The Catholic Center at Georgia Tech

Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Georgia Tech Catholic Center Spring 2010

     Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are servants of the gathered community.  We serve the Assembly by assisting the Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist (Priest) and Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Deacon) at the altar, distributing the Body and Blood of Christ in the species of bread and wine; our Eucharistic feast.  By our lives we are witness to the presence of Christ in the bread and the wine, in the community gathered, and in the world at large.  The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion serves at one of the four Mass times on Saturday and Sunday, agreeing to be an ongoing servant of the community.

     Please note that this semester the Georgia Tech Catholic Center will not be distributing the Blood of Christ during Mass.

Before Mass:

1.     Arrive 10 minutes before Mass.   

2.     Next to the sacristy (on the other side of the glass doors) there is a whiteboard with information regarding the Mass details.  Whether you are serving your scheduled service or substituting for another EM (Extraordinary Minister), write your name in the EM section, confirming that you are ready to serve.   

3.     Only one EM is needed for each of the 5:30pm Saturday, and 10:00am Sunday Masses.

4.     The the 11:30am and 5:30pm Masses on Sunday require 3 EMs. If you see that less than three have signed-in 5 minutes before mass, please take the initiative to fill-in for them on short notice.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

1.    Proceed to the ambo side of the sanctuary steps immediately after the Sign of Peace during Lamb of God and wait for the priest to receive Communion.  

2.    After the priest has received Communion bow out of respect and climb the steps to the altar. Please stand behind the priest and to his left, being sure to leave a comfortable distance between both of you.  Each Extraordinary Minister will receive a paten for distribution and move to his/her respective station. 

3.    At 5:30 Saturday and Sunday 10:00 and 11:30 the EMOHC who distributes communion up front with the priest proceeds immediately to the music ministry and then returns to station beside the priest.   

             At 5:30 Mass on Sunday the choir will receive last.  Ordinarily the choir will synchronize songs

              so that they will be able to get in a communion line.  If the choir has not been able to get in the

communion line the two EMOHCs nearest the choir proceed to the choir for distribution before

returning to the altar. 

4.    When all have received Communion, Extraordinary Ministers with paten bring hosts to the altar and wait as priest consolidates all consecrated hosts into the ciborium. When handing the paten to the priest, wipe your fingers on the purificator if it is available. Be sure to bow to the priest and peacefully return back to your seat.

“ Be a Eucharistic soul!

—If the centre around which your thoughts and hopes turn is the Tabernacle, then, my child, how abundant the fruits of your sanctity and apostolate will be!”

-       St. Josemaría Escrivá, The Forge, Number 835