christian life, faith and morals; striving to be worthy of this great office
• participate regularly in the sacramental life of the church and act as an example to the other faithful by piety and reverence for this Most Holy sacrament of the Altar
• be at least 16 years old
• be duly instructed

Extraordinary Ministers should live the Sacrament of Life
Practice your Catholic faith through a prayerful relationship with God. Take advantage
of the sacraments regularly. If you have not been to confession in a while, go before you start the process of becoming an Extraordinary Minister and continue to go regularly.
To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations.

By his power Christ is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes.
Christ is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of the minister,  but especially under the Eucharistic species.
Christ is present in His word, since it is He who speaks when the Holy Scripture are read in the Church. He is present.
Lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, the I am in the midst of them.”

Extraordinary Minister scheduling
The Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (EM) schedule will be updated each month. Schedules will be e-mailed, and posted in the Server’s room. Schedules will only be mailed upon your request.

If you are scheduled to serve and cannot, YOU are responsible for arranging for a
substitute. Each Minister will receive a contact list.

If you cannot serve on a regular basis and would like to be on the substitute roster,
please let the Ministry Coordinator know. You must serve at least once a month to remain on the active roster.

A Liturgical Minister may perform only one liturgical ministry at a time, thus if you are
performing the function of Extraordinary Minister, you may not also perform the function of Lector at the same Mass.

Mass Coordinators will notify the Ministry Coordinator of EMs who are habitually absent. The Ministry Coordinator will contact these ministers and either rearranges their schedule or remove them as appropriate.

Holiday schedules for EMs will be by Volunteering.  Examples are: The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday), Easter, Christmas, etc. Occasionally, a request for EMs at other services is received. An e-mail will be sent out asking for volunteers.

Attire
“Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity and joy of the moment when Christ becomes our guest.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1387b)
In the dioceses of the U.S., acolytes, altar servers, readers and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing,
(General Instruction of the Roman Missal 339).

Your respect for the Ministry should be reflected in your appearance and attire.
Appropriate attire includes being properly groomed, wearing a suit (and tie), or clean,
nicely creased trousers with a shirt and tie or nice sweater; pants suit or skirt or slacks
with blouse/sweater. Please note: no jeans or shorts at any time! Jewelry or clothing
which would be distracting to the Assembly should not be worn. Wear your “Sunday
Best”.

Extraordinary Minister duties before Mass
If you are scheduled, please arrive no later than twenty (20) minutes before the Mass
starts and check in with the Mass Cordinator in the narthex.

If you are not scheduled and you would like to make yourself available as a substitute,
please notify the Mass Coordinator.

EMs can sit in the first two (2) rows of the left-hand section of pews, near the
Ambo. EMs should be seated at least five (5) minutes prior to start of Mass. During
special services like Christmas and Easter, EMs may sit with their families.

If there is space available, a single-family member may sit with the EM in the first two
rows; however if the EM has more than one family member with them or there is not
enough space in the first two pews, we ask that the family members sit in the rows
behind the rows designated for the EMs.

Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist
Duties during Mass
The Mass will proceed through the readings, the homily, the Lord’s Prayer and the Sign of Peace. After the celebrant consecrates the bread and wine into the Body and Precious Blood and the Priest has concluded his own Communion,  the EMs will approach the sanctuary lining up behind the Priest and Deacon.
When given the cup the EM should offer the cup to the EM next to them. The priest will be distributing the Host. After receiving communion and waiting for all to receive, the Ems are to go to their stations.

The Priest will distribute the Hosts to the EMs. The Deacon will distribute the remaining ciboria and the Precious Blood. EMs should then move to their respective stations as indicated on the map. EMs may be designated to serve the Chapel as well as the choir.

Distribution of the Body of Christ
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated, “The proper and only permissible form for distributing Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated bread by saying, The Body of Christ”’ and to offer the consecrated wine by saying, The Blood of Christ. No other words or names should be added; and the formula should not be edited in any way”’ (Cf. GIRM. 161; 284-287).

Reverently hold up the consecrated host between you and the receiver and looking the receiver in the eye, smile and say “The Body of Christ”. Wait for the person receiving communion to say “Amen” and then place it in their hand or on their tongue, depending on which method they prefer.

