Revised 2/9/98

Eucharistic Ministers, along with Priest, minister the bread and cup to the assembly during the Communion Rite of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The role of the Eucharistic Minister, like that of all liturgical ministries, is more than simply a practical function. The action of ministering the Eucharistic body and blood of Christ is a ministry, that is, a service of love performed in faith for the good of the community. The Head Eucharistic Minister is the Minister of the Cup.

Key:

• EM--Eucharistic Minister
• HEM--Head Eucharistic Minister

Definitions:

• Gift Table: the table at the rear of the Church in front of the Baptismal Font.
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• Cup Table: facing the altar, the table to the right of the sanctuary, near Blessed Mother's statue.
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• Credence Table: facing the altar, the table to the left of the altar, behind the lectern.
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• Book Table: facing the altar, the table on the right, next to the processional crucifix.

Before Mass

HEAD EUCHARISTIC MINISTER (HEM) COMES TO SACRISTY AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE MASS AND DOES THE FOLLOWING:

1. Puts on an alb and thoroughly washes hands. Takes tabernacle key from closet and checks the ciboria in the tabernacle to see how full they are; closes and locks the tabernacle, leaving the key in the lock.

    

2. a) For the 5p.m. and 8a.m. Masses: Pours 1 1/2 measures of wine in the chalice and one cup. If there is not a full covered ciborium in the tabernacle, place 100 wafers (one tube) in each ciboria (2) with one large segmented host in one of them, then carries the chalice, cup and 2 ciboria to the gift table.

   b) For the 10 a.m. Mass: Pours 1 measure of wine in the chalice and 3 measures in the flagon. If there is not a full covered ciborium in the tabernacle, places 150 wafers (one and one half tubes) in each ciboria (2) with one large segmented host in one of them, then carries the chalice, flagon and 2 ciboria to the gift table.

   c) Full covered ciboria in the Tabernacle: for all Masses use two stainless Ciboria, stacked one inside the other. In the top of one, place 100 or 150 wafers plus the larger segmented host. The HEM places the full covered ciborium from the tabernacle on the credence table immediately before Mass.

   (IT DOES NOT HURT TO MAKE SURE THE SERVERS HAVE PLACED THE WATER CRUET, DISH AND COMMUNION TOWEL ON THE CREDANCE TABLE AND HAVE LIGHTED THE CANDLES.)



3. a) For the 5p.m. and 8a.m. Masses: Places two purificators and one Sunday corporal on the credence table.

   b) For the 10a.m. Mass: Places three (3) cups and three (3) purificators with the tray on the cup table. Place one Sunday corporal and one purificator on the credence table.



4. Returns to sacristy and waits for procession to form.

   Eucharistic Minister comes to sacristy 5 minutes before Mass, checks in with HEM, washes hands, then takes his/her place in the assembly.

Opening Rites and Liturgy of the Word

1. As procession forms, HEM takes his/her place behind Servers and in front of Priest.
2. On reaching the altar steps, HEM pauses, venerates the altar by bowing from the waist, then walks up stairs and takes his/her place at the chair immediately to left of Priest.
3. HEM participates in the celebration as usual, uses red song book or other music aid and sings with the assembly. Unless hearing impaired, HEM does not follow the readings in a missalette.
4. During the Profession of Faith, at the words, "By the power of the Holy Spirit . . ." HEM bows his/her head.

Preparation of Bread and Cup/Eucharistic Prayer

1. After the Profession of Faith and Intercessions, and the congregation is seated, HEM prepares the altar. He/she walks behind the chairs (if practical), takes the Sacramentary from the book table and sets it on the left side of the altar. Then, he/she goes to the credence table and brings the corporal and purificators to the altar. HEM unfolds corporal, places the purificators to the right of the corporal, then opens the Sacramentary to p. 370. After these preparations, HEM venerates the altar bowing head and returns to his/her chair and sits.
2. For the presentation of gifts, the ministers stand when the Priest stands and all walk down the steps where they wait to receive the bread, chalice, cup or flagon and collection basket being carried in procession. HEM stands to the right of Priest, and if he/she receives a ciborium from Priest, hands it to a server. HEM receives chalice from the Priest, carries it to the altar and presents it to the Priest or places it on the altar. HEM returns to his/her chair and sits.
3. After the Sanctus (Holy, holy . . ), HEM remains standing, turned towards the altar. The assembly kneels at this time. At the words of institution ("This is my body. . ."), HEM venerates the Eucharistic bread and then the cup by bowing from the waist as the Priest genuflects or bows.

