1. St. Lucy Eucharistic Minister Training
September 2015

2. Agenda The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Role of the Eucharistic Minister in the Liturgy of the Eucharist
Expectations of the Eucharistic Minister
Training
Attendance and Substitutions
Spiritual Preparation
Technical Preparation
Eucharistic Minister Stations
Practicum
General Guidelines
Distribution of Communion
After Communion
After Mass
Resources and Q & A

3. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar
Prayer over the Offerings
Eucharistic Prayers
Preface
Holy, Holy, Holy
First half of prayer, including Consecration
Mystery of Faith
Second half of prayer, ending with Doxology
The Lord's Prayer
Sign of Peace
Lamb of God
Communion
Prayer after Communion

4. Expectations of the Eucharistic Minister
Training
Attend either a one-on-one or group training for Eucharistic Ministers
Attend Rotunda training or review the Rotunda training materials
Participate in retreats during the year as they come up
Solicit/accept constructive feedback regarding your performance of your Ministerial Duties on an ongoing basis
Provide constructive criticism to other Eucharistic Ministers as needed/requested
Attendance and Substitutions
Ensure the schedulers know which Mass(es) you are available for. This can be done in the Rotunda software (
If you will not be available on a particular weekend, update Rotunda with your unavailable dates before the schedule is published
Once the schedule is published, you can request help through Rotunda, but realize that YOU are responsible for securing the substitute
Check in with the Mass Coordinators before Mass to see if you might be needed on an
emergency basis

5. The Role of the Eucharistic Minister in the Liturgy of the Eucharist
“All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.”
General Instruction of the Roman Missal
“Communion is a moment of profound sharing. Communion ministers should let that moment linger with each person, sharing as much of themselves as possible in that brief moment.”
Communion Minister Training Guidelines
Diocese of San Jose

6. Expectations of the Eucharistic Minister
Spiritual Preparation
During the Week before Ministering:
Examine your conscience to ensure you are in a ‘state of grace’ – no mortal sins. If you are not, plan to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before you minister
The Day of Ministering:
Pray for the Spirit to be with you and guide your actions as you distribute the Body or Blood of Christ

7. Expectations of the Eucharistic Minister
Technical Preparation
During the Week before Minstering:
Make sure you know what Mass you are scheduled for
If you can not serve at the scheduled Mass, obtain a substitute. You can use Rotunda to help with this, but just asking for a substitute on Rotunda doesn’t mean you will get one. Ultimately, YOU are responsible for securing a substitute. You may have to send s or make phone calls!
If you are not scheduled to serve, check Rotunda ( to see if there are any substitutes needed for the Mass you plan to attend and sign up

8. Expectations of the Eucharistic Minister
Technical Preparation (continued)
The Day of Ministering – before Mass
Dress appropriately
Arrive at church minutes before Mass
Sign in for a station
If there is a Deacon or Con-Celebrant, they will usually sign up for Cup 1
You should be prepared to take any position, not just your ‘favorite’
If there are not enough ministers to cover all stations, make sure the following
CRITICAL stations are covered: B2, B4, B3, B7, C1, C2. Fill additional stations in this
order: C5, B5, C3, C4, B6.
If you are not scheduled to minister, check in with the Mass Coordinator to see if substitutes are needed (sign up no more than 5 minutes before Mass starts)
The Day of Ministering – after Mass
Return to the Sacristy to help purify and put away the sacred vessels

9. Eucharistic Minister StationsB3 B1 B4 B6 C4 C1 C2 C3
Lectern
Ambo B7 B2 B5 P C5
Eucharistic
Chapel
Credence Table

10. Practicum - General Guidelines for All Ministers
Carry vessels reverently with two hands
Walk with a sense of reverent purpose
If people you know approach you for Communion, maintain a spirit of reverence
If transferring Sacred Bread from one vessel to another, do so gracefully
Avoid ‘grabbing’ and ‘dropping’
Do not pour the hosts from one vessel to another
Do not carry two vessels at the same time (although one bread minister may take the Presider’s ciborium to the credence table when the presider has finished distributing his hosts)
Before proceeding to the Sanctuary, wash your hands with hand sanitizer, allowing them to dry before proceeding to your place in the Sanctuary. Don’t blow on them to dry them, you are only de-sanitizing them when you do
When crossing in front of the altar without a vessel, reverence the altar in front, then continue
If you need to cross the altar to get to the credence table or tabernacle, cross in back of the altar or go through the sanctuary

