All Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion and to the Sick and Homebound must receive training at their local parish and be commissioned by the Pastor (or Parish Priest). Persons who are not trained and commissioned cannot bring Holy Communion outside the Church.

Parishioners interested in volunteering should contact the Ministry Leader, Vilma Jeffries Macalalad.

Members must attend quarterly meetings to stay abreast of news and issues. Contact the team leader if you are not able to attend. See the Events calendar for date, time and location of the next meeting.

Diocese of Sacramento: WORSHIP AND PRAYER INCLUDING THE SACRAMENTS.

General information: catholicexchange.com/when-lay-ministers-take-holy-communion-to-the-sick/

Tri-Parish Guidelines:

1. All EMHCs are given identification cards once they are commissioned. I.D. Cards must be clearly printed with the name of the minister, parish affiliation, signature of the pastor, and the head EMHC and expiration date. This should be worn each time they take and bring Holy Communion to the sick and homebound.
2. If you have purchased your own pyx, make sure that it is blessed. If you need a pyx, contact your local parish and they will give you options on how to obtain one.
3. Low-gluten host is available for those who are gluten intolerant. If asked, refer parishioners to the parish office for more information about low-gluten hosts.
4. To bring Holy Communion for the sick and homebound, please be sure to follow the guidelines for each parish.
   1. At St. Vincent’s, during the week, please come to the side of the altar after Communion and the priest will give you the consecrated hosts you need. On Sunday, your pyx should be placed in the ministry room on the tray and you will place the number of unconsecrated hosts you need into the pyx. Then after Communion, the priest will come to the front of the altar and after a blessing you will receive your pyx
   2. At St. Basil’s, all pyxes must have proper identification to facilitate the smooth flow in giving them back after Communion. On weekends, pyxes are brought to the sacristy before Mass. All pyxes should be placed on the tray with the host/s. The tray with pyxes will be brought during the Offertory procession. Before the Final Blessing, the priest will come to the front of the altar to distribute the pyx to individual ministers. On weekdays, pyx is placed in the offertory table with host/s in it. It will be brought together with the bread and wine during offertory. After which, the minister will be called before final blessing to receive the pyx.
   3. At. St. Catherine’s, the pyx are placed at the back (offertory table).  The deacon or acolyte fills the pyx with the hosts.  The pyx will be offered to the altar.  After communion, the priest will go to the front of the altar and say a prayer for the EMHCs before they go and bring communion to the sick and homebound.
       
5. In ministering to the sick, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion should follow exactly the chapters “Visits to the Sick” and “Communion of the Sick” as contained in the handbook, Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum.  If you do not have this handbook, please contact your local parish and they will give you options on how to obtain one. Only say the prayers intended for the lay minister and never add more prayers other than the prescribed prayers.
6. When you receive consecrated hosts at Mass, you need to go immediately after Mass and distribute the hosts - emphasizing the sign-value linking the Mass and individual. You should never run other errands or do other activities before distributing Holy Communion.
7. Always protect the sacredness of the consecrated host. The sacred host is to be securely contained in a pyx, and carried reverently. Never should the pyx be stuffed into a shirt or pants pocket. While bearing the Holy Eucharist, the extraordinary minister should attempt, as much as possible, to maintain silence. If the extraordinary minister transports the Eucharist in an automobile, it would be inappropriate to turn on the car radio, or to use a cellphone.
8. If you go and they are not there or if you do not use all your hosts, they need to be brought back to the parish. Or, if you notice while giving out Communion, you can give more than one host to the same person so they can consume them all in that moment.
9. You cannot self-communicate. Never consume a host by yourself. It must always be received by another. Only the priest can self-communicate. Consecrated hosts should not be kept in the house. They must be consumed.
10. Follow this procedure when purifying the pyx. Pour a little water into the pyx, swirl water around to collect any remaining particles from the host, and reverently pour the water on to the ground. Rinse with clean water and then dry the pyx with a clean cloth. It is best to designate a place in your backyard for the purpose of pouring the water from the purified pyx.
11. The EMHC should alert the pastor whenever the sick and homebound request the Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick.     
                                                                                                Tri-Parish Guidelines June 2015