Liturgy and Music

Handbook for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Revised October 2002
Effective on the First Sunday of Advent 2002
 

Preface
On Holy Thursday, 2000, Pope John Paul II approved the revised Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, popularly known as the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This revision replaces the 1975 edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and stands in direct continuity with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) of the Second Vatican Council and the former General Instruction on the Roman Missal.

To bring Liturgies in the United Stated into conformity, in part, with the new revision of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the document entitled, Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America. This document became effective on April 7, 2002. Within this document of Norms are provisions for the diocesan bishop to establish certain guidelines for his diocese and to give appropriate permissions.

Subsequently, The Most Reverend Joseph L. Imesch, Bishop of Joliet, issued Specific Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Diocese of Joliet. The First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2002 has been established as the mandatory date for the implementation of these Norms.

This edition of the Handbook for Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at St. Petronille Church brings our parish into conformity with the Communion Norms as established by Rome, the USCCB and the Diocese of Joliet.

The Reverend James Dougherty
Pastor

The Reverend David A. Lawrence
Parochial Vicar

The Reverend John D. Sullivan
Parochial Vicar

Stephen L. Williams
Director of Music and Liturgy

Pre-Mass Preparation

Eucharistic Ministers
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the Liturgy to sign-in, put on “Eucharistic Minister Cross”, check to see if the Deacon or Service Minister needs any help with set up. Allow some time for your private prayer.

Service Ministers
Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the Liturgy to set up for the Liturgy:
General Housekeeping
Turn on lights in sanctuary, chapel & church.
Turn on sound system (single switch).
Check Tabernacle for available consecrated hosts.
(At 11:30 Mass only, if there are too many full small Ciboria in the Tabernacle, don’t completely fill the large pewter bowl for that Mass).
Check wine in refrigerator, if it is very low, replace it.

Credence Table (behind ambo)
Place the Tabernacle Key on Credence Table.
Place a folded large Corporal with 6 Purificators on the Credence Table.
Place the Chalice on the Credence Table. Check Bulletin Board for name of Priest/Presider and use appropriate Chalice. Be certain to check that a large host is on the paten.
Check Water Cruet and fill it with water if needed. Place on the Credence Table. (Not Gift Table)
Place the Fingerbowl (oval glass dish) & finger towel on Credence Table
Make sure there are a total of four (4) empty Ciboria set out, excluding those in the tabernacle.
Prepare silver tray with 6 Cups and 7 Purificators to be placed on Credence Table.
At 7:00 a.m. use 4 cups & 5 purificators

Gift Table (at rear of church)
Fill large Ciborium (large pewter bowl) with hosts. Place on the Gift Table.
Fill large glass pitcher with wine, using chart on the wall for quantity, (level) depending on the time of Mass. Place on Gift Table.
Take empty collection basket to Gift Table.

At Daily Mass (6:15 & 8:00 a.m.)
Place the small Gift Table in front of the first pew as is done for Weddings and Funerals.
Use the small pitcher for wine and one small Ciborium of hosts on the small Gift Table.
Two Cups and 3 Purificators are put on the silver tray and placed on the Credence Table.
A Corporal and two additional Purificators are placed on the Credence Table.

During the Liturgy
As a minister of the Liturgy, the people look to you as a model and example of “full, active, conscious participation” at all times during the Liturgy.

During the Sign of Peace, Eucharistic Ministers come up reverently to the Sanctuary, standing in a row in front of the alcove behind the cantors lectern, facing the altar. The Service Minister stands at the Credence Table. (See diagram 1)

As the Lamb of God begins (Fraction Rite), the Deacon (or Service Minister if there is no Deacon) takes the empty Ciboria and Cups to the altar. (The Service Minister then moves back to the Credence Table.)

Only the Priest and Deacon participate in the Fraction Rite. (i.e.Hosts to small ciboria & Precious Blood to cups)

After the Priest has received Communion under both species, the Eucharistic Ministers move, single file, to create a semi-circle behind the altar to receive Communion.

