INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION

At the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Tallahassee

February 22, 2004 Revision

I. PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Spiritual Preparation

1. “The faithful who are special ministers of Communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith, and morals recommend them. Let them foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence.” Immensae Caritatis, Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments.

2. We believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. We believe that the consecrated bread and wine are truly and really his body and blood. “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:51) Jesus is present in a special way of existence under the species of bread and wine. The outward characteristics of the consecrated bread and wine do not change, but their underlying substance is transformed into his Risen Body through the mysterious workings of his almighty power and grace.

3. “If, in the presence of this mystery, reason experiences its limits, the heart, enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, clearly sees the response that is demanded, and bows in adoration and unbounded love.” Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia Encyclical Letter.

B. Requirements for an Extraordinary Minister of Communion

1. Have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

2. Believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

3. Live a life of Christian faith and morals (charity, chastity, sobriety, etc.).

4. Participate regularly in Sunday Mass at St. Thomas More.

5. Be a registered parishioner at St. Thomas More for at least a year.

6. Contribute faithfully to the support of the parish.

7. If married, be in a union recognized by the Church.

C. Arrival Before Mass

Extraordinary ministers of Communion show reverence to the Eucharist and respect for the community by always arriving at least five minutes before the start of the Mass at which they are to distribute Holy Communion and remaining until the conclusion of the Mass.

D. Dress and Attire

Extraordinary ministers of Communion are to show reverence toward the sanctuary, the people, and most especially Christ’s presence in the Eucharist when serving in the church at Mass and other liturgical gatherings. To maintain dignity when ministering in church and avoid being a distraction, the following instructions are given:

1. At Sunday and special Masses: a) Men are to wear dress shirts, pants and dress shoes. Dress suits or jackets may also be worn. Not acceptable are shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops or tightly sculpted clothing. b) Women are to wear dresses that cover the shoulders and dress shoes. Jackets, slacks, and skirts with blouses that cover the shoulders and midriff may also be worn. Not acceptable are dresses that are short or low cut, halter tops, sleeveless shirts, shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops or tightly sculptured clothing.

2. At weekday Masses, a more casual attire is acceptable. Jeans, t-shirts without messages, and athletic shoes are permissible. Not acceptable: Shorts, jeans with holes in them, & flip-flops.

3. Reverence at church also requires having neatly groomed hair, clean hands, and fingernails that are clean and neatly trimmed.

E. Serving in Just One Lay Liturgical Ministry

Parishioners desiring to be lay liturgical ministers at Mass (eucharistic ministers, lectors, ushers/greeters and altar servers) are to select just one ministry in which to serve.

1. Serving in more than one liturgical ministry limits the opportunity for other parishioners to serve. Also, it is difficult to avoid scheduling conflicts of those in multiple ministries.

2. Those already serving in more than one liturgical ministry before this restriction was established, however, may continue to do so until such time as replacements can be assigned.

II. DISTRIBUTION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Distribution of the Precious Body

1. Hold up the Host between your thumb and index finger, look with friendliness into the eyes of the communicant, and say in a slow, clear voice, “The Body of Christ”, without variation of the words. Then gently place the Host on the communicant’s open hand or tongue.

2. When all communicants at your station have received, check to see if you can help out at another station. Use the following as guides:

a) At the center aisle, as many as four ciboria ministers can distribute, standing shoulder-to-shoulder a few inches from each other.

b) At the parking lot aisle, no more than two ciboria ministers can distribute.

c) At the choir aisle, only one ciborium minister can distribute. This minister remains in place until all communicants including the choir have received.

3. When finished distributing, give the ciborium to the Celebrant if he is in the sanctuary – otherwise place it on the altar. Only the Celebrant or Deacon is to return the Precious Body to the tabernacle.

4. Cleanse your thumb and index finger in the small finger bowl of water on the credence table and dry them with the purificator next to it.

5. Take a step or two toward the altar, reverently bow to it, and return to your pew by way of the side steps.

B. Special Notes on Distributing the Precious Body

1. If a non-communicant approaches (small child or person with hands crossed on chest), place your hand on the person’s head or shoulder and say, “May the Lord bless you”.

2. If persons approach who are unsure of how to receive, ask if they are Catholic. If they answer no, gently say, “Our Communion is only for Catholics. But may I offer you a blessing?”

3. If the Host drops on the floor, immediately pick it up and either distribute it to the communicant or place it to one side in the ciborium and consume it yourself afterwards.

C. Distribution of the Precious Blood

1. Hold out the cup, look with friendliness into the eyes of the communicant, and say in a slow, clear voice, “The Blood of Christ”, without variation of the words. Take your hands completely off of the cup when the communicant has a hold on it. (The exception is to keep one hand on the cup when a small child or manually handicapped person receives.)

2. Take the cup back and wipe both sides of the rim with the purificator in a single motion. Slightly turn the cup and purificator before holding the cup out to the next communicant.