Communion Rite

(The Communion Rite begins with the Lord's Prayer and ends with the Communion Prayer before the Blessing and Dismissal.)

1. Be prepared to hold hands for the Lord' s Prayer
2. EM: As the FIRST words "Lamb of God. . ." are spoken, EMs leave their places in the assembly and form a line to the east of the altar.
3. a) At 10a.m. Mass, HEM: As the first words "Lamb of God. . ." are spoken, goes to the cup table and brings cups and purificators to the right side of the Priest and places them on the altar and hands the empty tray to the server. Then, HEM takes the flagon and pours wine into the additional cups, emptying the flagon. HEM hands empty flagon to server. If the covered ciborium from the tabernacle is used, HEM goes to credance table and brings the full covered ciborium to the alter, then takes his/her place to receive communion in line at the end furthest from the assembly.

   b) At the 5p.m. and 8A.M. Mass, HEM: as the first words "Lamb of God. . ." are spoken, steps forward to stand at the head of the line of EMs. If the covered ciborium from the tabernacle is used, HEM goes to credence table and brings the full covered ciborium to the altar, then takes his/her place to receive communion.

4. The Priest then ministers the Eucharistic Bread to EMs, beginning with HEM, and then to servers.
5. The Priest then ministers the chalice to the HEM, who takes the chalice and ministers it to the other EMs as the Priest is ministering to the servers.
6. The EM who is standing next to the HEM will be the minister of the bread. After receiving from the cup, the EM who will minister the Eucharistic Bread goes to the altar and picks up the other ciborium. Priest and EM leave the altar and take their places to minister the Bread.
7. As soon as Priest and EM have their ciboria, the HEM proceeds with the chalice and the other EM(s) pick up the remaining cup(s) and purificator(s) and take their places to minister the cup.
8. Please be alert and inform Father if someone in the assembly needs to receive communion at his/her place in the assembly.  
9. After all have received communion, the EM with the ciborium brings it to the altar, transfers all remaining hosts to one stainless ciborium or covered ciborium if present, takes the ciboria with remaining Eucharistic Bread and carries them to the tabernacle. There, put all remianing Bread in the covered ciborium and into the tabernacle, then close and lock the tabernacle showing appropriate reverence. The empty stainless ciboria are left next to the tabernacle. The EM then returns to his/her seat in the assembly.
10. HEM and EMs bring chalice and cup(s) to cup table, face the table and consume any remaining Eucharistic Wine. EMs return to their places in the assembly.
11. HEM goes to altar, folds corporal and takes it and any remaining purificators to the credence table. HEM then closes the sacramentary, reverences the altar, returns sacramentary to the book table (walking behind the Priest if practicable) and is seated.

Concluding Rite

1. HEM stands when Priest stands. After the dismissal ("Go in peace"), the Priest, HEM and servers go to the foot of the altar, turn and facing the altar bow from the waist on the priest's cue. All process out in the same order they came in.

After Mass

1. HEM returns vessels to sacristy and purifies them in the sacrarium.
2. Ask Priest if there is anything else you can do to help.

Guidelines for Ministering the Bread and Cup

Ministering the Bread

Hold the ciborium in your left hand, chest high. As the person approaches, take a wafer of Eucharistic Bread, hold it above the ciborium and say " Body of Christ". When the person has responded "Amen", place the Eucharistic Bread in the cupped hands or on the tongue. "Body of Christ" is a proclamation to which the person responds "Amen".

Ministering the Cup

Hold the chalice/cup in whatever hand is most comfortable and the purificator in the other hand. As the person approaches say "Blood of Christ". When the person has responded "Amen", hand the cup to him/her to drink. When the cup is handed back, wipe the lip of the cup with the purificator. Then turn the cup slightly before repeating the process with the next person.

If the communicant brings the host to the cup minister for intinction, the cup minister takes the host, dips it in the wine and places the host on the tongue of the communicant, saying "Body and Blood of Christ". In ministering the Bread and Cup, the minister's action is an invitation to share in the Eucharistic feast. We should be welcoming, open and affirming, each in his own way; we should look at the Bread and Cup while speaking the words and at the person while awaiting the response.