Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

“Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” is the formal title of lay persons who distribute Holy Communion during Mass. There are also “ordinary ministers” – those who are literally “ordained” to the ministry, namely bishops, priests, and deacons. These ministers are the first in order to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ, the deacon being the customary distributor of the cup. In most places, especially when Communion is offered under the forms of both bread and wine, there are rarely enough “ordinary” ministers for the timely distribution of Communion.

Through the local diocese and at the parish level, Communion ministers receive spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. Such preparation addresses appropriate attire, demeanor, and the manner in which to handle the consecrated bread and wine.

The role of the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, like all roles of service, is a true ministry called forth from those who have the special gifts for that ministry. The ministry of the Eucharist is a ministry of gift-giving. It should therefore, be a ministry for those who themselves are loving, generous, and self-giving people. The Ministry of Holy Communion is also a ministry of welcoming. It should therefore, be a ministry for those who are warm and accepting, who can look each person in the eye comfortably, and who can welcome all without judging any.

The person called to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion should have a sense of reverence for the Eucharist that is obvious to all through their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread and wine. Through their example, the Extraordinary Minister encourages equal reverence in those receiving communion.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve by invitation of the Pastor of Christ the King.

Ordinary and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are bishops, priests, and deacons. These persons distribute Holy Communion by virtue of their ordination. “It is first of all the office of the priest and the deacon to minister Holy Communion to the faithful who ask to receive it. It is most fitting, therefore, that they give a suitable part of their time to this ministry of their order, depending on the needs of the faithful” (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outisde Mass, 17).

Under certain circumstances, lay men and women may be delegated to distribute Holy Communion by a bishop (or a priest, on a single occasion). These persons are known as “Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion”. Instituted acolytes (usually seminarians and candidates for the permanent diaconate) become Extraordinary Ministers through their institution. The role of the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion does not replace that of the Ordinary Minister, but supplements it on a provisional basis (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 151). That is, when a sufficient number of Ordinary Ministers is present for the distribution of Holy Communion, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should not serve. The term “Minister of the Eucharist” refers to those who confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist in persona Christi (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 154; CIC, 900). As such, it applies only to bishops and priests.

Need for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass

The Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum states that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be used during Mass when a “Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged” (158). In these cases, it is appropriate for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to be employed. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should not serve if there will otherwise be only a brief prolongation of the Mass (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 158). Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be asked to assist in the distribution of the Precious Blood. When this takes place, “their number should not be increased beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord” (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America, 28). The Bishops of the United States also note that, “in practice, the need to avoid obscuring the role of the priest and the deacon as the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion by an excessive use of Extraordinary Ministers might in some circumstances constitute a reason either for limiting the distribution of Holy Communion under both species or for using intinction instead of distributing the Precious Blood from the chalice” (Norms, 24).

Becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Those who are selected to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a Catholic who has received First Communion and Confirmation and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be assumed.
Not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared.
Be reverential, respectful of his or her faith and the Blessed Sacrament, and of good moral character.
If married, must be in a valid marriage according to the law of the Catholic Church.
Special care should be exercised in the choice of Extraordinary Ministers who will bring Holy Communion to the sick. These individuals should be able to minister to the sick in a compassionate, prayerful, and sensitive way. They should possess psychological maturity and the ability to keep confidences, not discussing indiscriminately the condition of patients or their homes.

Need for extraordinary ministers to bring communion to the sick at home or in health care facilities

The Pastoral Care of the Sick directs pastors to provide for the frequent reception of Holy Communion by the sick and aged (72). These individuals have the right to periodic visits by priests, who, in addition to bringing Holy Communion, can offer the sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick, and bring added comfort and spiritual assistance. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be asked to assist the priests and deacons of a parish in their service to the sick and homebound. This need for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion can arise when distance “makes it difficult to bring communion, especially as viaticum to the sick in danger of death; or when the sheer number of sick people, especially in hospitals or similar institutions, requires several ministers” (Immensae Caritatis, I).

It is particularly appropriate that Holy Communion be brought to the sick from Sunday Mass (see Pastoral Care of the Sick, 73). Sunday, however, is a day on which the pastoral ministry of priests and deacons can make it difficult for them to bring Holy Communion to the sick at home or to healthcare facilities. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion may be employed in these circumstances as well.