If an adult or child comes up for communion and they have their hands crossed over
their chest, give them a brief blessing and say “Christ’s blessing on you” or another appropriate blessing. Do not place your hand on the head of a child or an adult. EMs should not make the sign of the cross as part of the blessing, as they (EMs) are not ordained ministers.

If you run out of consecrated hosts, tell the person who is the next in line to wait a
moment, then go to the next EM and let him/her know the situation.

If you have consecrated hosts let over after your line has run out, we do not recommend that you double up on a line. except as instructed in the trainning.

After the entire congregation has received communion, place your ciborium on the altar, then go to the credence table, rinse your fingers in the finger bowl. The cups are to be placed on the credence table to be purified after Mass by the Deacon.
Do not congregate around the credence table.

Distribution of the Precious Blood
Reverently hold up the chalice between you and the receiver and looking the receiver in the eye, smile and say “The Blood of Christ.” Wait for the person receiving to say
“Amen” and then hand them the chalice.

Make sure the person has a good grip on the chalice before releasing it.

Be especially careful when the person hands the chalice back to you. The exchange
should be firm but gentle; not forceful enough to cause a "splash" or a spill. Be even
more vigilant when the communicant is a younger child.

After the person has handed the chalice back to you, wipe the place on the chalice
where they drank, and turn the chalice a quarter turn.

After the person has handed the chalice back to you, wipe the place where they drank
and turn the chalice a quarter turn.

If you run out of Precious Blood, proceed back up to the credence table and
place your chalice there. Place it on the tray, and go back to your seat.

If you have Precious Blood remaining after all parishioners have received Communion, proceed to the credence and consume the remainder of the Precious Blood. If you prefer not to consume the remaining Precious Blood, offer it to another EM or the Deacon.

Communion by Intinction
Communicants must not be permitted to intinct the host themselves in the chalice, nor to receive the intincted host in the hand (Redemptionist Sacramentum 104).

Accidents
If you drop the Consecrated Host, our calm demeanor at this moment can calm and
assure an anxious and embarrassed communicant. Pick up the Host and consume it
yourself. If you feel uncomfortable consuming it, hold it in the palm of your hand until
after Communion is complete and take it directly to the sacristy. Place the Consecrated host in cup of water. Alert the Deacon or Priest. After the Host has dissolved in the water, dispose of both in the Sacarium.

If you drop or spill the Precious Blood - DO NOT PANIC! Stop what you are doing. Your demeanor will reassure those communicants in line or, in particular, the person who may have caused the spill. Stop serving and place the purificator over the spill and position yourself over the spill. Have the Mass Coordinator or another EM to help with the clean up. Alert the Priest or Deacon after the Mass.

Ash Wednesday
You may be asked to assist with the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday. If you are assigned to assist in one of the Ash Wednesday services, you should check in at the sacristy and determine from the Celebrant, where you will be located to distribute the ashes and what script you will use: "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel,’ or "Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return.”' You mark each persons forehead with the sign of the cross with your thumb while saying one of the scripts. Be sure to wash your hands after administering the ashes.

Thank you for your desire to serve. Ministry in the church is a privilege and all are appreciated. The continuity and the flow of the Mass cannot happen without dedicated ministers. This is not a functionary position but a position of service to the people of God.

Resources
Available on the web

Various resources on the Eucharist available from the United States Catholic
Conference of Bishops (USCCB) www.usccb.org/liturgy/documents.shtml

Bishops Committee on Liturgy Newsletter – September 2004
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/innews/0904.shtml

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/resources-guides4.shtml

General Instruction of the Roman Missal 2007
http://usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Norms for Holy Communion under Both Kinds
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/norms.shtml
Redemptionis Sacamentum (On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist)
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/documents/menu.shtml

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1997
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosantum Concillium) from Vatican Council II
http://www.vatican.va/archieve/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vatii_
const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
Immensae Caritatis – On Facilitating Reception of communion in Certain Circumstances
http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWIMCAR.html

Books available from the Untied States Conference of Catholic Bishops 1-800-235-8722
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1997
• Documents of Vatican Council II
• General Introduction to the Roman Missal, 2007
• Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the united States, 2002

Available from Liturgy Training Publications 1-800-933-1800
• Guide for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, 2007