Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion

“The Eucharist is Jesus who gives himself entirely to us, feeding on Him and abiding in Him through Eucharistic communion – if we do so in faith – transforms our lives into a gift to God and to our brothers and sisters.” For a Catholic, receiving Holy Communion in a state of grace and with faith and love therefore means “entering into harmony with the heart of Christ, assimilating his choices, his thoughts, his behavior. It means entering a dynamism of love and becoming people of peace, people of forgiveness, reconciliation.” ~ Pope Francis

Mission Statement

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC) assists in distributing Holy Communion to God’s people present at Mass and to those who are in nursing homes or homebound.

Ministry Description

The permission for this ministry, given in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, was implemented by the instruction aptly entitled Immensae Caritatis — Immense Love. From the instruction we read, “Christ the Lord has left to the Church, his spouse, a testament of this immense love. This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery would be increasingly known and its saving power more fully shared. . . .  Present-day conditions demand that, while the utmost reverence owing to such a Sacrament is maintained, greater access to Holy Communion should be made possible so that the faithful, by sharing more fully in the fruits of the sacrifice of the Mass, might dedicate themselves more readily and effectively to God and to the good of the Church and of humankind.”

The Extraordinary Minister (EMHC) performs a great service for Our Lady of Good Counsel by assisting the priest with the distribution of Holy Communion to God’s people during Mass and to those in nursing homes or homebound. It is an honor and privilege to serve the Church in this capacity.

To become an EMHC, it requires careful preparation on the part of the extraordinary minister. If you would like to volunteer to serve the Parish as an EMHC, please fill out the form below.

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