Extraordinary Ministers of Communion

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion are lay people who facilitate the distribution of Communion under both kinds,

i.e. under the forms of bread and wine.  At each weekend Mass at St Gerard Majella, six ministers are required, two who, together with the Celebrant, will distribute the bread, and four who will distribute the wine.

Preparation

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion will be designated as H1 and H2 for the distribution of the bread, and C1, C2, C3, C4 for the distribution of the wine.

• All ministers need to arrive at the church 15 minutes before the commencement of Mass to report to the Mass Co-ordinator and to familiarise themselves with the tasks required at that particular Mass.
• They should be dressed neatly in a way consistent with the dignity of their role.
• Extraordinary Ministers of communion should not exercise any other Liturgical Ministry within the same Mass.

Procedures

Preparation of the Altar      Upon completion of the Prayers of the Faithful, C2 and C3 bring the Altar Cloth up to the Altar.

• At the table at the rear of the church, pick up the Altar Cloth and each holding one end, process slowly up to the altar.
• Move together around the altar, face the congregation, unfold the cloth and place it on the altar.
• Return to places.

Preparation of the Gifts     When the Altar Servers have finished placing the Corporal, Sacramentary, Chalice and any Pyx on the Altar

• H2 and C1  go to the table at the back of the church and wait for the collector of financial offerings
• H2 carries the plate containing the Host (s),

       C1  first removes the covering from the carafe, leaving it on the table, then carries the carafe.

• Process slowly up to the altar together, with the collector following.  He/she will then place the offerings on the floor in front of the altar.
• C1 will pour about one quarter of the wine into the chalice, using the purificator to remove any droplets from the carafe. Place the Chalice and Carafe onto the Corporal, with the Puificator to the right of the Corporal.
• H2 will place the plate on the Corporal.
• Return to places.

At the Sign of Peace All Ministers will go to the Altar

• H1 goes directly to the Tabernacle, bows, opens the Tabernacle and takes the Ciborium to the altar.  Leave key in Tabernacle.  Remove lid of Ciborium and distribute Hosts between the two plates placed on the Altar by the Server.  
• Ministers stand in a semicircle behind the Altar, facing the Congregation.
• H1 and H2 stand to the left of the Celebrant, C4,C3,C2 and C1 stand behind and to the right, with all Altar Servers on their right.
• When the Celebrant begins to break the consecrated bread, C1 will step forward and pour the wine into the remaining Chalices.  After placing them on the Corporal, step back into semicircle.
• The Celebrant will distribute the Body of Christ to those around the Altar. Wait until after the Elevation and consume yours with the Celebrant.
• The Celebrant will distribute the Chalices,(first to H1 and H2 who will then offer them to C4 and C3), then to C2 and C1, who will offer them to the Altar Servers.
• The Celebrant will advise H1 and H2 of their positions.
• C1 will stand  with back to the Congregation in front of the pews on the right side of the church.
• C2 will stand in front of the right side of the Sanctuary, while C3 and C4 stand in front of the left side of the Sanctuary.
• Leave plenty of space between yourselves and the Bread Ministers.
• The first Bread Minister to become available will stand between C3 and C4 to distribute Communion to the Choir.                                                                      (please turn over)

Distribution of the Eucharist

Ministers who distribute the Body of Christ to the people must:

• Make eye contact with the Communicant.
• Hold the Eucharist briefly, allowing time for a small bow of the head, and then say The Body of Christ.  The Communicant answers Amen.
• Place the Eucharist on the person’s hand, unless the Communicant is unable to use his/her hands.
• If a person or child presents with hands crossed over his/her chest, place hand briefly on the person’s head and say God bless you.

Ministers who distribute the Blood of Christ must:

• Make eye contact with the Communicant.
• Present the Chalice, saying The Blood of Christ to which the Communicant responds Amen.
• After each Communicant, wipe both sides of the Chalice rim with the purificator before addressing the next person.
• Ensure that anyone with mobility problems has received the Blood of Christ. They will usually sit in one of the front row seats.

After the Eucharist

• The Celebrant, H1 and H2 will return the Communion plates to the Altar. All remaining hosts will be transferred to the Ciborium.
• H1 will replace the lid, return the Ciborium to the Tabernacle, bow and close the Tabernacle, leaving the key in the door.
• C1,C2,C3,C4 will return the Chalices to the Credence Table behind the Altar and place the Purificators over the Chalices.
• No remaining wine is to be consumed on the way to, or at the Credence Table.
• Return to places.

At the Conclusion of Mass

• H2 and C4  will carry all  sacred vessels and plates on a tray into the Sacristy.
• St Gerard Majella has a Sacrarium (the small sink) to be used for purifying these plates and vessels..
•  Rinse the plates over the Sacrarium to remove any particles..
•  Dilute any remaining consecrated wine with water and wash down this sink.
• Wash all plates and chalices very carefully in hot soapy water in the large sink.
• Rinse and dry. Leave on bench for Mass Co-ordinator to put away..

• Purificators and finger towels are to be placed in the bucket under the sink in the flower room. The Sacristan will arrange washing.

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