 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cornell Catholic Community EM Resource ~ Procedures
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
training notes (Fall 2000) |
|
|
| If you are serving as an EM (Extraordinary Minister of Communion), please arrive for Mass 10 minutes early. When you arrive, report to Theresa and get your assignment (cup/bread, which station, etc.) All the liturgical ministers gather in Room 219 with the presiding priest for a moment of prayer and recollection, just before lining up for the processional. |
|
|
|
It is important that you arrive at least 10 minutes before Mass begins, especially as the semester wears on. If you do not arrive by that time, it becomes hard for us to make judgements about how many extra volunteers do we need. Sometimes, Theresa will be involved in other ministries and won't be able to stay at the back for too long. So come early! |
|
|
|
We use the terms 'Bread' and 'Cup' to refer to the stations for convenience. If there's still no one who made arrangements for the distribution about 5 minutes before Mass begins, someone will have to take the initiative. If we have six student EMs (ie non-chaplains), we'll have 4 Cups and 2 Breads. If we have only 4, we'll have 2 Breads and 2 Cups. If we only have 2 ministers (God forbid!) check with the presiding priest. |
|
|
| Normally, we will have 6 student EMs. After prayer at 219, we will form up for the entrance procession at the door. The order of procession is as follows: Cross Bearer, the 6 EMs in twos behind the cross, Second Chaplain, the Gospel Book Bearer , and finally the Presider. |
|
|
|
The Procession symbolizes our own journey here on earth: we are processing towards the kingdom of God while on earth. Christ's cross is our staff and mark (hence it is ahead) and Christ's word (symbolized by the Book of the Gospel) is our guide. |
|
|
| During the entrance procession, walk normally up to your row of seats. Please have your own hymnal!.Before you enter your row of seats, bow reverently from the waist to the altar as a pair and move to your seat. Your seats should be marked by a tag. There should be one bread minister and two cup ministers at each side. |
|
|
|
The pace is set by the Cross bearer. It might be a bit fast or slow, depending on who it is; in any case walk with dignity (as the children of God), purposefully and reverently. And please sing along. As ministers, we have an added role to help foster participation among the faithful gathered. If you do not sing, who will? |
|
|
|
The altar symbolizes Christ who is preist, altar and the lamb of sacrifice that takes away our sin, the sacrifice being made present on the altar through the liturgy and consecration. Hence we bow (not genuflect!) to venerate the altar. Bowing in the Roman traition means bending from the waist (also called a full bow) A single genuflection is made to the Blessed Sacrament (see Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass no. 84.) |
|
|
|
The statement that there should be one bread minister and 2 cup ministers is not a hard-fast rule. It is largely aesthetic and less confusing to have some sort of routine. From now on, participate in Mass normally, as you would in a congregation. Remember that you are ministers of the community and should help foster participation in the liturgy. |
|
|
| EMs will move up to the altar (stage) during the singing of the " Lamb of God" . EMs will stand behind the presider's chair, with the two bread ministers in front. You will receive Communion after the Second C haplain has done so, and you will be given the consecrated species for distribution. One or two of those ministering the consecrated wine should minister to the choir |
|
|
|
Here is where confusion most easily occurs. Generally, we try to give the cup ministers the cups first so that they can minister to the choir as soon as possible. The general idea is to administer communion to the ministers on stage as quickly as possible so that we can start ministering the gathered congregation, without rushing in the process. If in your judgement more ministers are needed for the choir (e.g. Holy Thursday), feel free to assist at the choir. |
|
|
| Proceed to your stations when the priest is ready. There are usually 4 stations ministering the consecrated bread around the lectern, and 2 stations ministering the consecrated wine on both sides of the auditorium (total of 4). |
|
|
If you are ministering the Body of the Lord
Take a piece of the consecrated bread using your fingers and raise it to a suitable level when a member of the community (called communicant) approaches you. Say clearly, "The Body of Christ" . Do not change the words. It is good to smile and maintain eye-contact. While we expect a response from the communicant (the "Amen" ), we should not refuse Communion to anyone who does not respond. Should you run out of consecrated bread, there is a chalice of consecrated hosts on the altar. You may take some hosts from that ciborium onto your paten (plate) and continue distributing C ommunion. Never take the entire ciborium with you! You may also direct communicants to another minister especially if only a few communicants are left. You may also be required to break the consecrated bread into smaller pieces. |
