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Extraordinary Ministers of Communion Guidelines in the General Roman Missal 2000
Excerpts from An English Language Study Translation of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani Prepared by the NCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy, ©2000. All rights reserved.

Selection

• The community's need for extraordinary ministers of Communion must first be determined. For both Sunday and weekday Masses, the following present legitimate needs: the presence of large numbers of communicants; the desire to provide Communion under both kinds and more frequent Communion for the sick, especially on Sunday; incapacitation of the ordinary minister.
• Men and women who are 18 years of age or older may be appointed. They should be mature in faith and be known to other parishioners as exemplary Catholics. They must also be fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist).
• Selection of candidates should be as objective as possible, seeking an appropriate reflection of the diversity and unity of the local parish community, e.g., not be confined to one age group, sex, race or social class.
• The selection may happen in a number of ways: selection by pastoral staff and parish liturgy committee, nomination by the parish council, or through nomination by the parish at large with approval by the pastor.
• The pastor (or, with the pastor's permission, the parochial vicar) must send the names of candidates to the Office of the Chancellor, who, in the name of the Bishop, gives approval and grants the faculty. The signature of the priest, or in the case of a religious community, the religious superior of the congregation, is required as a recommendation of the candidates.
• The faculty becomes effective at the time of the celebration of the liturgical rite of commissioning (Book of Blessings, Chapter 63). Unless previously withdrawn, it remains in effect for three years. This date is the same for all extraordinary ministers in a given parish.

Preparation

All Communion ministers must be prepared for their liturgical role through some kind of program that includes the following: (Please refer to the training program for extraordinary ministers of Communion in the Guidelines for the Care and Celebration of the Eucharist in the Diocese of Manchester ).

• Reflection on the nature of liturgical ministry, the mystery of the Eucharist and the theology of the Mass.
• Renewed appreciation of the ritual nature and structure of the Mass, especially the importance and role of the baptized assemble and the multiple liturgical roles within it.
• The relationship between Communion of the sick and the assembly's celebration of the Mass, especially on Sunday.
• Rehearsal of the practical function of the minister of Communion both at Mass and in visitation of the sick. In addition, where it is necessary for such ministers to lead Communion services outside of Mass or to assist with public Eucharistic adoration, they must be specifically prepared for their role as leader of the community's prayer and in the use of the prescribed ritual.
• Spirituality of the liturgical minister.
• Ongoing enrichment provided in the parish and by the diocese.

Function at Mass

• Distinct role: Communion ministers may not assume the roles of others such as cantor, reader, acolyte at the same liturgy at which they are ministers of the Eucharist. They may not assist the priest at the altar in the manner of a deacon nor receive Communion in the manner of a concelebrating priest.
• Vesture: Dignified clothing. If the parish has the practice of vesting readers and cantors in albs, these may be used for Communion ministers as well -- though this is not required. Communion ministers should NOT wear such vestments if these other ministers are not vested. Use of "stoles" is prohibited.
• Communion ministers are generally seated in the assembly area.
• They do not enter in the entrance procession with the other ministers.
• They should participate in the Mass as active and exemplary members of the assembly.

The Communion Rite

After the invitation to Communion ("This is the Lamb of God... I shall be healed"), as the priest himself receives Communion, the extraordinary ministers of Communion approach the altar. Bishop McCormack has given permission for extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist to come forward at the Sign of Peace and stand to the side of the altar when this is possible. They may not stand in the place of the deacon or concelebrating priests.

Communion from the sacrament reserved in the tabernacle should NOT be common practice. The assembly should be able to receive from the gifts consecrated at the Mass they celebrate. When, however, it is necessary for the Blessed Sacrament to be brought from the tabernacle, the deacon, priest or an assisting priest may do this. The vessel from the tabernacle should be brought to the altar during the breaking of the bread.

After the priest receives Communion, he gives Communion, under both forms, to the deacon and other ministers as they now stand near the altar.

Communion ministers may not wait until the end of the Communion rite to receive Holy Communion. They themselves should humbly accept the holy gifts of the altar and then, share these gifts with their brothers and sisters.

