Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

The ordinary minister of Holy Communion is a priest or deacon. But when the size of the congregation or the needs of the sick require it, the Church calls on laypeople to assist. These are the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

The word "extraordinary" doesn't mean exceptional in the congratulatory sense. It means outside the ordinary structure. It's a temporary extension of a role that belongs properly to the ordained. This is not a promotion. It's a service.

And it's a weighty one. To hold the Body of Christ in your hands and place it in the hands of another, to speak the words "The Body of Christ" and hear "Amen", is to participate in something sacred. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal calls for ministers to approach this duty with reverence and humility, and that's not just liturgical language. It's the only appropriate response to what's happening.

There's another dimension to this ministry that often goes unnoticed: bringing Communion to those who cannot come to Mass. The sick, the elderly, the homebound. For them, the Eucharist arrives not at an altar but at a bedside. The minister becomes the link between the parish and those who are absent but not forgotten.

Contact the parish office at 850-763-1821 or [email protected] to express interest. Training includes theological formation on the Eucharist, practical instruction on distribution, and guidelines for visiting the sick. After training, ministers are formally commissioned during Mass.