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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 may be required to 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
On completion of the Prayers of the Faithful, H2 and C1go to the table at the back of the church
Wait until the Altar Servers have finished placing the Corporal, Sacramentary, Chalice and any Pyx on the Altar
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.
H2 places the plate on the Corporal
C1 pours 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.
Return to places
At the Sign of Peace
All Ministers will go to the Altar
H1 - go directly to the Tabernacle, bow, open the Tabernacle and take 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 the host 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 to distribute Communion.
C1 will stand 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.
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, turn on the light behind 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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