Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  In order to serve the People of God, we have two types of ministers of Holy Communion: Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  

 Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are the bishop, the priests, and deacons (permanent and transitional).

the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishop, the Priest and the Deacon, to whom it belongs therefore to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of Mass. In this way their ministerial office in the Church is fully and accurately brought to light, and the sign value of the Sacrament is made complete (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 154).

Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Formally Instituted Acolyte

The acolyte is the first designated Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. He is the proper server at Mass and other liturgical functions. ... In short, all the duties of a server and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and part of the sacristan's duties, are those of the Acolyte. The acolyte is instituted by a bishop in order to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest.

In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law, for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 155)

Delegated Lay Men and Women

There are lay men and women who are delegated by the bishop and called to serve as Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  This is in two ways:

  1. During Holy Mass

Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the 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. This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 158).

2. Taking Communion to the Sick, in hospitals and homes.  Those who are homebound and are in need to receive Communion.

A Priest or Deacon, or an extraordinary minister who takes the Most Holy Eucharist when an ordained minister is absent or impeded in order to administer it as Communion for a sick person, should go insofar as possible directly from the place where the Sacrament is reserved to the sick person’s home, leaving aside any profane business so that any danger of profanation may be avoided and the greatest reverence for the Body of Christ may be ensured. Furthermore the Rite for the administration of Communion to the sick, as prescribed in the Roman Ritual, is always to be used.(Redemptionis Sacramentum, 133).\

If you feel called to serve as an Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, please contact ROBERT MIRABAL at robertm@stx.rr.com or call the Parish Office at 361.882.7912.