Ministers of Holy Communion

ü      Dress appropriately for mass – Shorts and/or jeans are not considered appropriate church attire and definitely are not permitted when serving as a Minister of Communion. 

ü      If you are scheduled for a specific mass and are unable to attend, please either find a substitute or contact Jan Parker at the parish office (call or email) in advance of your scheduled mass. 

ü      Arrive 15 minutes before mass.

ü      When you arrive at mass…

o       Regardless of whether you are scheduled to serve as a Eucharistic Minister, check to see if assistance is necessary.  It’s likely that your help will be welcomed since we often don’t have enough Ministers.

o       Sign in and make sure to note your cross number next to your name on the sign in sheet.

o       If you take a cross to serve as a Minister and the Mass Captain is unaware, make sure to find the Mass Captain and check in – let the Captain know the number on the back of cross that you took.

o       Only take crosses from the counter – do not remove crosses from the basket or from behind the counter.

ü      During mass…

o       The appropriate time to go up the steps onto the altar is when Father picks up his chalice. 

o       When serving communion, if you run out of the Body, it’s fine to request some from another Minister.  If you run out of the Precious Blood, it is not appropriate to pour from chalice to chalice.

o       Always use a dish (“patten”) when serving communion.

o       Choir members that are unable to participate in the regular communion distribution process will need to be offered communion after parishioners have finished.  The first Minister to approach the credence table should look to the choir leader for a count of the number of communicants that will need to be served (look for Jan Parker, Vic Dubrowski or Lauren).  If Jan, Vic or Lauren are not available, the Mass Captain will take count.  Either the Mass Captain or Eucharistic Ministers in positions R9 and R10 will offer communion to the choir.

o       It’s important that we don’t delay returning the Body of Christ to the tabernacle.  Separate the amount needed for the Choir as soon as possible so the Deacon (or Mass Captain in the absence of a Deacon) can return the remainder to the Tabernacle.

o       After serving communion, place purificators next to cups, not inside.

o       If you become ill during mass and need to leave, make sure to give your cross to someone who is part of the mass celebration (Mass Captain, another Eucharistic Minister, Usher, etc.).

o       Instead of Eucharistic Ministers waiting by the credence table until everyone is done, Ministers that finish before Father and/or the Deacon could return to their pew upon completing their responsibility.  The last few Ministers that arrive at the table at the same time as Father, the Deacon and/or the Mass Captain could remain at the table out of respect.  This would provide less congestion at the credence table.  It would also allow the Deacon or Mass Captain to most reverently expedite the final step of placing consecrated hosts in the tabernacle. 

ü      After mass…

o       Please volunteer to stay and cleanse vessels; we need four people to assist at each mass.

o       Leave all chalices (including Fathers), the large pitcher and a small pitcher of water on the credence table – a Deacon will come back to purify the vessels after mass.  Once purified, all vessels can be properly cleansed by Eucharistic Ministers.

Ministers of Holy Communion

ü      Dress appropriately for mass – Shorts and/or jeans are not considered appropriate church attire and definitely are not permitted when serving as a Minister of Communion. 

ü      If you are scheduled for a specific mass and are unable to attend, please either find a substitute or contact Jan Parker at the parish office (call or email) in advance of your scheduled mass. 

ü      Arrive 15 minutes before mass.

ü      When you arrive at mass…

o       Regardless of whether you are scheduled to serve as a Eucharistic Minister, check to see if assistance is necessary.  It’s likely that your help will be welcomed since we often don’t have enough Ministers.

o       Sign in and make sure to note your cross number next to your name on the sign in sheet.

o       If you take a cross to serve as a Minister and the Mass Captain is unaware, make sure to find the Mass Captain and check in – let the Captain know the number on the back of cross that you took.

o       Only take crosses from the counter – do not remove crosses from the basket or from behind the counter.

ü      During mass…

o       The appropriate time to go up the steps onto the altar is when Father picks up his chalice. 

o       When serving communion, if you run out of the Body, it’s fine to request some from another Minister.  If you run out of the Precious Blood, it is not appropriate to pour from chalice to chalice.

o       Always use a dish (“patten”) when serving communion.

o       Choir members that are unable to participate in the regular communion distribution process will need to be offered communion after parishioners have finished.  The first Minister to approach the credence table should look to the choir leader for a count of the number of communicants that will need to be served (look for Jan Parker, Vic Dubrowski or Lauren).  If Jan, Vic or Lauren are not available, the Mass Captain will take count.  Either the Mass Captain or Eucharistic Ministers in positions R9 and R10 will offer communion to the choir.

o       It’s important that we don’t delay returning the Body of Christ to the tabernacle.  Separate the amount needed for the Choir as soon as possible so the Deacon (or Mass Captain in the absence of a Deacon) can return the remainder to the Tabernacle.

o       After serving communion, place purificators next to cups, not inside.

o       If you become ill during mass and need to leave, make sure to give your cross to someone who is part of the mass celebration (Mass Captain, another Eucharistic Minister, Usher, etc.).

o       Instead of Eucharistic Ministers waiting by the credence table until everyone is done, Ministers that finish before Father and/or the Deacon could return to their pew upon completing their responsibility.  The last few Ministers that arrive at the table at the same time as Father, the Deacon and/or the Mass Captain could remain at the table out of respect.  This would provide less congestion at the credence table.  It would also allow the Deacon or Mass Captain to most reverently expedite the final step of placing consecrated hosts in the tabernacle. 

ü      After mass…

o       Please volunteer to stay and cleanse vessels; we need four people to assist at each mass.

o       Leave all chalices (including Fathers), the large pitcher and a small pitcher of water on the credence table – a Deacon will come back to purify the vessels after mass.  Once purified, all vessels can be properly cleansed by Eucharistic Ministers.