Eucharistic Minister Guidelines
We, your people and your ministers, recall Jesus' passion,
his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory;
and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God
of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread
of life and the cup of eternal salvation. (Eucharistic Prayer
I)
BEFORE MASS
1. Arrive at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to
the Liturgy. Please go to the work sacristy (north) and initial
the sheet on the clipboard indicating your presence. Please note
whether you are Host* or Cup* (signified by an asterisk *). If
there is a Liturgy Coordinator present, check in with him/her
to let them know you are present.
2. Please participate at the liturgy with your family.
There is no designated place for the ministers to sit but it would
be helpful if you were located somewhere near the end of the row
so that you can leave your row easily.
THE COMMUNION RITE - during Mass
1. Come to the sanctuary from your place in the
assembly immediately following the Sign of Peace. Please bow individually
or with other ministers as you proceed into the sanctuary. Do
not wait for the other ministers.
2. Host* minister should leave at the beginning
of the Sign of Peace to allow time to remove the ciborium from
the tabernacle and place it on the right side of the altar. He/she
then stands behind the priest at the altar with the other ministers.
3. The Servers bring the cups from the credence
table and place them on the left side of the altar. Cup minister
pours the Precious Blood into each cup, using a purificatar to
insure that nothing is spilled. He/she leaves the decanter on
the altar and then stands next to the other cup ministers. If
you do not see the servers bringing the cups and plates to the
altar, please assist them in doing so. (If a deacon is present,
he will act as Cup* and pour the wine.)
4. All ministers of communion line up behind the altar. Cup ministers
stand to the left. Host ministers stand to the right. Cup minister
stands just slightly in front of the other ministers so as to
designate to the priest his/her role.
Host = H, Cup = C, Server = S, Musician/Cantor = M
5. Before the presentation of the host and cup,
the presider will distribute to the servers, music ministers and
all Eucharistic Ministers. Please keep the host in palm of your
hand until the priest presents the host and cup to the community
saying, "Behold the Lamb of God..." All ministers consume
the host as the priest consumes his.
6. After the prayers, the priest will offer his
chalice to Cup* minister or to the Deacon, if one is present.
He/she consumes the Precious Blood, gives the cup back to the
priest, and then proceeds to distribute the cup to other ministers
present. He/she distributes each cup individually until all cups
from the altar are in the hands of the ministers.
7. Cup ministers then distribute the Precious Blood
to remaining host ministers.
8. Host ministers come forward and take prepared
ciboria from the altar or from the priest.
9. Presider distributes from his chalice to servers
on left, and any music ministers there present. He returns the
chalice to the altar table, takes his plate and prepares to move
to center aisle.
10. Eucharistic Ministers then move to their respective communion
stations. If there is a Deacon present, the Deacon takes the Presider's
cup and is an additional cup minister.
11. After all have received, host ministers proceed
to the altar and consolidate the remaining hosts at the altar.
Host minister then returns remaining hosts to the tabernacle.
The remaining ministers return any vessels to the credence table.
Upon crossing in front of the altar, ministers bow.
PURIFYING THE VESSELS - After Mass
1. After the Liturgy, ministers return to the sacristy
and purify the vessels.
2. Consume any precious blood remaining in cups.
3. Wash vessels with water from the sink and dry
with the towels near the sink.
4. Return soiled purificators and towels to the
laundry basket.
5. Place the cups and purifacators needed for the
next Liturgy on the credence table.
5:00 p.m. - 4 Cups
8:00 a.m. - 3 Cups
9:30 a.m. - 4 Cups
11:00a.m. - 4Cups
12:30 p.m. - 3 Cups
TAKING COMMUNION TO THE SICK
There is a constant need for this very important
ministry. Ministers spend approximately one hour every other weekend
taking the Eucharist to the shut-in and homebound members of our
parish community. We extend the Eucharistic celebration and the
community's prayerful support for those unable to join with us
at Sunday Mass. If you would like to minister the Eucharist to
the sick, please contact Hilary Morton at 486-2955.
