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Training For Extraordinary Ministers


PhuturePriest

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Basilisa Marie
Reality in my parish:

7 Masses per weekend

3 priests, 2 deacons

avg Mass attendance: 800-1300 per Mass

 

EMHCs are necessary just to accommodate all the people and Mass times.  Even if all 3 priests and both deacons were at all 7 Masses (and they are not/can not be), it would extend each Mass by 1/2 hour to distribute to everyone. That would move the last Mass on Sunday to after 6pm.  not good.

 

 

That said...we use WAY too many EMHCs.  We usually have 1 priest, 1 deacon, 2 acolytes, and 7-9 additional EMHCs.  blech.

 

My thought: until we catch back up on priests and deacons, eliminate the female EMHCs completely. Submit the male EMHCs as instituted acolytes.  At least that way, they should get better training and are held to a higher standard by the bishop.

 

I was about to throw a feminist fit until you said "acolyte."  Then I was happy again.  :)

 

That might be a good way to address the problem in some areas.  But bishops could also just mandate better training for EMHCs.  Make everyone go to a training session before they're instituted.  

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yeh..so I started trying to receive on the tongue..but sometimes I see that there is a young person acting as the EMHC and chicken out :(

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PadrePioOfPietrelcino
yeh..so I started trying to receive on the tongue..but sometimes I see that there is a young person acting as the EMHC and chicken out :(

The young ones seem to do better from my experience, the Oder ones stare for a bit before they realize you want on the tongue.
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yeh..so I started trying to receive on the tongue..but sometimes I see that there is a young person acting as the EMHC and chicken out :(

 

I've had this problem with many EMHCs in the past. I actually get in the priest or deacon's line so there aren't any problems. I haven't had an issue since.

 

p.s. We're supposed to stick out our tongues? I never have. But then again, no one ever taught me what to do, I just did. (Of course, I'm also fun-sized, so when I receive I'm looking up slightly.)

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dominicansoul

There's a lady who takes Jesus to the sick.  Trouble is, I saw her in the tabernacle after Mass on sunday, then I saw her stick the pix in her pocket.  then I saw her go into the hall and sit down and have a chat with her friends and eat breakfast for about an hour.  

 

I didn't ask her if she still had Jesus on her person.  For all I know she may have been putting hosts back into the Tabernacle.  

 

But it made me a little weary, because what if she did have Him on her person?  That is not acceptable to go about your business after Mass and carry Him around like that!  She needs to go immediately to the sick with Him, not stick Him in her pocket and act like she's NOT carrying the King of the Universe!!

 

I really hope that wasn't the case!! :(

 

I'm having a meeting with Father this week.  I'm going to ask him to re-train EMs or at least, announce they should take him immediately to the sick after removing him from the tabernacle...

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PhuturePriest
There's a lady who takes Jesus to the sick.  Trouble is, I saw her in the tabernacle after Mass on sunday, then I saw her stick the pix in her pocket.  then I saw her go into the hall and sit down and have a chat with her friends and eat breakfast for about an hour.  

 

I didn't ask her if she still had Jesus on her person.  For all I know she may have been putting hosts back into the Tabernacle.  

 

But it made me a little weary, because what if she did have Him on her person?  That is not acceptable to go about your business after Mass and carry Him around like that!  She needs to go immediately to the sick with Him, not stick Him in her pocket and act like she's NOT carrying the King of the Universe!!

 

I really hope that wasn't the case!! :(

 

I'm having a meeting with Father this week.  I'm going to ask him to re-train EMs or at least, announce they should take him immediately to the sick after removing him from the tabernacle...

 

I heard of a case like this once. The Priest was infuriated and directed the person to tell his/her Priest immediately about it so something could be done.

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Groo the Wanderer
That might be a good way to address the problem in some areas.  But bishops could also just mandate better training for EMHCs.  Make everyone go to a training session before they're instituted.  

