Guidelines for Eucharistic Ministers of Communion St. Pius X Catholic Church Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1. Sign in on the Liturgy bulletin board posted in the Gathering Space when you arrive for Mass. Pay close attention to whether you sign up as a Bread or Wine minister. Presider (priest) is always bread. is always wine. Deacon, if present, is always wine. 2. Come forward at the end of the Sign of Peace or as the Lamb of God music begins. Do not hesitate. 3. Wash your hands in the bowl on the credence table or use the antibacterial soap in the pump. 4. During the sign of peace, before washing his/her hands, the second person signed up: a. Goes directly from his/her place in the assembly to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. b. Unlocks and opens the tabernacle door. c. Genuflects (or bows if not able to genuflect) before the tabernacle. d. Takes the ciborium (and any additional plates of consecrated hosts) from the tabernacle. Leaving the tabernacle door and the Chapel door open, carry the consecrated hosts to the sanctuary. Place the ciborium on the altar, near the priest or deacon. e. Goes to the credence table to wash his/her hands. 5. Everyone joins in singing the Lamb of God until the fraction rite is finished. Altar servers stand directly under the crucifix. Bread ministers stand in a line between the altar and the ambo (south side of the altar). Wine ministers stand in a line between the altar and the presider s chair (north side of the altar). The stands at end of the wine minister line, near the Presider s chair. All wine ministers All bread ministers 6. As the Presider distributes the consecrated bread, each EM bows his/her head as a gesture of reverence while responding Amen and then reaches out to receive the host. Hold the host in your hands as the Presider prays: Behold the Lamb of God March 2014 page 1
7. The Presider consumes first, and then the Eucharistic Ministers together consume their hosts. 8. The Presider distributes cups to all the wine ministers. Receive with the same posture and act of reverence as described for the bread. The wine minister closest to the back wall ministers to the altar servers. The next two wine ministers walk to the bread ministers to offer them the Precious Blood. These three wine ministers will distribute to the south side of the church. Distribute to bread ministers Distributes to altar servers \ 9. The receives the cup with a small piece of host in it. 10. The Presider gives plates to the bread ministers. 11. When you have your plate or cup, move to your station. The takes the far station nearest the organ. Other EMs take their stations as shown in the photographs on pages 4-7. The Presider usually distributes bread from the head of a communion aisle. Those with special needs (wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc.) and the person(s) with them are served last. These parishioners typically, but not always, sit near sections F and G (see map below). Ushers will direct you to anyone sitting elsewhere in the Church. All Bread and Wine ministers standing near a step should stand on the step. Wine minsters should be mindful that they re spaced far enough away from the Bread ministers that they don t create a traffic jam if a line of people forms to receive wine. March 2014 page 2
Sections of pews: March 2014 page 3
Stations ~ 6 plates, 7 cups = Wine minister = Bread minister ramp altar Bread ministers are positioned in a V, or triangle, at the front of the communion aisle on each side. One stands in the middle of the aisle (on the step) and two stand about 3 feet from the end of the pew and squared to face the aisle. Three Wine ministers stand at the front of the center aisle, on the step. All other Wine ministers stand at the corner of the altar platform on each side. March 2014 page 4
On the music side of the church, one Bread and one Wine (the ) may have two positions: FIRST, take positions near the music area if it is being used by a music group or as assembly seating. When the music area is used by music groups, they receive communion right away (with a single cantor remaining to lead the song). When not in use by choirs, this area serves as additional assembly seating, if needed. A single cantor and keyboardist insert themselves into the regular communion procession. SECOND, move to the regular stations. After finishing with sections F & E (see map on page 3), one Bread and one Wine minister move to distribute to section G and to any handicapped persons sitting on the south side of the church. March 2014 page 5
Stations ~ 4 plates, 5 cups = Wine minister = Bread minister ramp altar Two Bread ministers are positioned at the front of the communion aisle on each side. One Wine minister stands at the corner of the altar platform on each side. Three Wine ministers stand at the front of the center aisle. March 2014 page 6