The Priest gives communion to the Deacon or Service Minister. Then starting on the “Mary” side they will distribute Communion to the Eucharistic Ministers. The Priest will distribute the hosts and the Deacon will offer the Precious Blood. If no Deacon is present, the Service Minister will offer the Precious Blood to all of the Eucharistic Ministers using the Priest’s Chalice. The Cup is never to be passed from minister to minister.

The Priest will then hand the Ciboria and Cups to the Eucharistic Ministers. If a Deacon is present, he may assist the Priest. (Service Ministers do not assist.) The positions of the Eucharistic Ministers indicate which Communion Vessel they will be handed and where they will go to distribute Communion. (See diagram 2.)

The Eucharistic Ministers remain in place until the Priest is ready to move into the Nave. When he moves into the Nave the Eucharistic Ministers also move to their assigned places.

The Priest stands in the center aisle on St. Joseph’s side. All the ministers should be evenly spaced across the front in order to keep the procession flowing smoothly. (See diagram 3.).

Eucharistic Ministers in the center of the church should stand upon the marble step to allow additional “procession flow room”. The priest may elect to stand on the carpet.

When distributing, please say only “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ” without names.

The Service Minister goes directly to the Chapel to distribute hosts to those in the Chapel. After all in the chapel have received Communion, the Service Minister may join the other ministers distributing Communion in the nave or begin clearing the Altar if all Communion stations are fully staffed.

The Service Minister should keep a watchful eye on the procession to anticipate the need of additional hosts and bring a Ciborium of consecrated hosts to any Minister running low on hosts. If a Minister distributing hosts runs out, the Minister may go to the Tabernacle to get a Ciborium of consecrated hosts.

The Service Minister unfolds the Corporal on the Credence Table so that all of the Communion Vessels may be placed on it.

All of the Communion Vessels are brought to the Credence Table. It is here that the remaining consecrated hosts are placed into one Ciborium (more if needed) by the Deacon and/or Service Minister. The Ciborium is then taken to the Tabernacle. All of the remaining Precious Blood is consumed at this time. Each vessel is then placed on the Corporal and covered with a Purificator. Cup Ministers use the Purificator you already have in hand. Extra Purificators will be available for the empty Ciboria. Do not stack the Ciboria. (Purificators are not to be put into the cups.)

Eucharistic Ministers return to their seats in the church.

Purification of the Communion Vessels is done under the supervision of a Deacon or Priest following the conclusion of the Liturgy.

Cleaning and Purification
After the Dismisal, all of the Eucharistic Ministers return to the Sacristy to assist the Deacon and Priest clean and purify the vessels. (If your assistance is not needed, you may leave.)

The Service Minister should also check to make sure the collection basket (in front of the Main altar) is brought into the Sacristy and emptied into the collection box.

Purification
The proper procedure is as follows:
Place a small amount of water in the empty Ciborium or Cup, swirl the water and then consume the water.

Rinse a second time with water and consume again.

The vessels may then be dried or washed with soap and water.

The Service Minister “resets” priest’s chalice and paten with large host.

Please be careful when handling the Priest’s Blessed Chalice.

What to Wear
What we wear says a great deal about what we value. When serving as a Eucharistic Minister, the Christian Worship Commission and Pastoral Staff of St. Petronille ask that you dress as if you were meeting a special dignitary. Christ Jesus is present at our Eucharistic Feast: dress to meet Him face to face.
Dress Code
Women: Dresses or Suits (knee-length)
Blouses/tops with skirts (knee-length) or slacks
Nice shoes with socks or hose

Men: Suits with dress shirt and tie
Dress shirt, tie, sports coat and slacks
Socks and dress shoes
In hot weather, coats and ties are optional

Jeans, shorts, Tee-shirts, tennis shoes and sneakers are not appropriate dress for men and women serving as Ministers in the Liturgy.

Additional Note
In the Priest’s Chalice you may notice a small particle of the Host in the Precious Blood. This particle has been placed there by the Priest as a sign of unity with Rome. Anyone may consume this particle.

Diagram 1
At Sign of Peace

Diagram 2
After Priest Recieves

Diagram 3
Communion Procession

Diagram 4
Daily Mass

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