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Post by Beryllos on Feb 20, 2017 5:41:01 GMT
In my home parish, the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC, commonly called Eucharistic Ministers) approach the altar during the Lamb of God. They put on quite a spectacle as they shake hands with the Altar Servers, squirt and rub hand sanitizer on their hands, and form a row behind the priest at the altar. I had always thought that's just the way it is.
Then I visited a parish where they do it differently. There the EMHCs line up in the aisle, coming no closer than the first row of pews. There they wait until the priest himself has eaten the Body and drunk the Blood. Then they approach the altar from the right (the priest's left) and he ministers to each of them in turn. After they all have received, they proceed to their positions around the church and carry out their ministry. I was pleased to see this protocol. It seemed more formal and respectful.
How do they do it in your parish?
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Post by katie on Feb 20, 2017 7:53:42 GMT
We go up after kiss of peace, We approach through the back side entrance. We greet with a nod..the hand sanitizer is in the back on a table.
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Post by Professor Q on Feb 20, 2017 10:24:52 GMT
Our EMHCs are always religious sisters; there are no lay EMHCs in any of the parishes I've attended. They just come up for Communion and return to their pews thereafter, as unobtrusively as possible. =)
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Post by Irishmom on Feb 20, 2017 13:05:51 GMT
In our church, they also go up after the sign of peace. They seem to converge from all sides and honestly, it is a bit distracting as there are about 6 of them. They line up on each side of the altar, after shaking hands with the altar servers and sometimes 3 adult men whose purpose I am still trying to figure out. There have been times where they practically high five each other when they get there. The smell from all of that hand sanitizer being used reaches all the way back to the pews... Now, I know that some people would say I must not really be paying attention to what the priest is doing, but it's pretty hard to not see all of this going on.  And for those wondering, no, this is not a huge church with so many people we need our priest + 6 + the deacon. Not sure what the big hurry is.  |
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Post by tawny on Feb 20, 2017 15:09:42 GMT
The GIRM is very specific on when the EMHC are to approach the Altar. They are only to go up after the Celebrant has consumed the Precious Body & Blood.
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Post by Beryllos on Feb 20, 2017 16:46:49 GMT
The GIRM is very specific on when the EMHC are to approach the Altar. They are only to go up after the Celebrant has consumed the Precious Body & Blood. Thanks for pointing that out. I don't often read the GIRM and wasn't aware of that point. |
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Post by pianistclare on Feb 20, 2017 18:57:35 GMT
In my home parish, the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC, commonly called Eucharistic Ministers) approach the altar during the Lamb of God. They put on quite a spectacle as they shake hands with the Altar Servers, squirt and rub hand sanitizer on their hands, and form a row behind the priest at the altar. I had always thought that's just the way it is. Then I visited a parish where they do it differently. There the EMHCs line up in the aisle, coming no closer than the first row of pews. There they wait until the priest himself has eaten the Body and drunk the Blood. Then they approach the altar from the right (the priest's left) and he ministers to each of them in turn. After they all have received, they proceed to their positions around the church and carry out their ministry. I was pleased to see this protocol. It seemed more formal and respectful. How do they do it in your parish? Oh goodness. You could be describing my parish. I too am dismayed by hugging kissing and hand sanitizer. This does not go on at the Spanish Mass. They hang back and kneel in front of the first pew, until the Priest and the Deacon receive, then they come to side of the Altar, receive and then proceed to their stations. but the anglos? It's a party. |
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Post by pianistclare on Feb 20, 2017 18:59:09 GMT
Tawny is correct, but how to approach the Pastor about this? He's not willing to change it. Seems it's "the way it's always been done" at our parish.
Seems a shame we can't get our act together. When the Bishop comes, we have so many Deacons he does not see this happening, so he's never said anything about it.
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Post by tawny on Feb 20, 2017 19:56:00 GMT
We have a Bishop in residence in our Parish. Things are done accordingly with the Rubrics, no room for anything else.
