EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) performs a great service to Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church, by assisting in distributing Holy Communion to God’s people on those occasions where there is an insufficient number of Priest and Deacons to distribute Holy Communion to the people present at the Mass. It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Church in this capacity, and of course, requires careful preparation on the part of the extraordinary minister.

In our parish training and preparation is either done by the pastor, or by the EMHC Coordinator. It is the purpose of the guideline to assist those individuals who have been mandated by the Bishop. If you feel you are called to this ministry, or have any questions, please contact Lenny Smales. If you are already an EMHC and would like to vist the sick a few times to help and you discern a call to this ministry, please contact Lenny Smales.

It is important that those individuals selected to serve as EMHCs be chosen carefully. The instruction Immensae Caritatis describes the qualifications: “The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith, and morals recommend them. Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar. No one is to be chosen whose appointment the faithful might find disquieting.” In the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, the following norms also apply:

1. EM of Holy Communion, if married, must be in a valid marriage according to Church Law
2. Must have received the sacrament of Confirmation
3. Must be at least 16 years of age (at least 18 years of age if visiting the sick and homebound)

EMHC Coordinator
Lenny Smales
850-865-0391
[email protected]