EUCHARIST MINISTERS

Lay women and men assist with the distribution of the Eucharist on a set schedule. Those who are called to this ministry, must know how to be truly present to others in the moment of ministering. Their reverence, respect and welcoming presence can provide a spiritual atmosphere for those receiving the Eucharist. They are brothers and sisters in this very body and blood they are sharing, and not only speak their own faith in saying “body of Christ”, but they call forth the faith of the one receiving. 

SCHEDULING

Epiphany uses a computer app, Ministry Scheduling Pro, to schedule all liturgical Ministers, including Eucharist Ministers (“EM”s)  and this is managed by Fr. Jim.  He emails all liturgical Ministers every couple of months and asks you to note in the program by a date certain the Mass of your preference and any dates you are unavailable to serve. Thereafter you will receive an email from Fr. Jim as to which Masses you are assigned for that period. In the event you are unable to fulfill your assignment, please try to find a replacement. You can ask for a volunteer on the Ministry Scheduling Pro and this sends an email to other Ems and you will be advised if someone volunteers. You can also ask another Eucharist Minister to switch assignments with you. The priest and the other EMs assigned to this Mass are relying on you and please be mindful of your obligation to be present or to have someone substitute in your place. 

DRESS AND APPEARANCE 

General appearance, apparel and accessories worn during the liturgy should reflect the dignity of the role of one called upon to assist in the sacred liturgy. Accordingly, Liturgical Ministers should dress nicely and modestly. Nothing a Minister wears should detract from the community’s prayer. You are welcome to leave your personal belongings in the closet in the Narthex as this is preferable to wearing outer garments and carrying anything in the procession. 

GENERAL PROCEDURES

A template/sign-in sheet is located in Liturgical Ministry station in the Narthex showing each EM’s designed location for the distribution of Communion.  Please arrive at least 15 mins prior to the start of the Mass, sign in and make sure you know your designated location.  Please seek clarification from Margaret Klein, Francine Cruz or Joe Torre, if needed.

Wear a Liturgical Minister cross which you will find hanging on a hook in the Narthex.

For the 11 AM Mass, 5 Eucharist Ministers (EMs) (plus the Priest) will distribute the Host and 

2 (a change from 3) EMs will distribute the Precious Blood. A lesser number of EMs will be assigned to the Sat 4PM and the Sunday 7:30PM Mass and the Precious Blood may or may not be distributed. The scheduler in the Narthex will show how many EMs are assigned. Also, please check with the presiding priest.

A LEAD EM will be designated for each Mass and this individual has additional duties as noted below. Prior to the Mass, he /she will check how many ciboriums are on the table at the end of the church for the Offertory and this will determine how many ciboriums need to be taken later from the tabernacle. 

Warmly greet and welcome parishioners along with the Priest, Altar Servers, Hospitality Ministers, Lectors and the other Ministers.  

Pray with the Priest, Altar Servers, Hospitality Ministers, Lectors and the other Ministers immediately before Mass before processing into the church.

Assemble with the other Ministers behind the Altar Servers for the procession into the Church.

Process into the Church towards the altar. Once you reach the altar, reverence the Blessed Sacrament with a bow and move to a seat in the pew closest to the sacristy. (This facilitates quicker access to the sanitizer which all EMs will use before approaching the altar for the “Our Father’).  The 2 EMs assigned to distribute the Precious Blood should take their places in the seat closest to the sacristy. (This will make for a more orderly procession onto the altar.)

Pray and worship with your brothers and sisters in the Mass.

IN PREPARATION FOR THE DISTRIBUTION ON HOLY COMMUNION
As the choir begins to sing “Amen” following the prayer “Through Him, With Him….”, all EMs approach the altar.  Before entering the altar, each EM must sanitize their hands. The sanitizer is now located at the approach to the sacristy and no longer on the altar.  The EMs form one line close to the altar (closer than in the past), beginning at the edge of the altar and extending towards the back and behind the priest towards the altar servers. The altar servers will stand to the priest’s right so as to allow room for the EMs who will administer the Precious Blood to stand behind the priest.

The LEAD EM for this Mass takes the position closest to the altar. The EMS, who are assigned to distribute the Blood, stand next to one another at the further end of the line which will be behind the priest. (This way the priest will know to whom to give the cups.) 

After the “Our Father”, when “The Lamb of God” begins, the LEAD EM, will proceed to the tabernacle altar, take the ciboriums, 3 or 4 (the # will be determined before Mass and depends on the # being taken from the back for the offertory), and place them on the main altar. 

(The Host taken from the tabernacle has already been consecrated and will be used along with the Host that is being consecrated at this Mass.) 

The priest administers the HOST to all EMs, the altar servers and the lector.

The priest then offers the Precious Blood to the LEAD EM and he/she offers it to all the other EMs and to the lector and then returns the chalice to the altar.

FR Austin and Fr Jim encourages all Ems to take the Precious Blood as this will encourage the congregation to do likewise.

The priest will present the ciboriums (containing the Host) to the 5 EMs closest to him and then he presents the cups (containing the Precious Blood) to the EMs who are behind him and at the far end of the line.  

When the priest proceeds from the altar to distribute Communion, all EMs proceed to their designated stations. 

Offer the consecrated host, saying “The Body of Christ”. If offering the consecrated wine, say “The Blood of Christ”. Try to look each person in the eye when you say these words. When offering the consecrated wine, hold the cup in one hand and the purificator with the other. Wipe the inner and outer rim of the cup with the purificator after each person receives the Precious Blood and rotate the cup about a quarter turn before offering it to the next person. 

If a child or adult comes before you with his or her arms crossed, this indicates that the person will not be receiving the consecrated host. Simply say to the person “The love and peace of Christ be with you”.  

The person receiving the consecrated host should not walk away without consuming it immediately and dipping the consecrated host into the Precious Blood is not permitted. If a person acts otherwise, gently advise them as to what they should do. Should they act negatively, state that these are the Church’s instructions. 

When everyone at your station has received Holy Communion, check if assistance is needed at the other stations and if so, move to the other station and assist.

IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT

• With the Host, the Body of Christ

The host that is dropped is never to be put back into the ciborium. This must be returned to the altar and be brought later to the sacristy when it is dissolved in water and poured into a special sink (sacrarium). 

• With the Precious Blood

If any is spilled on the floor, the minister should immediately cover the spillage with a purificator. Clean the area as best you can with the purificator and place the purificator on the credence table. After Mass, the area where the consecrated wine spilled should be washed with a clean damp purificator. The used cloths are rinsed in the sacrarium and then wrung out in the sacrarium.  

After each EM completes distribution of the HOST or the Precious Blood, he/she places the ciborium or the cup on the tabernacle altar, reverence the Blessed Sacrament with a bow, and returns to the pew.

The LEAD EM will place the cover over each ciborium and places them back into the tabernacle (the cups remain on the altar), will then reverence the Blessed Sacrament with a bow and return to the pew.

After the final blessing and as the priest proceeds from the altar, join the other ministers in lining up facing the altar.  Bow in unison when the priest does, turn around and walk slowly out in the same order as the processional at the start of Mass.