Eucharistic Ministers

"The Eucharist is essential for us: it is Christ who wishes to enter our lives and fill us with His grace." - Pope Francis

Eucharistic Ministers:

Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist assist the Priest (the ordinary minister of the Sacrament) in the distribution of the Eucharist.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound

Those who are homebound are deprived of their place among the Eucharistic community. To spiritually nourish the homebound, the Church makes Communion possible through Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. These ministers manifest faith and charity on behalf of the whole community to those unable to be present at the Eucharist. For those unable to attend Eucharist, the ability to receive Communion at home is a sign of support and concern by the Christian community.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound are sent forth from the worshiping community. As outline by the Diocese of Venice, to protect both the homebound individual and the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, those who visit the
homebound must be trained, attend a Safe Environment Training session, be fingerprinted, and be assigned.

Adapted: Communion of the Sick, Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.

Requirements to be a Eucharistic Minister:
Those who are 16 and older, and who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, special training and commissioning.  Commissioning means that the pastor in charge of the parish has given you a specific mission of bringing Communion to specific people on behalf of the parish.