11. Practicum – Distribution of Communion
Approaching the Sanctuary
At the Sign of Peace, proceed to the Credence Table
Wash hands with hand sanitizer and let dry
Bread Ministers will line up behind the priest on the right (oils) side of the altar
Cup Ministers will line up behind the priest on the left (tabernacle) side of the altar
The Presider will divide the hosts from the large ciborium to the small ciboria
If there is no Deacon or Con-Celebrant, Cup Minister #1 will divide the Precious Blood from the flagon into the cups
If there is no Deacon or Con-Celebrant, Cup Minister #1 will place the large ciborium, flagon and flagon top on a tray and hand it to an altar server who will place it on the inside credence table
Cup Minister #1 can take his place in the line behind the priest or stand slightly to the side of the lined up Ministers

12. Practicum – Distribution of Communion (cont.)
After the presider receives communion:
Cup Ministers 1 and 2 approach the Presider, standing side by side ready to
receive communion (if there is a Deacon or Con-Celebrant as Cup 1, he will
probably stay on the altar…be flexible)
After receiving the Body and Blood, Cup Ministers 1 and 2 will stand on either side
of the Presider and distribute the Precious Blood to the other Eucharistic Ministers
The first Bread Minister to receive Communion will stand to the right of the altar and
distributes the ciboria containing the hosts to the other Bread Ministers
The next Cup Minister to receive Communion will stand to the left of the altar and
distribute the cups and purificators to the remaining Cup Ministers
As each Bread and Cup Minister receives his vessel, he will stand aside until all of
the Ministers have received Communion, When the Presider moves to his station,
then the Ministers will move to their stations

13. Practicum – Distribution of Communion (cont.)
Distributing Communion – Bread Ministers:
Note: there will be one or two ushers near your communion station. If you find you are running out of
hosts, notify your usher by making eye contact and nodding your head (you should do this when you
have about hosts left). This will initiate the replenishment process. If you run out of hosts before
they can be replenished, reverently turn and face the sanctuary until your ciborium can be refilled.
As the Communicant approaches
Hold up the Eucharistic Bread for the Communicant to see
Announce “The Body of Christ”
Allow the Communicant to say “Amen”
Place the host in the Communicant’s hand or on their tongue
If a person approaches with their hands crossed over their chest, this is a sign that
they won’t be receiving Communion, but wish to have a blessing
With your right hand, make the Sign of the Cross over them
Say something like “May the Lord bless you and protect you”
(continued…)

14. Practicum – Distribution of Communion (cont.)
Distributing Communion – Bread Ministers:
Once you have finished distributing communion at your station
Look to see if another station on your side of the church needs additional
Ministers and, if so, step over to help
When you are done distributing Communion, proceed to the Credence Table
Music Ministers will approach Bread Minister 3 or 6 (whoever finishes first) to
receive Communion.

15. Practicum – Distribution of Communion (cont.)
Distributing Communion – Cup Ministers:
As the Communicant approaches
Hold up the Cup for the Communicant to see
Announce “The Blood of Christ”
Allow the Communicant to say “Amen”
Hand the Cup to Communicant so they can receive the Blood of Christ
Note: do not allow the host to be dipped into the Cup. If you see this about to happen, move
the cup back a little and place the purificator over it. You may ask the Communicant to
consume the host, then offer them the Cup.
Wipe the rim of the cup with the purificator after each person has received
Change the position of the purificator slightly after each wipe
Turn the cup a quarter turn as the next Communicant approaches
(continued……..)

16. Practicum – Distribution of Communion (cont.)
Distributing Communion – Cup Ministers :
Once you have finished distributing the Sacred Blood at your station
Look to see if another station on your side of the church needs additional
Ministers and, if so, step over to help
When you are done distributing, proceed to the Sacristy
Consume any remaining Blood of Christ in the Sacristy
Music Ministers will approach Cup Minister 1 or 4 (whoever finishes first) to
receive the Sacred Blood.