3. When all communicants at your station have received, stand next to another cup minister with a line of communicants, and help as needed by distributing from your cup.

4. When all communicants in the church have received, consume any remaining Precious Blood while standing at the foot of the steps, with your back to the congregation. Then return the cup to the tray on the credence table and place the purificator in a neat stack on the tray. (If you cannot consume all that is remaining, ask another EM to help you.)

5. Take a step or two toward the altar, reverently bow to it, and return to your pew by way of the side steps.

D. Special Notes on Distributing the Precious Blood

1. Communicants are to take the cup with both hands – one hand on the side of the cup and the other hand under the base.

2. If the cup is very full, whisper this to the communicant as you hold out the cup.

3. If the communicant starts to intincture the Host, hold the purificator over the cup and politely say, “Please first consume the Host and then receive from the cup.”

4. If you see that a communicant has not consumed the Host, immediately tell the person to do so and be sure that the person does it.

5. If the Precious Blood is spilled on the floor, place the purificator on the spot. Immediately return to the sanctuary and get the purificator used by the Celebrant. Then return to your station and continue distributing the Precious Blood. (Tell the sacristan after Mass and she/he will purify the spot.)

III. POSITION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Instructions for All Eucharistic Ministers (EMs)

1. Mark all your assignments on your calendar when you receive a new schedule. Check weekly to see if you are assigned for the upcoming weekend.

2. Line-up a substitute if you cannot come yourself. Do not assume someone will fill in for you.

3. At least 5 minutes before Mass, you or your substitute are to write your initials next to your name on the EM schedule posted in the vesting room and put on a cross necklace. (After Mass, return the cross necklace to the vesting room.)

4. At the Lamb of God, all EMs go immediately to the sanctuary by way of the side steps and stand in a line behind the altar.

5. After distributing Communion and returning the sacred vessels to the sanctuary, take a step or two toward the altar, reverently bow to it, and return to your pew by way of the side steps.

B. Instructions for 5:15pm Vigil & 8:30am Sunday Mass

1. At these two Masses, 4 ciboria are used which includes the Celebrant’s ciborium.

2. If an assigned EM does not immediately come forward at the Lamb of God, another EM attending Mass is to volunteer on the spot.

3. An asterisk (*) by your name on the assignment schedule indicates you are the designated alternate for that date. Alternates do not serve if a Deacon or Concelebrant assists at Mass.

4. The 3 EMs receive Communion from the Celebrant under both species, then receive the ciboria and proceed to their stations as shown in the attached diagram and distribute the Precious Body.

C. Instructions for the 10:00am, 11:45am, 6:00pm Sunday Masses and for Special Masses

1. At the 10:00am and 6:00pm Sunday Masses and at special Masses, 5 cups and 5 ciboria are used which includes the Celebrant’s ciborium.

2. At the 11:45am Mass, 5 cups and 4 ciboria are used which includes the Celebrant’s ciborium.

3. If an assigned EM or substitute does not sign-in at least 5 minutes before Mass, the EM Coordinator will assign as a substitute another EM attending the Mass.

4. After the Celebrant receives Communion, he distributes the Precious Body to the EMs and servers standing in a line behind the altar, while the Deacon or Head EM distributes the cups.

5. Cup EMs take a sip of the Precious Blood and offer the cup to EMs next to them without cups. The last 2 cup EMs in the line offer their cups to the servers.

6. Celebrant then distributes the ciboria to the EMs without cups including the Deacon or Head EM.

7. EMs then proceed to their stations as shown in the attached diagrams and distribute Holy Communion.

IV. HEAD EM INSTRUCTIONS

1. Head EMs are assigned to the 10:00am, 11:45am and 6:00pm Sunday Masses and to special Masses to distribute the cups and purificators. An asterisk () on the schedule indicates the Head EM. (If a Deacon is assisting at these Masses, the Deacon distributes the cups and purificators.)*

2. At the beginning of the Lamb of God, the Head EM:

a) Checks to be sure that the proper number of ciboria and the tray with the cups and purificators are on the altar.

b) Receives the Precious Body and Blood from the Celebrant and then distributes the cups to the EMs as shown in the attached diagrams, starting with a single cup to the EM nearest the tabernacle. Thereafter, the cups are distributed two at a time.

c) Receives a ciborium from the Celebrant and distributes the Precious Body at the center aisle on right side of the Celebrant.

V. EM COORDINATOR INSTRUCTIONS

1. The EM coordinators at the 10:00am, 11:45am and 6:00pm Sunday Masses and at special Masses stand near the vesting room at least 10 minutes before Mass.

2. They verify that all the assigned EMs or their substitutes have placed their initials on the EM schedule posted in the vesting room by 5 minutes before Mass.

3. If any assigned EMs or their substitutes have not placed their initials on the schedule by 5 minutes before Mass, the EM coordinator will assign on-the-spot other EMs attending Mass to be substitutes.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER STATIONS AT SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

B = Consecrated Bread C = Cup X = Celebrant