IMG_1202Eucharistic Ministers are a valued part of our parish.

Ms. Patricia Thompson co-ordinates this ministry

A Rota for each month can be viewed in the Notice Board in the Church Porch.

 

ROTA for February

6pm Vigil Mass

, Stella Canny, Teresa McGowan,Vera Coughlan,Ann Gallagher

10 am Mass

Edel Linnane, Rita Duffy, Teresa Connors, Michael McDonagh, Teresa Connors

12 Noon

Anne Murphy,  Sr. Brid Scully

 

New Eucharistic ministers are always encouraged to join and are welcome.

 

What does a Minister of the Eucharist do?
• The Eucharistic Minister offers communion to other members of the community at Mass, or brings communion to those who are unable to attend Mass;
• The Eucharistic Minister assists the celebrant at Mass in sharing the sacred Body and Blood of Christ;
• The Eucharistic Minister acts on behalf of the community when s/he brings communion to the sick or housebound.

Practical Suggestions as you prepare:
• Take some time to prepare yourself for your ministry before Mass…be conscious of the role you will play at this Eucharist;
• Be comfortable in the role – take time to be familiar with the sanctuary of your local parish, be clear on what you are being asked to do and check out with the priest or a more experienced minister, if you have any questions;
• Pray for those to whom you will minister;
• Be comfortable in what you are wearing;
• Practise with the unconsecrated hosts in your own church – notice what YOU need to do to be able to minister in this place;
• If you cannot attend the Mass you are on the rota for, please find a replacement and tell them where your ‘station’ is.
• Ask others for feedback.

Ministering at Mass:
• Wait until the OUR FATHER before coming forward;
• Bow to the altar which is our focus at this point;
• Begin by washing your hands in the bowl provided;
• Be focused on the altar for the fraction of bread….this is an important part of our celebration;
• Receive communion under both kinds/species;
• Take the ciborium or chalice to the arranged station in the church;

Sharing the Consecrated Host:
• As the person stands in front of you, hold it up at their eye level and say the faith words: The Body of Christ;
• Pause to allow the person to respond;
• Then place the host in the palm of their hand (or on the tongue) while still looking at the person.

Sharing from the Chalice
• The usual practice is to present the chalice to the person with the words of faith: The Blood of Christ;
• Allow a moment for them to respond before handing them the chalice;
• Then wipe the outside and the inside of the rim with the purificator and turn the cup a quarter way around.

• Take your time.
• If a host drops there is no need to panic. Just pick the host up and either consume it yourself there and then or place it in between the fingers of the hand holding the ciborium. Then on returning to the sanctuary give it to the priest, who will, after Mass, break it up, place it in water and pour down the sacrarium.
• If the Blood of Christ spills, position yourself so that no one will step on it. Before returning to the sanctuary place the open purificator over it until it can be washed after Mass and the water poured into the sacrarium.
• After communion, return the ciborium to the altar table. You can dry clean your fingers over the ciborium or in the bowl of water provided, if necessary. As the tabernacle is now the focal point of adoration, reverently bow to it before departing the sanctuary.
• Take your time coming down from the altar.

Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign
when it is distributed under both kinds.
For in this form
the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident…

General Instruction to the Roman Missal 281

The faithful know and receive the Body of Christ
if they labour to be the body of Christ;
and they become the body of Christ if they live by the Spirit of Christ:
for that which lives by the Spirit of Christ is the body of Christ.

                           St. Augustine

(Courtesy Kerry Diocese)