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Procedures and Guidelines for LITURGICAL Ministries April 2006
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion New Procedures: Ministering at Mass Ø EMHC’s process in for Sunday and Holy Day Masses behind the Lector(s) or in front of the Deacon with the Book of Gospels. Ø They bow to the Altar from the center aisle and move into the first pew. Ø After the priest receives communion, the EMHC’s reverently process into the sanctuary and form a line in their current location. They receive communion. The priest/deacon gives them their proper vessel and the priest(s), deacon, and EMHC’s move together to their communion stations. Ø After communion, EMHC should return the ciboria to the altar and the priest or deacon will repose the Blessed Sacrament. EMHC’s distributing the communion cup, should return to the credence table and purify their respective communion cup. Ø For the recessional, EMHC should bow from the first pew synonymously with the priest(s), deacon and other minister in the sanctuary and therefore simply process right from their pew to the back of the church. Ministering to the Homebound Ø EMHC’s are required to sign the Sick Call Register to be located in the sacristy for each person they are planning to visit daily. Ø They are to leave their pyx next to the tabernacle before Mass begins. There will be a sheet of paper (not seen by the congregation) laying flat with a number on it. The pyx’s on that sheet would let the priest or deacon know how many hosts to place in the pyx. Ø After the Prayer after Communion, the pyx remains next to the Tabernacle until the minister is ready to leave the church (i.e. Stay for recitation of the rosary or other devotionals).
Readers Procedures: Ministering at Mass: w Readers process in behind the altar servers. If there are two readers and one is carrying the Book of the Gospels, the reader without the Book goes first and then the Book of Gospels follows. Readers are not to walk next to each other if one is carrying the Book of Gospels. If the Deacon is carrying the Book of Gospels, then the two readers process in after the altar servers and walk next to each other. w The Book of Gospels is to be placed in the center of the altar toward the front and lying flat…Do not prop the book up. Remember if you are carrying the Book of Gospels, you do not bow in reverence to the Altar. A bow of reverence is appropriate after you have placed the Book on the Altar. w For Masses with no music (during the week and the Sunday 5PM Mass) the Reader announces the Opening Antiphon and the Communion Antiphon. w Before the reader walks to the lectern to proclaim the reading, they are to Stand, walk toward the Altar, bow to the Altar, then walk to the Lectern. When they have finished proclaiming the reading, they should bow to the Altar, then return to their seat. w Please remember for the consecration, the Church asks that all people kneel. This can be easily done by kneeling on the step by the tabernacle. It is not appropriate to remain standing or to sit (especially if you are in the sanctuary) during this most solemn part of the Mass. |