Training For Extraordinary Ministers

[PhuturePriest]

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

 

Oh yes. The parish that uses them out of necessity since it has thousands of parishioners at a time and has to do back-to-back Masses on Saturday and Sunday (It has a Mass started at 11:30 and then immediately at 1:00) is not a traditional parish at all. Thank you for declaring such things so boldly without knowing anything about the parish.

[KnightofChrist]

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

So would 17 more people. But the need for EMHCs wouldn't rise to the level of extraordinary. One more person wouldn't really save time. Typically as the priest is feeding one side, the other side that previously received is getting up and others are beginning to kneel. By the time they are all kneeled and ready the priest is already giving them Communion. Sure one side may have to wait a couple of seconds but that, again, doesn't rise to the level of extraordinary.

[Groo the Wanderer]

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.  

 

yeah he could.  wish they all would.

 

 

still waiting for a bishop to be named here....can't get any more acolytes instituted nor any more deacon candidates started in formation    poo

[Papist]

So would 17 more people. But the need for EMHCs wouldn't rise to the level of extraordinary. One more person wouldn't really save time. Typically as the priest is feeding one side, the other side that previously received is getting up and others are beginning to kneel. By the time they are all kneeled and ready the priest is already giving them Communion. Sure one side may have to wait a couple of seconds but that, again, doesn't rise to the level of extraordinary.

 

No need for the explanation. I understand the mechanics. I am just saying what the rationale would be to use EMHC. Some EMHC want to minister the Eucharist regardless if needed or not.  Therefore, will need to rationalize the need.

[OnlySunshine]

I thought you all might like to hear from someone on the flipside.  I've been an EMHC at my parish since February 2008.  I consider the ministry a privilege -- not a right -- and I know that it could be done away with at any time.  In fact, I'm all for only ordained clergy giving Communion but that is not possible in my diocese.  We are very short on priests and deacons but we do have quite a few in the seminary (2 from my parish and another was just ordained in December) and 1 parishioner is studying for the permanent diaconate (just got accepted).  I hope and pray we get many more vocations so that EMHCs aren't needed anymore.  However, until then, it's very important to our parish (and our diocese) that we are all trained properly.  In fact, we just completed the necessary 6 hours for the year last weekend and I expect we will be required to have another training session in January 2014.

 

I am well aware of the desire for those who receive on the tongue.  I try my best to meet their wishes.  In fact, my preferred way of receiving is on the tongue.  I've only ever had 1 dropping incident due to a parishioner hitting the Eucharist against his teeth and it dropped to the ground.  I immediately picked it up.  I hate it when things like that happen and I'm grateful it hasn't happened due to a mistake I made.

 

We are very blessed because one of the Sisters who is now a part of our parish community decided to serve as an EMHC with permission from her Superior.  :)

[Slappo]

800-1300 communicants could receive communion from two preists at an altar rail relatively quickly. If you remove the mindset that communion needs to take 5 minutes and mass should not go beyond an hour, the extra 5-10 minutes for 2 priests to distribute communion rather than 12 EMHC's can be used in quiet prayer - one of the traditional charisms of the latin rite liturgy.

 

Anything beyond two priests/priest and deacon at an altar rail is overkill unless you have a huge way long altar rail. There isn't the space for distribution beyond two ministers so nothing would realy speed up. One priest hear's confessions during mass until communion, comes out of the box with a stole and starts distributing. Wham bam. At solemn high masses you already have a priest and deacon (or priest acting as deacon) so you already have two ministers to distribute. If you had a parish with only one priest and no deacons, chances are you wouldn't need someone else to distribute communion, and if you did, institute an acolyte.

[Basilisa Marie]

But the thing is, the normative reception posture in the US is standing.  Anything other than standing is an exception.  If we were to altar rails, we'd have to first change the norm, or at least widen it.  

 

Growing up I went to a Lutheran church every other Sunday (until my mom figured out that the obligation was Mass, not "church" :hehe2:  ), and they actually had altar rails there.  Looking back, it seems like they were a good example of how to use them in a way that would be in line with Vatican II theology.  They were set up around the altar in a U shape, the "bottom" of the U facing the congregation.  I know a lot of people get...touchy...when it comes to altar rails, because there's the huge connotation of separating the people from what's going on on the altar.  But that might be one way to bridge the gap.  And it gave you an opportunity to really place yourself in the presence of God before you received.  Didn't seem any faster than processing forward with EMHCs at the Catholic Church, though.  

[Groo the Wanderer]

800-1300 communicants could receive communion from two priests at an altar rail relatively quickly. If you remove the mindset that communion needs to take 5 minutes and mass should not go beyond an hour, the extra 5-10 minutes for 2 priests to distribute communion 

 

 One priest hear's confessions during mass until communion, comes out of the box with a stole and starts distributing.

 

1.  do the math.  it does not add up.  at 5 seconds per communicant, 1 priest would take 108 minutes and 2 would take 54 minutes to reach 1300.   even at 800 it would take 66 minutes and 33 minutes respectively.

 

2. NONONONO   if one is at Mass they are to assist at the WHOLE Mass.  No confessions during Mass. the local FSSP parish does not hear confessions during Mass either.

[Nihil Obstat]

2. NONONONO   if one is at Mass they are to assist at the WHOLE Mass.  No confessions during Mass. the local FSSP parish does not hear confessions during Mass either.

 

It has been long established that this is an acceptable practice.

[PhuturePriest]

It has been long established that this is an acceptable practice.

 

I've never heard of this practice before in my life.

[Groo the Wanderer]

its an abuse in the EF...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*ducks thrown frying pan*

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur224.htm

Good article on confessions being heard during Mass.

[Groo the Wanderer]

i for one will not hear confessions during Mass, nor will I go to confession during Mass.

[Nihil Obstat]

Redemptionis Sacramentum:

Furthermore, according to a most ancient tradition of the Roman Church, it is not permissible to unite the Sacrament of Penance to the Mass in such a way that they become a single liturgical celebration. This does not exclude, however, that Priests other than those celebrating or concelebrating the Mass might hear the confessions of the faithful who so desire, even in the same place where Mass is being celebrated, in order to meet the needs of those faithful. This should nevertheless be done in an appropriate manner.
Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter (Motu Proprio), Misericordia Dei, 7 April 2002, n. 2: AAS 94 (2002) p. 455; Cf. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Response to Dubium: Notitiae 37 (2001) pp. 259-260.
 

 
 

i for one will not hear confessions during Mass, nor will I go to confession during Mass.

 
 
 
I for one hope that you never hear confessions. :| Edited January 24, 2013 by Nihil Obstat

[Basilisa Marie]

That makes it sound like it's supposed to be an exception to meet the needs of the faithful.  Unless a priest only comes around once a week, I have a hard time understanding how there would be a true necessity to have confessions DURING mass.