|
|
If you are ministering the Blood of the Lord
Make sure you have the purificator (white cloth) with you. When a communicant approaches you, raise the chalice (cup) to a suitable level and say distinctly, "The Blood of Christ" . Do not change the words. Smile and maintain eye-contact. We expect the communicant to respond \lquote Amen\rquote and take the chalice into his hands and take a sip from the chalice. Do not hand them the purificator! Receive back the chalice (don't slip!) and wipe the area which the communicant' s lips has touched with the purificator. Be careful not to put the purificator inside the cup. Turn the chalice slightly for the next communicant. If your cup empties, place the purificator over the chalice to indicate that you have no more consecrated wine left. Occasionally, someone may dip the consecrated brea d into the chalice (intinction). Although this is not permitted by the directives, it is best not to make an issue of it. |
|
|
|
While as lay ministers we should not question people's dispositions without just cause, we are nontheless required to prevent desecration of the Eucharist. If someone is publicly excommunicated by the Church and is present in the community, or someone you know to be non-Catholic but has kept coming forward for Communion, seek the pastor for instructions. If you notice that any communicant moves away with the consecrated bread back to the pews, you may choose to inform a chaplain immediately if necessary. While the chances that the person will leave immediately is rare, it does not hurt to follow the judgement of your conscience, even if that meant disrupting the orderly distribution of Communion. In particular, if you feel uneasy about certain procedures being done in our community, seek counsel from the pastor as soon as possible. The Church is being constantly renewed to live more faithfully and clearly the Tradition of the Apostles. There's no reason why we should not need renewal. |
|
|
| At the end of Communion, move with the rest of the ministers through the door on stage-right into the front sacristy. Generally, we consume any remaining consecrated wine and consecrated bread if asked by the Second C haplain. All ministers should help in consuming any species that is left. After that has been done, leave the sacristy and return to your seats. You do not need to wait for the Second C haplain to repose the Blessed Sacrament. The last EM to pass through the doors should close it quietly, both on the way in and out. If you sit on the right side of the auditorium, and will pass by the altar on the way to your seats, stop in front of the altar and bow reverently. |
|
|
| EMs participate in the Recessional. W hen the priest moves to venerate the altar, the Lectors will retrieve the Cross and the Gospel Book. EMs will form up as in the entrance procession after the Cross is in place and before the Gospel Book. There will be one last veneration of the altar, so wait in formation facing the altar. When the priest bows to the altar, all ministers (except the Gospel Book and Cross bearers) follow suit. After bowing, ministers turn to process out of the auditorium. EMs should turn inwards |
|
|
|
The cross and Gospel Book are symbols of Christ. Hence those bearing them do not bow to the altar. The general exception occurs when the tabernacle is in the santucary, when then the cross bearer mades a simple bow of the head. (The Book Bearer still do not bow, it looks awkward.) |
|
|
|
While on this, the Roman tradition reserves genuflection for the Eucharist. It expresses a notion of worship, acknowledging the true presence of Christ our king under the appearances of bread and wine. The only place where genuflection is used outside of the Eucharistic context is on Good Friday when we venerate the cross. There we adopt genuflection as a more solemn notion of veneration of the cross on which Christ redeemed the world and which all Christians are called to carry after Christ. |
|
|
| When accidents happen. |
|
|
| If you or the communicant drops the consecrated bread, pick it up reverently. You may choose to either consume it or leave it on the paten. The home-baked bread fragments easily. Any fragments should be picked up reverently because they, too, are consecrated bread. |
|
|
| If you or the communicant spill the consecrated wine, quickly prevent the spilled wine from flowing around by covering the area with your purificator. More purifcators are available in the drawers in the front sacristy. |
|
|
| If someone intends to communicate the Blood through intinction but drops the consecrated bread into the chalice in the process, ask that person to receive another piece of consecrated bread. Do not attempt to "fish out" the bread! |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
This training notes are reproduced and commented for your information and reflection. Last updated: March 21, 2001 |
|