CHURCH OF THE LITTLE FLOWER
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION
PROCEDURES
BEFORE MASS
Try to arrive at least ten minutes before the beginning of Mass.
If it has not already been done (especially before the 5:30 and 7:30 Masses), set up for Mass by putting out the bowls, the tray with the cups, purifictors and corporal, the water cruet, towel and glass bowl, the wine in the flagon and unconsecrated hosts in the large plate.
Signs will be posted in the sacristies of both the Upper Church and Little Church with guidelines for the amount of wine and number of hosts needed for each of the Masses. A minister will need to check the ciborium in the tabernacle to know how many hosts to put out for Mass. A full ciborium holds approximately 200 Hosts. The ideal would be to reserve about 100 Hosts in the tabernacle.
DURING MASS
The Eucharistic Minister assigned as H2 comes to the sanctuary, while the collection is being taken up, to set up the altar (if a deacon is not present):
- unfold the corporal and place in the center of the altar
- place chalice and one purificator next to corporal
- remove cups and remaining purificators from tray and place next to corporal
- place sacramentary on the altar
Eucharistic Ministers come to the sanctuary immediately after the Sign of Peace. One Host Minister goes to the tabernacle and brings the covered ciborium to the altar. Another Host Minister brings the bowls to the altar, separates them and places them on the altar.
All Eucharistic Ministers come to the upper platform. Host Ministers line up on the tabernacle side and Precious Blood Ministers line up on the opposite side.
The celebrant will distribute Communion (Host) to the deacon, if present, and to all the Eucharistic Ministers. The celebrant will distribute the cups to the ministers of the Precious Blood. If a deacon is present, he will distribute the Precious Blood from the celebrant's chalice to the Host Ministers and then hand the bowls to them. If a deacon is not present, the celebrant will hand the chalice to the first Host Minister who will receive and then offer the chalice to the other Host Ministers. The celebrant will then distribute the bowls to the Host Ministers.
All ministers go to their positions at the same time as the celebrant. Ministers H3 and PB1 remember to distribute Communion to the altar servers and H3 to any handicapped people in the front row by the tabernacle.
Note #1: Eucharistic Ministers from the choir at the 5:30 and 9:30 Masses will come to the top step of the sanctuary (on the side with the Precious Blood Ministers). The celebrant will distribute the Host to that person and then give her a bowl of Hosts to distribute to the choir.
Note #2: If your bowl is empty, go to the altar, take Hosts from the ciborium and return to your position. If you have finished at your position and notice that another minister has few Hosts left, exchange bowls. Do not transfer from one bowl to another.
AFTER COMMUNION
The minister who set up the altar is now responsible for folding the corporal and returning the corporal, chalice, purificator and tray to the table, if a deacon is not present.
The Host Ministers bring their bowls to the tabernacle. One minister goes to the altar and brings the ciborium to the tabernacle and puts the remaining hosts in the ciborium. When finished, one genuflects, closes the tabernacle, returns the empty bowls to the table and takes one's seat in the assembly.
After Communion, Precious Blood Ministers bring their cups and purificators to the table, and if possible, consume the Precious Blood remaining in the cup, put the cup and purificator on the cup table, and assist the other PB Ministers in consuming their remaining consecrated wine. Then they return to their seats in the assembly.
(If it is not possible to consume all the remaining Precious Blood, place a purificator over the cup and consume the Precious Blood after Mass or ask the priest or deacon for assistance.)
AFTER MASS
All Eucharistic Ministers help with the clean-up after Mass. Bring the tray, cups, purificators, flagon, chalice, large host plate, bowls and water cruet to the sacristy, consume any remaining consecrated wine and purify the cups, chalice and flagon. Make sure everything is set up for the next Mass or put away in its proper place.
After the 5:30 and 9:30 Masses, set up for the following Mass - bowls, cups and purificators on the table; chalice corporal, purificator, water pitcher, water cruet, towel and glass bowl on the credence table; hosts and wine prepared for the next Mass. After the 7:30 and 11:30 Masses, put everything away in its proper place.
NOTES:
1. All of these guidelines apply to the Little Church as well as the Upper Church.
2. If one cannot be there at an assigned Mass, please arrange for a substitute, or at least notify the rectory.
3. Only serve in one ministry at a given Mass. (Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Music Minister or Usher)
4. "Veteran" Eucharistic Ministers will be assigned to set up the altar.
5. From the UCCB Committee on the Liturgy:
All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest respect and reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread and wine. Should there be any mishap - as when, for example, the consecrated wine is spilled, then the affected area should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium. If the Eucharistic bread or some particle of it falls, it should be picked up reverently by the minister.
The consecrated bread may be consumed or completely dissolved in water before being poured down the sacrarium.
The only sacrarium at Little Flower is in the sacristy of the Rectory Chapel. Inform a priest or deacon if there is matter to be poured into a sacrarium.
6. Number of bowls and cups for each Mass:
5:30: 6 bowls 4 cups
7:30: 2 bowls 4 cups
9:30: 6 bowls 6 cups
11:30: 4 bowls 4 cups
These are general guidelines. Please use common sense to help guide your actions in your ministry.