On the music side of the church, one Bread and one Wine (the ) may have two positions: FIRST, take positions near the music area if it is being used by a music group or as assembly seating. When the music area is used by music groups, they receive communion right away (with a single cantor remaining to lead the song). When not in use by choirs, this area serves as additional assembly seating, if needed. A single cantor and keyboardist insert themselves into the regular communion procession. SECOND, Bread minister moves the head of the communion aisle; Wine minister stands at the corner of the altar platform. After finishing with sections F & E (see map on page 3), one Bread and one Wine minister move to distribute to section G and to any handicapped persons sitting on the south side of the church. March 2014 page 7
12. When distributing communion, avoid all rush and haste. Make the encounter with each communicant as personal as possible. 13. Sharing the Precious Body After each communicant has stopped in front of you, raise the host slightly, look the person in the eye and say, both in a friendly manner and with meaning, the Body of Christ. The communicant bows his/her head as a gesture of reverence and responds Amen. Then the communicant receives the Precious Body. If a host is dropped while distributing, gracefully stoop down and pick it up. Keep this host apart so you may consume it or dispose of it reverently afterwards. Blessing Small Children If parents come forward carrying a small child you may reach out your hand and if they seem comfortable touch them saying, God bless you or God be with you. Blessing Those Not Receiving Communion Someone may come forward in the communion procession with their arms crossed over their chest. This is a sign that they will not receive communion but instead wish to receive a blessing. Reach out your hand and touch them on the head or shoulder and say, God bless you or God be with you. 15. Sharing the Precious Blood After the communicant has stopped in front of you, raise the cup slightly, look the person in the eye and say, the Blood of Christ. The communicant bows his/her head as a gesture of reverence and responds Amen. Allow the communicant to take the cup with both hands, but for smaller children or older people you may want to help guide the cup. After the communicant drinks and returns the cup to you, wipe both sides of the rim with the purificator cloth and give the cup a quarter turn before repeating the procedure. Periodically rotate the purificator as well. A few may take the host in their fingers and want to dip the host into the cup. This practice, known as intinction, is discouraged because it does not fully express the meaning of Jesus words to take and drink. Please prevent this by pulling the chalice away from the person before they dip the host; allow them to only drink from the cup, not to dip into it. After Mass please alert the Presider that this has happened. 16. If you run out of hosts, go to another minister to get more. However, keep in mind that other ministers may be running low also, so don t assume that they will have enough for you. If necessary, break hosts in half. Do not take hosts from the altar or out of the ciborium. 17. As you finish at your station, if you have Precious Body or Precious Blood remaining, look to see if anyone else still has a long line. If so, go and assist at that station. Important: The may not move to another station. 18. The north side of the church usually finishes first. EMs from the north side should go to the south side to see if they need help. If it won t cause a traffic jam, you may begin distributing to section G and/or to handicapped persons before section E is finished. 19. When finished, those distributing to sections F & E (see map on page 3) assume their second position to distribute to section G and/or any handicapped persons seated near the Chapel. 20. No one except the should consume their remaining Precious Blood until everyone in the entire church has received communion. March 2014 page 8
21. When all EMs are finished (both the north and south sides), bring any remaining hosts to the altar for the Presider to put into the glass ciborium. Consume any remaining Precious Blood. Please do not place the purificators inside the cups. Return purificators and empty plates & cups to the credence table. 22. Return to your place in the assembly. 23. EM #2 waits near the altar area as the priest/deacon puts the remaining hosts into the ciborium and then: carries the ciborium to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel places the ciborium inside the tabernacle genuflects (or bows if not able to genuflect) before the opened tabernacle closes and locks the tabernacle door, leaving the key in the lock 24. The and all ministers of the Precious Body (bread) serve as sacristans. After Mass carry the communion vessels into the working sacristy to be purified and washed. Instructions are posted on the wall above the sink in the sacristy. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with our parish through this ministry! March 2014 page 9