 

Only prob here is that EMHCs are NOT instituted minsters.  The pastor has discretion.  The Ministry of Acolyte IS an instituted ministry of the Church so the local ordinary has full authority and oversight.

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If you've got EM's (let alone female EM's) that's not a trad parish!

 

It needs to be better. I went to Mass yesterday, and being the Pope-abiding Catholic I am I received on the tongue (As I always do). This lady obviously had little experience with this, as she just barely put it to the edge of my lip and it fell as soon as she let go. Thankfully my ninja skills saved the day and I caught it immediately against my jaw. She said sorry and I smiled and said it was okay, but I was surprised she had no idea what to do, especially since it is a traditional parish. Do extraordinary ministers not get any training on this, or was she just a germaphobe?

 

 

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If you've got EM's (let alone female EM's) that's not a trad parish!

 

I personally am not fond of the use of EMHCs, but I understand that EMHCs are allowed.  The Church allows EMHC. Stating that not traditional when practicing a Church allowed function does not seem very traditional . Are you saying the Church it not traditional? 

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KnightofChrist
I personally am not fond of the use of EMHCs, but I understand that EMHCs are allowed.  The Church allows EMHC. Stating that not traditional when practicing a Church allowed function does not seem very traditional . Are you saying the Church it not traditional? 

 

The Church is traditional, even if some in the present authority of the Church temporally allow for things that are not traditional.

 

Communion on the hand whilst standing created the need for EMHCs, though that need is greatly abused. Communion on the tongue while kneeling and the Communion rail would pretty much void the need for EMHCs.

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The Church is traditional, even if some in the present authority of the Church temporally allow for things that are not traditional.

 

Communion on the hand whilst standing created the need for EMHCs, though that need is greatly abused. Communion on the tongue while kneeling and the Communion rail would pretty much void the need for EMHCs.

 

Why would EMHCs not be allowed to minister the Eucharist when Communion rails are used?

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Groo the Wanderer
Communion on the hand whilst standing created the need for EMHCs, though that need is greatly abused. Communion on the tongue while kneeling and the Communion rail would pretty much void the need for EMHCs.

 

Incorrect.  The dwindling number of priests, the failure of Bishops to implement the restored permanent diaconate after Trent, and the increasing trend of 'frequent communion' gave rise to the need for EMHCs.

 

Removing the indult for reception in the hand and restoring the rails would be the greatest thing since stuffed-crust pizza, but it would not change the above 3 factors.  We still do not have enough priests and deacons, and ever increasing numbers of frequent communicants.

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KnightofChrist
Why would EMHCs not be allowed to minister the Eucharist when Communion rails are used?

 

I'm sure some Bishops would allow EMHCs even if the whole of the Church returned to Communion on the tongue while kneeling at the Communion rail. It would simply remove the need for EMCHs. With the faithful kneeling at the Communion rail the priest can safely and quickly move up and down the other side to give Communion to each of the faithful. The need for EMHCs is created when there is but one priest (or very few priests) offering Communion to all the faithful in a parish, who all line up single file in front of him.

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I'm sure some Bishops would allow EMHCs even if the whole of the Church returned to Communion on the tongue while kneeling at the Communion rail. It would simply remove the need for EMCHs. With the faithful kneeling at the Communion rail the priest can safely and quickly move up and down the other side to give Communion to each of the faithful. The need for EMHCs is created when there is but one priest (or very few priests) offering Communion to all the faithful in a parish, who all line up single file in front of him.

 

Yes, but two people will be faster than one. I am not advocating this, just saying what will be the rationale for using EMHCs.  

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Basilisa Marie
Only prob here is that EMHCs are NOT instituted minsters.  The pastor has discretion.  The Ministry of Acolyte IS an instituted ministry of the Church so the local ordinary has full authority and oversight.

 

Bad use of "instituted" on my part.  Mea Culpa. :)  

 

But the bishops still COULD come up with a program for EMHCs without making them acolytes.  He's got the power to do so, is all I'm saying.  

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