Eucharistic Ministers

The Communion Ministry involves three distinct ministry roles: the Principal Communion Minister at the Altar, the Minister of the Cup and the Communion Minister to the Sick and Shut-in.

The Principal Minister at the Altar responsibilities include: the preparation of the bread, wine and vessels before Mass, the preparation of the altar during Mass, the distribution of the Body of Christ and the cleaning of the vessels after Mass. Those who are called to this ministry must, above all else, know how to be truly present to others in the moment they have. They are brothers and sisters in this very body and blood they are sharing, and not only speak their own faith in saying "Body of Christ," they call forth the faith of the one receiving.

The Minister of the Cup presents the Blood of Christ to Assembly members. When presenting the Blood of Christ to the Assembly member, the Cup Minister raises the cup and audibly states, "The Blood of Christ." Then, the Cup Minister hands the cup to the Assembly member to drink, receives the cup back, wipes the rim of the cup, and turns the cup before repeating the process with the next Assembly member.

Communion Ministers to the Sick and Shut-in take consecrated hosts to those members of our parish who have requested that the sacrament be brought to them in their home, hospital or long-term care facility. Ministers follow a prescribed ritual in the distribution of Holy Communion. Ministers share the recordings of the Mass to parishioners who have previously requested them.

Training is provided for all Communion Ministries. A person may serve in all or some of these three communion minisies.