Guidelines for Lead Eucharistic Ministers You are scheduled for this ministry. If you are unable to minister when scheduled, it is your responsibility to find a sub or switch with someone for another Mass time or another weekend. For your reference, the schedule contains names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Arrive 15-20 minutes before Mass and position yourself near the sign-up sheet on the Liturgy bulletin board in the Gathering Space. Check off your name on the weekly sign-in sheet. Then sign up as EM #1 and, as other EMs arrive for Mass, encourage them to sign up as well. Sample sign-up sheet: 4:30 p.m. Saturday (LEAD EUCHARISTIC MINISTER) * Find enough EMs before Mass * Receive the chalice with a piece of host in it * Stand on the far end by the organ; do not move to any other station * Transfer the Blessed Sacrament to and from the Chapel If there is a deacon at Mass, the sign-in sheet will look like this: 4:30 p.m. Saturday (LEAD EUCHARISTIC MINISTER) * Find enough EMs before Mass * Receive the chalice with a piece of host in it * Stand on the far end by the organ; do not move to any other station * Transfer the Blessed Sacrament to and from the Chapel Deacon Before Mass, you need to secure enough EMs. This means actively inviting and encouraging people to sign up. Serve as a resource person for all other EMs as they sign up. During the singing of the Lamb of God, come forward to the altar immediately after washing your hands at the credence table. All the Eucharistic Ministers stand in two lines: the wine distributors on the north side and the bread distributors on the south. You stand at the end of the line on the north side, next to the Presider s chair (see photo). March 2014 page 10
The receives the chalice (cup) that Father used, which contains a piece of the host in it. Your station during communion is on the end by the organ (see photo). Our parishioners with Celiac disease or wheat allergies know this is your location and will not drink from this cup. If another EM attempts to stand at your station, kindly point him or her to another station. Explain that you are the and this is your assigned station. If you have Precious Blood remaining after your section is finished going to communion, do not move to another station. Instead, consume the Precious Blood and place the empty cup on the credence table. Our parishioners with Celiac disease or wheat allergies have been told which cup contains the piece of host, and that the other cups are safe to drink from. If we begin shifting the cups, our parishioners will be in danger of ingesting the regular host which contains gluten (wheat). After Mass, stay and help purify and wash the communion vessels. Answer any questions that other EMs have about this procedure. March 2014 page 11
Sacristan Duties Eucharistic Ministers: Please be mindful of the procedures for the ritual rinsing of dishes after Mass. After receiving Him in the Eucharist, this is a time to further love and reverence our Lord s presence. Take care not to hurry, but give this responsibility the respect it deserves. 1. Remove from credence table and bring to Working Sacristy: wooden tray with cups and purificators wooden tray with small communion plates large communion plate wine pitcher Presider s chalice small glass plate with pyxes (if used during Mass) brown pottery bowl 2. Place soiled cloths in laundry bag in closet. 3. Reverently consume wine left in cups. It is crucial that the regular communion plates and the pyxes & small glass plate do not come in contact with one another. Otherwise the pyxes will be contaminated which will be detrimental to our parishioners with Celiac disease. Contamination is not due to human germs but to small particles from regular hosts (which contain gluten) coming in contact with the low-gluten hosts. 4. Ritual Rinsing: Begin with pyxes and small glass plate. Rinse with water. Either consume (drink) or pour water down sacrarium (left of door to offices). Do not pour down regular sink. Continue with silver plates, cups, etc. Metal vessels cannot be submerged. Purification of the vessels entails adding water into the vessels and moving the water around inside it to cleanse all of the remaining particles or droplets from the surface. Once the vessel has been purified, the water (with the particles and/or diluted precious blood) is to be consumed or poured down the sacrarium. 5. Wash dishes using hot, soapy water. Do not use the blue wash basin. Begin with pyxes and small glass plate. Hold under running water and wash with liquid detergent and a soft cloth. Dry pyxes, then leave them open to air-dry. Continue with other plates, cups, and chalice. Do not submerge metal vessels. Instead, hold under running water and wash with liquid detergent and a soft cloth. Do not use anything that will scratch the metal. Rinse everything well and dry with a soft cloth. 6. After you re finished 4:30 8:30 11:00 Return pyxes to Vesting Sacristy. Place in bottom of 3-drawer X X X file on counter. Leave open. Return small square glass plate (for pyxes) to Gift Table. X X X Set credence table for the next Mass. Refer to photo on the wall. X Place all cups and plates, in their wooden trays, in locked cabinet X X in Working Sacristy. Return large communion plate and wine pitcher to Vesting X Sacristy. Place on counter. Return large communion plate and wine pitcher to Vesting X X Sacristy. Place in cabinet above sink. March 2014 page 12