St. Francis Xavier Parish, Parkersburg WV “Rubrics” for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion   T he following guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion reflect current liturgical practice at St. Francis Xavier parish in Parkersburg, WV, for Eucharistic celebrations on Sundays and Holy Days and for distribution of Communion to the sick or homebound; the guidelines have been developed from the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston's Celebration of Sunday Eucharist.  It is important to remember that separate mandates are granted for distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and to the sick or homebound.  Since they are separate ministries, a mandate for one does not automatically extend to the other, and the guidelines have been structured accordingly.   What is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?   The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America refer consistently to “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.”  This function is to be understood strictly according to the name by which it is known, that is to say, that of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and not “special minister of Holy Communion,” nor “extraordinary minister of the Eucharist,” nor “special minister of the Eucharist,” nor “Eucharistic Minister,” by which names the meaning of the ministry is unnecessarily and improperly broadened.  For ease of reference, the official term “Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion” will be abbreviated to “EM” as appropriate throughout this document.   ·         Through Baptism, we are all called to be a “holy people and royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9), whose right and privilege it is to participate in Christ's own ministry.  How we do so varies from person to person, but the most important way is “conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist” (GIRM, Intro. 5).  Since the Eucharist is the “action of the whole Church” (GIRM, Intro. 5), all of us have an “individual right and duty to contribute” (GIRM, 58).  Some are called to do so in a more particular way through liturgical ministries, such as that of becoming an EM.   ·         Given the centrality of the Eucharist to our lives as Catholic Christians, the importance of this ministry cannot be over-emphasized.  It is an honor and privilege to serve as an EM.   ·         At the same time, it must be understand as the Church's ministry, not one's own; that is to say, it exists only as a pastoral dispensation in those cases where too few ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, i.e., priest or deacons, are available to provide for the orderly and timely distribution of Communion, either at Mass or to the sick and homebound.   Functions of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion   ·         EMs may be commissioned for two different functions:  1) Those who assist the celebrant in administering Holy Communion at Mass and 2) Those who bring Holy Communion to the sick or homebound outside of Mass. ·         Rather than replacing the priest or deacon, the EM is an extension of the community’s need to address large numbers of communicants where ordinary ministers of Communion (i.e., priests and deacons) are too few as well as the community's concern for the sick and homebound.   ·         As far as the sick and homebound are concerned, it is the EM's responsibility to request periodically that the priest make himself available to them so that they will not be deprived of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. ·         The responsibilities for ministry at Mass and to the sick and homebound are separate since they require different talents, different formation, and different procedures.  One person may feel comfortable serving at the altar but uncomfortable in dealing with the sick or elderly.  Another may be comfortable in working one-on-one but awkward in front of a group.   ·         It is possible that a person be mandated for both ministries at the same time.  However, this should not be an automatic procedure.  Talents, preferences, and parish needs should be taken into consideration.   Procedure for Selection and Commissioning Selection of Candidates   ·         The pastor will consult with staff members and members of the Parish Liturgy Committee to determine the number of EMs needed, suggest names of potential candidates, and decide on formation programs to be offered.  Ministry always involves responding to authentic needs, not individual wishes.   ·         Only those who have received an official mandate in writing from the Bishop may serve as an EM.  Names for delegation will be submitted in writing to the Office of Worship and Sacraments by the pastor or his delegate.  Mandates (certificates) are mailed to the pastor and given to candidates at the time of public commissioning.   ·         The pastor’s letter of request to the Bishop will specify the pastoral need, the formation to be given, the full names of the candidates, and the type of mandate requested (at the altar, for the sick, or both).   ·         A mandate is granted for three years and will be renewed at the end of that time if the person is to continue to serve as an EM.   ·         The written form of the mandate is a certificate which designates a person by name to serve as an EM at the altar, for the sick, or both.  