Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

1. Schedule
   • Arrives by email or US mail 3 times per year.  Dec-Mar, Apr-Jul, Aug-Nov.  Also available online at www.saint-albert.org.
   • Serve approximately every 2-4 weeks
   • Find substitute if you cannot make your scheduled date
   • Email len@excellware.com to change scheduled time, or of you know in advance you will be unable to serve certain dates, or if your email address or telephone# has changed.
2. Arrival
   • Dress Code: Men – ties and jacket, Women – dress or skirt. All should wear their “Sunday Best”
   • Arrive 20 minutes before Mass starts. Volunteer to be a greeter at when scheduled as a minister.
   • PRINT your name in the very next available location on the sign-in sheet now located at the credence table. This is your self-assigned station.
   • If you are a substitute for another minister, PRINT their name next to yours.
3. On the Altar
   • Immediately after exchanging a sign-of-peace, clean hands with small amount of hand sanitizer, and form a line behind the altar boys.
   • After celebrant receives the Body of Christ, proceed all the way across altar, stay back by step.
   • The extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion will no longer receive the Blood of Christ.
   • As soon as you are handed the ciborium with consecrated hosts, leave the altar walking toward the Blessed Virgin Mary statue, holding the ciborium with both hands, walking with respect to your self-assigned station.
   • Upon arrival at your station, turn and face the altar. Begin distributing Holy Communion when the priest celebrant does.
4. Locations - Congregation approaches moving toward center aisle of church, and returns to the outside
   • Row 1 is by choir section – stand with heels at altar step in these 4 locations by altar
   • Row 2 is next to first
   • Row 3 is on opposite side of Church
   • Row 4 is near front of church, serving aisle that leads to Chapel
   • Mail Aisle, Back - stand between last pew in front section, not in aisle. Look for handicapped people and serve entire front row. Alternate both lines if only one minister.
   • Chapel – step up on top step. Alternate both lines if only one minister.
   • Pillars on either side – stand back near pew, near pillar, not in middle of aisle
   • Half-way down row 2 and 3 is small triangular section of pews, stand in center of first pew
   • Next to presider/celebrant – with heels by step or stand on last step if priest does
   • Way Back - sections furthest to the back, only used on Christmas and Easter Masses.
5. Distributing
   • Present host
   • Say words: The Body of Christ.  Do not say the person's name.
   • Give to all that approach
   • Dropped hosts: pick up and hand to person
6. Helping another line
   • Stand right up next to pew 6 feet back from the aisle
   • Never stand next to another minister
   • Give people room to access both ministers
   • Only 2 ministers per line of parishioners
7. Returning to pew
   • Return to altar
   • Hand ciborium to priest or place on corporal (cloth) on altar. Do not transfer hosts.
   • Take empty ciboria back to credence table
8. Holy Days
   • Slightly relaxed dress code.  No jeans, cargo pants, non-dress slacks, T-shirts, etc.
   • No schedule or sign up
9. Christmas & Easter
   • Not-scheduled in advance, sign up sheet available several weeks before holiday
   • 2 extra stations in two back most sections of church
   • If you serve downstairs, you must attend Mass downstairs
10. Not-scheduled
    • Sit near ministers section
    • Watch for ministers to stand at the sign-of-peace, and join them if less that 12 (priests + ministers) at busy Masses, 9 when less crowded.
11. Communion to the sick
    • Borrow ‘pix’ from drawer in sacristy, record your name, and people you will be seeing
    • After Mass has ended, take pix to Tabernacle and place Body of Christ in pix. Place in pouch and hang around neck or place in breast pocket.
    • You must receive Communion at Mass, and not give to yourself when you give to the sick person.
    • No stops on the way
    • Reading (recommended)
    • Pray Our Father together
    • Present Eucharist: The Body of Christ.