Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist priests and deacon with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist at Mass and to the sick and home-bound. By distributing the Holy Eucharist — at Mass, in a hospital or at a residence—the Extraordinary Minister communicates the Father’s great love for us through the Body of Christ. What greater gift could one human provide to another?

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion has an interesting and relatively recent history in the Roman Catholic Church. In 1973, Pope Paul VI promulgated a document known as Immensae Caritatis (Immense Love) which provided instruction designed to facilitate Sacramental Communion in special circumstances. The following is a direct quote:

Present-day conditions demand that 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.…

In order that the faithful…may share in the Sacred Banquet and not be deprived of this sacramental help and consolation, it has seemed appropriate to the Holy Father to establish Extraordinary Ministers.

Interested in Becoming an EM?
 If you are interested in becoming an Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, download and complete the EM Application (listed on the left side of this page) and send it to the Parish Office (Attention: Luther Ferris)
Required Ministry Training:  Must attend initial training  
Experience Needed or Other Requirements:  Must have made Confirmation and be a fully initiated, practicing Catholic and a parishioner of St. Mark.
Time Commitment:  Assigned Mass approximately every other week - Re-commitment workshop once per year

EMs Please Note:

• Captains:
  • Please advise Luther if you can’t fill all of the slots at your mass.  Fill in TBD’s if you can.
  • Please make sure that ALL EMs stay to clean up after mass. You need to stay also. 
  • Please go over the H1, C2, C4, C6 and C8 positions with those assigned people before EACH Mass.

 

• Please continue to try to invite some devoted St. Mark parishioners to join our ranks and have them fill out an EM Application and submit it to Luther Ferris in the parish office. [email protected]