The specific three-year term of service is noted.  The certificate will bear the signature of the Bishop and provide space for the signature of the local Pastor.   ·         A person is mandated for a specific parish and not the Diocese at large.   Commissioning When new EMs are mandated, a public commissioning ceremony will take place in the parish.  Ideally, this ceremony will take place at a Sunday Mass (Pentecost or Corpus Christi are appropriate Sundays because of the nature of the feast celebrated) or some other appropriate feast day Mass, such as Holy Thursday or the parish feast day.   Candidate Pre-requisites Either men or women who are confirmed, active members of the parish and who exhibit sufficient maturity may be proposed as candidates.  In the judgment of the pastor and his staff, they should be serious about this ministry and striving to live our communal faith.   ·         “The persons who have been appointed to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are necessarily to be duly instructed and should distinguish themselves by Christian life, faith, and morals.  Let them strive to be worthy of this great office; Let them cultivate devotion to the Holy Eucharist and show themselves as examples to the other faithful by their piety and reverence for this most holy Sacrament of the altar.  Let no one be chosen whose selection may cause scandal among the faithful” (Immensae Caritatis, 6).   ·         Consideration will be given to an individual's gifts to perform this ministry well (gifts such as a respect for symbol and ritual communication, a sense of presence, an attitude of reverence, an interest in, caring about, being at ease with other people, and comfort in dealing with the sick, the elderly, and physically or mentally challenged individuals).   ·         Potential candidates, whether by personal request or specific invitation, must understand that a discernment component is built into the formation process.  Hence, at any time, either the candidate or the director of the program may discern that another form of ministry would be more compatible with the candidate's particular gifts.   Formation Since EMs actually participate in an ecclesial and liturgical ministry and are not simply functionaries, they are required to have adequate training and preparatory formation.  This is not optional.  It brings depth, reverence, and insight to this ministry.  St. Francis Xavier parish currently relies on individualized development but is in the process of creating more formal training and formation, toward which these guidelines are a first step.  The training and formation will be set up to meet the following norms.   ·         The Candidates are to be given instruction on the nature of Jesus' mission, the centrality of the Eucharist, and a contemporary sense of lay ministry.  In particular, they are to be given a clear and detailed presentation of the theology of Eucharist that puts it in the context of the Eucharistic celebration.   ·         The Candidate should be instructed in the manner of ministering Communion at the altar and/or to the sick.  It is expected that this presentation also will provide rationale for the “how-to” of ministry.  Part of this instruction will be experiential: opening and closing the tabernacle, getting the feel of a chalice and ciborium, going through the ritual, etc.   ·         In the case of those who are being prepared to be EMs outside of Mass, some instruction in pastoral practice concerning the sick, aged, and dying is to be provided.  Resources are available from the Diocesan Office of Worship and Sacraments.   Manner of Liturgical Function Reception of Communion by Ministers “These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion….” (GIRM, 162).  The EMs should come forward to the steps of the sanctuary during the Agnus Dei so that it does not appear as if they are standing at or around the altar.  They can move closer to the altar after the priest has received the Body and Blood of Christ.  After the celebrant's communion, the deacon receives under both kinds and then may assist the celebrant in ministering communion to the EMs.  When a deacon is present, he is to be one of the ordinary ministers.   ·         At St. Francis Xavier parish, Communion by intinction is not the norm for parish liturgy. “Among the ways of ministering the Precious Blood as prescribed by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Communion from the chalice is generally the preferred form in the Latin Church, provided that it can be carried out properly according to the norms and without any risk of even apparent irreverence toward the Blood of Christ” (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America, 42).     Act of Ministering At St Francis Xavier parish, the norm is to provide communion under both species, and two chalices are generally used along with a ciborium and a paten on Sundays and feast days.   ·         EMs are scheduled for Sunday and feast day masses in advance. Scheduling is handled by the parish office (304.422.6786).  EMs' preferences as to Mass times are taken into account, but flexibility to accept assignments outside those preferences are strongly encouraged.   ·         If a deacon serves at Mass, he will be listed in the schedule since deacons are considered ordinary (as opposed to extraordinary) ministers of Holy Communion.  When there is no deacon, the schedule will list three EMs.  