17. Practicum – Distribution of Communion
Special Duties of Bread Minister 7 (Bread Minister 6 for 7am Mass)
If there are parishioners receiving gluten-free hosts (the Mass Coordinator will
tell you if there are), proceed to a location near the organ to distribute the
gluten-free hosts to them
If there are pyxes, retrieve them from the credence table and take them to the
altar
Fill the pyxes from the gold paten on the altar. If more than one host is needed,
the Minister owning the pyx will so indicate on a small Post-it note
Place the pyxes on the front of the altar on the side closest to the Presider’s chair
Take the empty paten to the credence table for purification
Go to the tabernacle, remove the lid from the tabernacle ciborium and bring it
to the Sanctuary
Stand at the center front of the altar with your attention on the ushers standing on
the right and left of the center aisle
(continued…..)

18. Practicum – Distribution of Communion
Special Duties of Bread Minister 7 (Bread Minister 6 for 7am Mass)
The center aisle users will notify you when and to which part of the church you
will need to go to replenish hosts
Proceed reverently to the part of the church indicated by the center aisle usher,
keeping your eye on the ushers in that area who will point to the ciborium
that needs to be refilled
When you arrive at the station to be replenished, carefully transfer hosts from the
tabernacle ciborium to the minister’s ciborium. Try to estimate the amount
needed by the number of people still in line
Once you are sure that all stations have sufficient hosts to complete the
distribution of Communion, place the tabernacle ciborium on corporal on the
right side of the Credence Table and await the arrival of the other Bread
Ministers

19. Practicum – After Communion
The Ciboria
All Bread Ministers must return their ciboria to the Credence Table (one Bread
Minister may bring the Presider’s ciborium to the Credence Table)
If Bread Minister 7 is not at the Credence Table yet, the first Bread Minister to
arrive at the Credence Table will remain, transferring each arriving Bread Minister’s
unconsumed hosts into his/her ciborium.
Once Bread 7 Minister arrives, the unconsumed hosts will be transferred into
the tabernacle ciborium and the first Bread minister may return to the assembly
Once all of the unconsumed hosts are in the tabernacle ciborium, Bread
Minister 7 will return the ciborium to the tabernacle, lock the tabernacle, remove
the key and place the key on the Credence Table.
Bread Minister 7 may then return to the assembly

20. Practicum – After Communion
The Cups
All Bread Ministers must return their Cups to the Sacristy
When done distributing the Sacred Blood, proceed to the Sacristy through
the nearest door.
Consume any remaining Blood of Christ while in the Sacristy. If you need help,
you may ask another Cup Minister to help. Make sure all remaining Sacred
Blood is consumed, then leave the Cup on the corporal, placing the
purificator over it
Return to your place in the assembly

21. Practicum – After Mass
All Eucharistic Ministers are expected to help with the purification and put-
away of the vessels
Purification of the Ciboria
Use the purificator to transfer any particles of consecrated host from
the ciboria to the Presider’s Eucharistic Cup
Wash/dry the ciboria using non abrasive sponges and towels
Purification of the Cups (including the Presider’s Cup)
Pour a little water into the cup
Swish the water around the cup, then consume it
Purify the flagon in the same manner as the cups except do not drink
from the flagon, use one of the Cups
Wash/dry the cups using non abrasive sponges and towels
If nobody has arrived for set-up for the next Mass or there is no impending Mass,
place the vessels in the cabinet, lock the cabinet and place the key on top of
the safe
Make sure the tabernacle key is also on top of the safe

22. The Extraordinary Ministry of Holy Communion - Something To Think About
“In this ministry, you must be examples of Christian living in faith and conduct; you must strive to grow in holiness through this sacrament of unity and love. Remember that, though many, we are one body because we share the one bread and one cup.
“As ministers of Holy Communion, be, therefore, especially observant of the Lord’s command to love your neighbor. For when he gave his body as food to his disciples, he said to them: ‘This is my commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.’
“Are you resolved to undertake the office of giving the Body and Blood of the Lord to your brothers and sisters, and so serve to build up the Church?
“Are you resolved to administer the Holy Eucharist with the utmost care and reverence?
“Gracious Lord, you nourish us with the Body and Blood of your Son, that we might have eternal life. Bless our brothers and sisters who have been chosen to give the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation to your faithful people. May the saving mysteries they distribute lead them to the joys of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”
(Rite of Commissioning of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)

23. Resources & Q and A http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/
A web site for Eucharistic Ministers:
the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-
eucharist/extraordinary-ministers-of-holy-
communion-at-mass.cfm
Eucharistic Minister Training and
Questions:
Rita Gray
(408)