Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

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1 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy BLESSED SACRAMENT Procedures and Guidelines For more information, contact: Director of Worship Lisa Weis (352) , x107 lweis@blessedsacramentcc.com

2 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Blessed Sacrament Procedures Basic Information 1. Monthly schedules are located in the Sacristy on the last weekend of each month. They can also be found on the Worship website ( Please carefully read the letter attached to the schedule and review the EMHC schedule, highlighting dates when you have been scheduled. Remember to please check ALL Masses as some of you have offered to serve at other Masses as a second or third choice 2. Please conflicts to lweis@blessedsacramentcc.com or call ext 107 before the 15 th of each month for the upcoming month. (ex: deadline 3/14/10 for April schedule). 3. Please let the Office of Worship know if your , phone number, or address change so you will continue to receive schedules and other important information. 4. If you are moving to another Parish, please call the Worship Office as soon as possible so your information can be transferred, by the Diocese, to your new Parish. Letters of recommendation are available, if needed. 5. It is very important to attend the once a year mandatory meeting (usually in September or October) for all EMHC and Ministers to the Sick to obtain new procedures, discuss changes, etc. 6. All EMHC and Ministers to the Sick must renew their EMHC mandates every two years. When your mandate expires please contact the Worship Office to obtain Day of Reflection dates and to make a reservation. 7. Serving God and your parish as an EMHC is a privilege and an honor given by the Pastor and the Bishop. 8. It is your responsibility to call someone to sub for you if you cannot make an assigned Mass. Do not assume that there always will be someone there to fill in for you or that the Mass Captain will take care of finding a replacement. Phone lists are available in the Sacristy for you to take home. When all other options have been exhausted, and you are still unable to find a substitute, please call or the Mass Captain to notify them.

3 Mass Procedures 1. Please arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before Mass, check in with the Mass Captain personally and sign the sign-in sheet. Special instructions, if any, will be noted on the sign-in sheet. Arriving early also allows time for reflection and prayer before Mass. 2. Ten minutes before Mass begins, the captain will begin trying to find a substitute. This is NOT to be used as a convenience when you are absent, but as a last resort when all ministers have been called or in the case of an emergency. (Please remember that is a speedy way in which to obtain subs.) If you arrive late, please check the sign-in sheet. If you have been replaced, please do NOT go up into the sanctuary for communion as someone else has most likely been asked to serve for you. 3. If you are not scheduled to serve at the Mass you are attending, please check in with the captain to inform them of your availability in case you are needed to serve. 4. During the sign of peace please proceed to your position in the Sanctuary. Again, do not go up to the Sanctuary to serve if you were late and did not check in, as the Mass Captain will have already replaced you. 5. Please use the ramps to enter the sanctuary area. For those ministers who wish to receive antibacterial sanitizer before distributing communion, an automatic dispenser of hand sanitizer is located on the wall at the entrance of the ramp. Then, simply process to your normal place behind the altar table. 6. See Attached for positions as it varies according to the number of ministers scheduled. 7. The first Host Minister offers the Precious Blood to all Host ministers while in the sanctuary area. After all Host ministers have received the Precious Blood, the first host minister is to consume ALL Precious Blood in the Presider s Chalice (or ask for help in doing so from other host ministers). Therefore, when the First Host Minister returns the Presider s chalice to the altar, it will be EMPTY. 8. After each minister completes the distribution of Holy Communion, CUP ministers are to proceed to the Sunday Sacristy. Host ministers should proceed directly to the tabernacle. The first host minister to arrive at the tabernacle will begin consolidating the hosts to be placed in the tabernacle. The next host minister to arrive at the tabernacle should remain with the other host minister to assist and then to take the empty ciboria to the sacristy. All other host ministers may return to their seat once they have given their ciboria to the ministers at the tabernacle. Cup ministers will silently consume any remaining Precious Blood, and place the chalice on the right-hand side of the sink. They may then return to their seat. Please remember - **Upon completion of your service, you may return to your seat. Please do not wait for everyone to finish. This will also allow more time for quiet prayer at the conclusion of Communion. First Host Minister will be responsible for taking their ciboria and the Presider s ciboria to the tabernacle. They will also wait for all other ciboria, consolidate them, and then, close the tabernacle. Then, they may return to their seat.

4 Other Tips 1. If any of the Precious Blood spills on the floor, immediately place your purificator over the spot (do not try to wipe it up), then go to the Sacristy to obtain a new purificator and resume serving. The spot is to be taken care of after mass is over (ask a sacristan to assist you). 2. Do make sure all the Precious Blood is consumed in the Sacristy after communion. 3. If you or a communicant drops a consecrated host, immediately pick it up off the floor. You may either consume the consecrated host yourself, hold onto it and give it to the presider to consume, or give it to the sacristan to take care of. 4. No one receives communion by intincture. If someone approaches you to dip the consecrated host in the Precious Blood please cover the cup with your purificator and ask them to consume the host first. 5. If someone does not consume the consecrated host, please go to them and ask them to immediately consume it. 6. Cup ministers are to open their purificator completely before serving communion. After someone receives Precious Blood, turn the cup at least a quarter turn while wiping the inside and outside of the cup. 7. If at any time you cannot get the key out of the tabernacle please leave it and ask for assistance.

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