Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

The extraordinary minister of Holy Communion plays a very important role

in today’s Church and is recognised as having a significant role in the

celebration of Mass. We are ever grateful to those from our community

who volunteer to minister in this way at our weekday and Sunday Masses.

A Prayer for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

 Heavenly Father, I thank you for calling me to serve You and Your

people in this community as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.

You know that I could never be worthy of such an exalted honour.

Help me to be less unworthy by remaining free of sin.

Let me nourish Your people with the witness of my life as I feed them

with the Body of Christ.

Grant Your strength and holiness to all Your extraordinary ministers

and make them worthy to bring Christ to others in this Sacrament. Amen.

(DRAFT) Being an Extraordinary Minister in Magherafelt Parish

“What you see…is bread and a cup. This is what your eyes report to you.

But your faith has need to be taught that the bread is the body of Christ, the cup the blood of Christ…

If then, you wish to understand the body of Christ, listen to the Apostle as he says to the faithful,

“You are the body of Christ and His members”…

You reply “Amen” to that which you are, and by replying you consent…

Be a member of the body of Christ so that your “Amen” may be true…

Be what you see, and receive what you are.”

(St. Augustine)

Day of Ministry

Before Mass

• Arrive at the church in plenty of time
• Spend time in quiet prayer

During Mass

Approaching the Altar

• Once the Sign of Peace begins, walk towards the sanctuary, stand at the middle of the

          step facing the altar and bow (simple bow - from the neck)

• Go to side table and wash your fingers in the bowl, dry with linen cloth
• Stand in line with the gap between the ambo and the altar
• At the appropriate time, the priest will distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to you
• He will then hand you a ciborium (or similar vessel)
• When holding either the Body or the Blood of Christ, the minister does not bow or genuflect

Distribution of Holy Communion

• Walk carefully to your Communion station

          The minister who distributes the body of Christ to the people should make eye contact

          with the communicant and hold the Host briefly before the communicant. As it states in the

          "General Instruction of the Roman Missal," the appropriate exchange between the minister

           and the communicant is "The body of Christ" and "Amen." These words are not to be adapted.

           The minister then places the Host in the communicant's hand or on his or her tongue

            depending upon the preference of the communicant.

After Communion

What if the Host falls to the ground?

If the Host or some particle of it falls, it should immediately be picked up reverently by the minister,

brought to the altar, placed on the corporal (square white cloth at the Missal) and the priest informed.

The priest will then consume the Host.

Q: At the buiser Masses, can a minister take up station at the top of the 'new wing' so as to alleviate congestion at the sanctuary?

A.: Stationing a minister at the 'new wing' would mean removing the choice from the communicant as to where they would wish to receive Holy Communion. This is not ideal. Ministers can always go to assist busy areas when they have finished distributing from their station.

Q: Can the new cushions be moved to reduce the risk of someone tripping over them?

A: The new cushions will be kept in line with the ambo. If the ministers approach and leave the altar by the gap between the altar and the ambo, then this ought to greatly reduce the risk of an accident.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion -

Rota for Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Magherafelt

Rota for St Patrick's, Castledawson