Schedules are published quarterly, and hardcopies will be made available for distribution at Mass.   ·         EMs should arrive 15 minutes before Mass and sign in on the sheet designated for that purpose in the sacristy.   ·         If you are not able to assist at a scheduled Mass, it is your responsibility to arrange for a substitute.  Regular substitutes are listed on the schedule, or you may make arrangements with another qualified EM.  Failure to get a substitute often results in confusion or delay during Mass over who is available to assist with distribution of Holy Communion.  Under no circumstances should the celebrant be expected to find substitutes for “no shows.”   ·         At the Agnus Dei, the assigned EMs should advance to the sanctuary steps and await the Communion Rite.  After the celebrant's communion, they should make a profound bow and move into the sanctuary to the right side of the altar.  They will receive the Body of Christ from the celebrant.  The celebrant will then hand them the chalice(s) and/or the ciborium at the celebrant's discretion.  Those who receive the chalice should ensure that the other EMs are communicated.  At that point, EMs may proceed as needed to distribute Communion to altar servers, the cantor, communicants in the “crying room,” and when the celebrant is ready, proceed to distribute Communion to the congregation as a whole.    ·         The chalices should be at a sufficient distance from the ciborium or paten to allow  reverent consumption and to allow for flow of the communion procession.  The best positions to ensure an orderly flow are on the far side of the front two pillars in the nave.   ·         The communicant has the option of receiving the Precious Body on the tongue or in the hand.  The choice is the communicant’s, not the minister’s.  The practice of self-intinction (whereby the communicant takes the Consecrated Bread and dips it in the Precious Blood contained in the chalice) is not allowed nor may an EM intinct for the  communicant.   ·         Prior to the beginning of Mass, ministers should be encouraged to wash their hands and even to use an alcohol-based solution such as waterless hand gels before and after distributing Holy Communion.   ·         In distributing the sacred host, direct contact between the distributer’s fingers and the hand or tongue of the communicant should be avoided.  Please realize that this may take practice in order to ensure that the consecrated bread does not fall on the ground.   ·         The minister holding the Consecrated Bread addresses the communicant with the words, “The Body of Christ.”  The communicant answers, “Amen.”  This is the ritual language of the Church; other substitutions are not to be used.  Some EMs make it a practice to add the communicant's name to the ritual language.  While this practice is well-intentioned, it should be avoided since 1) it's not part of the formula and 2) it could have the unintended consequence of making those whose names are not known to the EM feel awkward or left out.   ·         The minister holding the chalice addresses the communicant with the words, “The Blood of Christ.”  The communicant answers “Amen.”  The minister then gives the chalice to the communicant.  The minister then wipes the lip of the chalice with a cloth (purificator), inside and out, after the person has communicated and turns the chalice approximately ninety degrees.   ·         The action of distribution, whether it is on the tongue, in the hand, or from the chalice, is an action of ministry.  Eye contact and a reverent presentation of the Body and Blood of Christ are important.  Persons (particularly children) who come forward with arms crossed on their chest are signaling their inability or unreadiness to receive.  A simple blessing, such as “May you receive the Lord Jesus in your heart,” is appropriate in these cases.   ·         It is important to remember that the presumption on the part of the EM is that the communicant has a right to receive Holy Communion and should not be denied.  No EM may refuse Communion to someone who comes forward to receive.  If there are questions or concerns about someone’s eligibility, it may be discussed privately with the pastor at an appropriate time.   ·         If a piece of consecrated bread falls to the ground during administration of Communion, the EM should pick it up immediately and consume it.  In circumstances where the consecrated bread has been partially consumed but is accidentally dropped, the remaining amount should be wiped into a purificator.  The remains can then afterwards be placed in a small dish with water to dissolve.  This can then be properly disposed into the sacrarium in the sacristy.   ·         If consecrated wine is spilled, the remains should be covered with a purificator.  After Mass, the purificator can be used to wipe the remains.  If it is spilled on carpet, water may also be used to cleanse the area with the purificator.   ·         After all have communicated, the ciborium, the paten, and the chalices are brought to the Altar where they are purified by the priest or deacon.  EMs may consume consecrated wine that remains in the chalices, but only priests or deacons may purify the sacred vessels.  The appropriate place for consumption of remaining consecrated wine is at the foot of the sanctuary steps before returning the chalice to the altar.   ·         It is recommended that the already purified vessels be washed, especially the chalices, with soap and hot water on a regular basis.  Washing the vessels is completely excluded from the rites and is aimed at sanitizing the vessels and preserving their appearance. Washing may be done by an EM, an acolyte, a sacristan, or a member of the Rosary Altar Society.   Attire Since this ministry is an exercise of the Baptismal priesthood of the faithful, and because EMs are seated in the assembly with their families when they are not ministering, it is appropriate that they dress neatly in lay apparel that is consistent with the dignity of their ministry.   ·         At a minimum, “business casual” is recommended.  At greater feasts, more formal attire may be appropriate.   ·         Pectoral crosses are available in the sacristy in the drawer marked “Extraordinary Ministers.”  The crosses or other appropriate but discreet emblems may be worn at the EMs' discretion.  The operative word is “discreet”; it's OK to make sure people know your function but not to set yourself apart in an ostentatious way or in a way that implies you are not a lay minister.   Ministry to the Sick and Homebound or Those in Institutions General Principles   The ministry provided by the EM supplements and assists but does not substitute for the ministry of the priest.   ·         In enlisting ministers for service to the sick, special care will be taken in choosing persons who have sensitivity to the needs of others and who can convey the compassion of the Lord to the sick.  In addition, special formation will be given these ministers.    ·         The pastor or his delegate will arrange an introduction of the EMs to the individual sick people, assuring the home or hospital bound that his own availability will not be lessened. The EM is yet another expression of the community’s concern for the sick and homebound.   ·         The EM, in visiting the sick, should follow the appropriate ritual.  A suggested booklet is Communion of the Sick, published by The Liturgical Press.  Copies of this ritual are available in the sacristy in the drawer marked “Extraordinary Ministers.”  Additional resources include Administration of Communion to the Sick by an Extraordinary Minister, which can be ordered from the Diocesan Office of Worship and Sacraments.  Also available from the Diocese are pastoral guidelines for the sick, the elderly, and the homebound.   ·         It is preferable that hosts for the sick and homebound be consecrated in the Mass from which they will be taken and in which the EMs have participated.  At St. Francis Xavier parish, EMs authorized to do so may come forward during Communion and request the celebrant or other minister to place the appropriate number of hosts in a container known as a pyx for distribution immediately after that Mass to the sick or homebound.  The operative phrase is “...immediately after that Mass”; this means it is inappropriate to let other activities interfere with immediate distribution, such as going to breakfast or engaging in unnecessary conversations.   ·         In unusual circumstances outside Mass, EMs may take the appropriate number of hosts from the tabernacle on the altar and place them in a pyx for transport.  A key to the tabernacle can be found in the sacristy.   ·         In all cases, worthy Eucharistic containers are to be used by EMs to the sick and homebound.  The consecrated host is not to be carried in a handkerchief, envelope or similar unworthy container.  In addition, an appropriate cloth may be used on which to reverently place the pyx prior to Communion of the sick or homebound.  If circumstances, such as a crowded hospital room, do not allow for placement of the cloth, you may forego its use.   ·         Consecrated hosts which cannot be distributed immediately and consumed at once by the sick and homebound should be consumed by the EM or returned to the tabernacle.  They should not be left to be received at a later time, carried around while doing other business, or kept in the car or home of the EM.   Hospitals and Nursing Homes   ·         For hospitals or nursing homes, the pastor will propose candidates to serve as EMs.  In cases where a number of parishes utilize the same hospital or care facility, each parish provides for its own parishioners.  St. Francis Xavier parish and its sister parishes also provide regular Masses for residents of nursing homes on an alternating basis.   ·         Communication:  In the case of hospitals and nursing homes, a clear explanation must be made to the administrators of that institution that, in addition to the usual priests and/or deacons, EMs will serve the sick there as well.  The EM should be aware of all laws regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) with regard to strict privacy and the non-disclosure of medical information.   ·         Supervision:  The pastor has a responsibility for ongoing supervision.  He will meet regularly with EMs regarding various details of their ministry.   Questions or Additional Guidance   Requests for training of EMs, matters relating to the issuance of EM mandates, and questions about these guidelines should be directed to John Swales (304.422.7644) or the pastor or his associate.  Questions relating to Communion for the sick and homebound may be referred to Sally McDonie (304.428.2651), John Swales, or the pastor or his associate .