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Post by upupandaway on Feb 20, 2017 20:43:21 GMT
We have a Bishop in residence in our Parish. Things are done accordingly with the Rubrics, no room for anything else. You are immensely blessed. Others are not so fortunate.  Ours enter the sanctuary after the Rite of Peace, similar to what Irishmomma describes except without the hand shaking. In fact, they barely acknowledge each other at all. Then the celebrant distributes Communion to them so they can communicate at the same time he does. I'm no liturgical expert by any stretch of the imagination but I understand this to be against the rubrics. Drives me nuts. |
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Post by pianistclare on Feb 20, 2017 21:03:59 GMT
I also get upset when people slam the kneelers, have to hold hands across the aisles for the Our Father, all kinds of odd practices, including a "prayer for the Parish" before the Mass even starts . But people love it. I have no idea. I think it give them a sense of belonging without participating in ministry. They get their friendly "fix" one day a week.
With so many distractions. I now understand why people sit way off by themselves. And why I am glad to attend the Mass in Spanish.
I'll have to hand it to them, the Hispanics don't go for "innovations"..... they'll just find another parish. But parish shopping is not the solution either.
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Post by tawny on Feb 20, 2017 21:41:53 GMT
I also get upset when people slam the kneelers, have to hold hands across the aisles for the Our Father, all kinds of odd practices, including a "prayer for the Parish" before the Mass even starts . But people love it. I have no idea. I think it give them a sense of belonging without participating in ministry. They get their friendly "fix" one day a week. With so many distractions. I now understand why people sit way off by themselves. And why I am glad to attend the Mass in Spanish. I'll have to hand it to them, the Hispanics don't go for "innovations"..... they'll just find another parish. But parish shopping is not the solution either. I agree with people getting their friendly "fix" for the week. It's sad that the Mass has sometimes become a "social event" rather than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. |
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Post by glennonp on Feb 20, 2017 21:45:19 GMT
Our parish is blessed to have three priests and all three of them come to each Mass to distribute Communion (unless they are out of town). We have one acolyte assigned to each Mass and the four of them distribute Communion. We receive the Host only so there really isn't a need for more people distributing.
At the 10:00 Mass each Sunday, 4-5 EMHCs approach the altar after the congregation has received Communion and fill their pyxes to take Communion to the homebound.
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Post by pianistclare on Feb 20, 2017 21:46:54 GMT
True. I honestly think that people simply cannot remember, or cannot see how distracting this is.
I'm all for fellowship, and I love these people. But it does make me wonder if they really "get" what is going on.
It hasn't been THAT long since the good sisters taught us about the real presence, and we catechists try very hard to impress upon the children the importance of the Mass in their lives.
Maybe it's because people are so angry these days, so divided, so far from their relatives......I don't know what the answer is.
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Post by felsguy on Feb 23, 2017 2:59:40 GMT
The nave of my parish church is in the shape of a half circle and there is a handicapped style ramp on each side parallel to the back wall leading to the rear of the raise sanctuary. The EMHCs approach during the Lamb of God (yes, I know, contrary to what the GIRM specifies) using whichever ramp is closest and stand in a line parallel to the back wall at the rear of the sanctuary. This is done without any commotion or drama. I think the congregation is paying more attention at this time to the fractioning rite and the deacon transferring the consecrated hosts from the large "bowl" (not a traditional ciborium) to the smaller ones uses by the EMHCs, while singing as many refrains of the Lamb of God as necessary until he is finished. (This can be quite a few if it's the eldest of our deacons at the heaviest attended Mass  ) Our EMHCs do not wear any special clothes or insignia and are reminded at the quarterly Evening of Recollection for Ministers to dress appropriately as in no t-shirts, short skirts, etc. |
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And for those wondering, no, this is not a huge church with so many people we need our priest + 6 + the deacon. Not sure what the big hurry is. 
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