This minister assists the Priest during each Celebration of the Eucharist with the distribution of Holy Communion.  This minister can, with the permission and blessing of the Priest distribute Holy Communion to parishioners who are homebound and unable to attend the Mass.

Extraordinary Ministers are commissioned for service to the parish and serve only at the discretion and under the direction of the Priest.  This ministry is to be exercised on a regular basis and proper attire is always required.  One may not serve as an Extraordinary Minister and a Lector or Altar Server at the same Mass.

Extraordinary Ministers are seated with the assembly during Mass and approach the Altar when the Priest receives Communion, standing to the side of the Altar as they wait to receive Communion.  The Priest of Deacon will give the host to each Extraordinary Minister and then the Chalice.  Following the Communion of the Extraordinary Minister, each minister receives the Ciborium or Chalice.

Coordinated with the Priest, the minister will move to their position to distribute the hosts.  At times the minister will be directed by the Priest to serve members of the assembly who are unable to approach the altar before general distribution of the host.

Firmly holding the Ciborium, the Host is distributed using the thumb and index finger only.  While holding the Host at eye level, the minister will say “Body of Christ” and the communicant will say “Amen”.  (When the Diocese gives permission to begin the distribution of the Precious Blood, the minister will offer the Chalice to each communicant and say, “Blood of Christ”.  The communicant should respond with “Amen”.  The minister wipes the lip of the Chalice with a purificator and turns it slightly before presenting it to the next person.)

After distribution of Communion, the Ciborium and Chalice are returned to the Altar and the minister returns to their seat in the assembly.  Only the Priest or Deacon can purify the sacred vessels.

Time Commitments

• Participants in the ministry are scheduled on a rotating basis, one to two times per month and at the mass they usually attend.  Attendance at Mass is approximately one hour each time.

• Extraordinary Minister schedules are prepared in three-to-four-month time allotments.  Each Minister is responsible for the Mass scheduled to them.  Therefore, contact information for each Minister is necessary so should there be a conflict in a particular schedule that Minister can reach out to another to fill their responsibility.