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, 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 in 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 Eucharist Ministers and you will be advised if someone volunteers. You can also ask another Eucharist Minister to switch assignments with you. 

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.

DUTIES and PROCEDURES

Liturgical Ministers should arrive 10 -15 minutes prior to the start of the liturgy.

Sign in at the Liturgical Ministry station in the Narthex. The check-in sheet will indicate the station you are assigned to for your service of ministering Communion to your brothers and sisters.

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

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 to the right of the altar.

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

Before the start of the Our Father and while the Choir sings the Alleluia, join the Priest on the altar to pray with him and the other Liturgical Ministers and to receive the Body and the Precious Blood, if you so desire. (If you are not receiving the Precious Blood, you should mention this to the Priest before Mass.)

After receiving the Blood of Christ, all ministers should use the hand sanitizer which is on one end of the altar.

The ministers are given the ciborium by the Priest and after the priest leaves the altar, they should 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.

After you have completed distribution of Holy Communion, place the ciborium on the altar or hand it to the priest.  Then reverence the Blessed Sacrament with a bow and return to your place in 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. 

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.