The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion performs a great service to St Monica, by assisting in distributing Holy Communion to God’s people present at the Mass. It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Church in this capacity, and of course, requires careful preparation on the part of the extraordinary minister.
In our parish training and preparation is either done by the pastor, or by the Eucharistic Ministry Coordinator. It is the purpose of the guidelines to assist those individuals who have been mandated by the Bishop.
If you feel you are called to this ministry, or have any questions, please contact Mary Iovino.
If you are already an Eucharistic Minister and would like to visit the sick and homebound and you discern a call to this ministry, please contact Rita Smith.
It is important that those individuals selected to serve as Eucharistic Ministers be chosen carefully. The instruction Immensae Caritatis describes the qualifications: “The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith, and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar. No one is to be chosen whose appointment the faithful might find disquieting.”
In the Dioceses of St Augustine, the following norms also apply:
- EM of Holy Communion, if married, must be in a valid marriage according to Church Law
- Must have received the sacrament of Confirmation
- Must be at least 16 years of age (at least 18 years of age if visiting the sick and homebound)