After the eucharistic ministers have received Holy Communion, the priest, assisted, if necessary, by the deacon, hands to each minister the vessel to be used for the distribution of Communion. The ministers may step forward one by one to receive the vessels, rather than requiring the priest to move back and forth from the altar to each minister.

The Communion ministers go to the assigned places to share the Eucharist with the assembly. They distribute the consecrated Host or Precious Blood with the words and actions given in the Order of the Mass, without changing or adding words.

After the distribution, whatever remains of the Body and Blood of the Lord is ordinarily taken to the altar. There the deacon, priest or Eucharistic ministers, reverently consume what remains of the Blood of Christ. Remaining Hosts are also consumed or are taken to the tabernacle. When required, Communion ministers or other communicants may assist in consuming what remains of the Blood of Christ.

Those who take Communion to the sick may be entrusted with the Blessed Sacrament before the Prayer after Communion. They may leave immediately and in any case, will go directly to their visitation.

Remaining Communion ministers return to their places for the rest of Mass. They do not exit in procession with the priest and other ministers.

Purification of Sacred Vessels after Holy Communion

1. The General Instruction makes no provision for laypersons to assist in the preparation and purification of sacred vessels at Mass.
2. Several years ago, the Holy See did grant permission to the dioceses of the United States to engage laypersons (sacristans and Eucharistic Ministers) to assist the priest in the purification of sacred vessels at Mass. When the renewal of this permission was sought in 2006, it was not granted.
3. Note that there is a distinction between “purifying” sacred vessels and “cleaning” them.
   1. Purification of sacred vessels includes putting some water in the sacred vessels and then consuming the remains of the consecrated bread or wine. This action belongs to the ministry of the bishop, priest and deacon.
   2. The “cleaning” of sacred vessels, including washing the vessels after being purified may be done by a deacon or priest and also by a layperson designated by the pastor to do so.

The following practices are to be observed in all celebrations of the Mass in the Diocese of Manchester.

1. Following the distribution of the Precious Blood, the Eucharistic Ministers consume what remains in their cups at the credence table, or, if necessary at the altar.
2. The priest or deacon then purifies the sacred vessels either at the credence table or altar, using the appropriate prayer associated with this purification. ¹ For a large number of sacred vessels, it may be advisable to wait until after Mass to do this. (GIRM, #183).
3. If the sacred vessels are to be purified after Mass, they are brought to the credence table and suitably covered with a clean cloth. After Mass, the sacred vessels are taken to the sacristy where they are purified by the priest or the deacon. Following the purification of the sacred vessels, they are then cleaned by the sacristan or designated layperson.
   Note: When sacred vessels are purified, the deacon or priest may purify by pouring water into the first cup, swirling the water around in the customary manner, and then pouring it into the next cup, and then into the next, etc. After he has done so with the last cup to be purified, he consumes the ablution. The vessels are then set aside to be cleansed.
4. As part of the ongoing formation of Eucharistic Ministers and sacristans, these Directives along with the rationale for making the change from current practice, should be made known and explained to them by the pastor of the parish or the person responsible for the formation of Eucharistic Ministers, at an opportune time no later than Sunday March 4, 2007, the effective date of this Policy .

Other Functions

With specific deputation by the pastor and proper training, extraordinary ministers of Communion may also serve in the following ways (using the appropriate form in the official rituals):

• minister Communion to the sick or to shut-ins;
• in the absence of a priest or deacon, expose the reserved Blessed Sacrament for public adoration and later repose it; they may not give benediction with the Blessed Sacrament;
• in the absence of a priest or deacon, and with proper delegation by Bishop McCormack, lead the rite of Holy Communion Outside Mass.

Other special functions, like distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday or assisting with the St. Blaise blessing may be entrusted by the pastor to any appropriate lay person. That person need not be a minister of Communion, nor does commissioning as an extraordinary minister of Communion bring with it other privileges or duties.

¹ Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me strength and healing, now and forever.