As an extraordinary minister of the Eucharistic, commonly referred to as a Eucharistic Minister, lay people have the privilege of offering the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to the faithful at mass. This can be done during the liturgy, or taken to the infirm who are homebound, and to those who are nursing homes. A person must be 18 years old, have received the sacraments, and be in good standing with the church. Initial training is conducted by Father Smith, with follow-up training sessions as needed.
The following are the steps that will guide you in your decision to serve as Eucharistic minister:
Practice your Catholic faith through a prayerful relationship with God. Take advantage of the sacraments regularly. If you have not been to confession in a while, go before you start the process of becoming a Eucharistic minister and continue to go regularly.
Understand the role of an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. Priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of the Eucharist. If enough ordained ministers are present at Mass, extraordinary ministers should defer to them and not distribute Holy Communion.
Attend a training session conducted by Father Smith. Contact our parish office to for a schedule and, while you are talking with the office administrator, check to make sure your parish records are up to date. This is a good time to register with the parish if you are not a registered member.
Sign up to serve at some Masses throughout the year. A schedule will be developed that coincides with Parish needs and your availability. Father Smith will review these procedures during the training session.
Arrive at Mass early when you are serving as a Eucharistic minister so that you can prepare spiritually. Check in with Father Smith before Mass so that he knows that you have arrived.
Please contact our parish office to learn how to contribute your time as a Eucharistic minister.
