(Updated DECEMBER 2006)

GENERAL NOTES:

1. In addition to ordained clergy, only officially recognized and delegated Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC's) may bring the Eucharist to the sick, either at home or at hospitals and nursing homes.

2. As soon as the EMHC takes possession of the pyx, he should go directly to the sick.  The EMHC should not stop anywhere in between the church and the sick, even home, unless absolutely necessary.

3. Whenever the Blessed Sacrament is on their person, the EMHC should maintain respective silence and proper decorum (reverence).  At all times, the sick should see in the reverential mannerisms, tone and silence of the EMHC that he has the Blessed Sacrament on his person.

4. The EMHC should wear ordinary, dignified street clothing when visiting the sick.  It is also recommended that he wear the EMHC Medallion, especially when visiting Messiah Village or a hospital, to signify that he is ministering in an official capacity.

5. At all times, the EMHC should carry the pyx as close as possible to the heart, such as in a shirt or inside suit coat pocket.  Carrying the pyx in the pants pocket, or allowing it to rest on the car seat in-transit, is not appropriate.

6. The following articles should accompany the EMHC, as necessary and applicable:
   1. Pyx, carried inside a burse if possible.  See Item 7 below for a note on the number of Hosts to take along
   2. Blue-covered booklet entitled "Communion of the Sick", with the list of individuals to be visited on the inside front cover.  The Liturgy for Communion to the Sick that follows (Pages 5-6) may be used in lieu of the rite contained in the booklet
   3. Layout Map of Messiah Village (optional)
   4. Corporal or Purificator, to rest the pyx on during the visit. (The use of a linen is optional, but encouraged; if used, the linen should be placed in the dirty linen basket in the sacristy closet upon return to the church)
   5. Red-covered Missal, marked to the Old Testament, New Testament, or Gospel reading for the day.  As an alternate, a personal Bible may be used.  Note that daily Scripture readings are listed in the Parish Bulletin every Sunday, for the upcoming week
   6. Enough copies of the Parish Bulletin for each person to be visited
   7. A Kleenex, to be used to wrap the Host should a Messiah resident refuse to swallow the Host after attempting to consume

7. Care should be taken that no more Hosts are taken to the sick than is necessary.  If a home visit is being made, the EMHC should attempt to find out if other Catholic family members will be present during the visit and whether they also would like to receive Communion (for additional clarification, see Item 8 below).  For visits to Messiah Village, the EMHC should go over the list of individuals to be visited to ascertain whether any are unable to receive a whole Host.  It is also generally safe to assume that one or two individuals in Messiah Village will not be able to be located during the visit, thereby further reducing the number of Hosts that are needed.  Making these determinations is critical, since consuming a few left-over Hosts upon completion of the visits is acceptable; consuming a larger number than that is not, and the left-over Hosts should be returned to the tabernacle rather than consumed en masse.

8. As noted above, when making a home visit, the EMHC should attempt to find out if other Catholic family members will be present during the visit and whether they also would like to receive Communion.  However, it is also important to be cognizant of the current Church law regarding the number of times a Catholic may receive Communion on the same day.  That law states: "A lay member of Christ's faithful who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a Eucharistic Celebration (that is, a Mass) in which he or she is participating."  In other words, if a family member has already received Communion at Mass on the day of a sick visit, that member may not receive again during the home visit.  However, conversely, if the family member receives Communion during the sick visit for the first time of the day, that member may receive again if he/she later participates in a Mass.  This Church law may cause consternation if strictly followed; however, it is important that the Minister emphasize that he has no latitude to deviate from Church law.

9. The EMHC should take notice of the particular circumstances of the communicant, such as the attitudes and emotions of the elderly and sick, the necessity to speak loudly, how to cope with interruptions and emergencies, what requests should be politely ignored, etc.

10. The EMHC should be mindful of the fact that he is primarily making a 'pastoral' visit, not a 'social' one.  A simple greeting upon entering the room of the sick person is appropriate and acceptable.  The EMHC should identify himself by name, and indicate that he is from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.  When the EMHC walks into the home or sick room, he should not begin with "How are you?" but should rather ask, "Are you willing and able to receive Holy Communion today?"  Prolonged, idle talk and general chit-chat is disrespectful to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

11.  When asking the question "Are you willing and able to receive Holy Communion today?" careful attention should be paid to the answer given.  A person may refuse for any number of reasons, which should be accepted without question.  If the person gives a hint that the reason for refusal may be spiritual (state of mortal sin, for example), that information should be relayed to the Pastor as soon as possible.

12.  A number of residents in Messiah Village to be visited reside in the Special Care Unit.  Because of the very nature of the Alzheimer's disease and dementia from which these residents suffer, it may be difficult to ascertain if these residents should be allowed to receive.  Common sense should prevail, and absolute protection of the Blessed Sacrament should govern any decision made as to whether the resident should be allowed to receive.  If the Minister decides not to give the resident Communion, he should still pray briefly with the resident (many are able to follow along with the Our Father in some fashion), and leave a Parish Bulletin before moving on.  Note that the lists of residents to be visited as contained in the blue "Communion of the Sick" Booklets may have small "+" signs next to the names of some of the residents.  The Pastor or his designee has determined that these residents should not receive at this time.

13.  Televisions, radios, etc., should be turned off so as not to be a distraction during the Liturgy for Communion to the Sick.

14.  Persons who are sick and those who take care of them are not bound by the one-hour Eucharistic fast.

15.  Occasionally a person to be visited at Messiah Village will not be in his/her room.  If possible, ascertain from a staff member if the individual is in the chapel for Sunday Service, or if he/she can be easily located in the hallway, communal gathering area, etc.  If the individual cannot be located, the EMHC should leave a copy of the Parish Bulletin on his/her bed to let them know he was there.  It is optional as to whether the EMHC should attempt to re-visit the room later, depending on time constraints.

16.  When visiting Messiah Village, if circumstances warrant, several communicants can be gathered together in one place, and the EMHC can celebrate the communion service with the group.

17.  When EMHC's have to go from room to room, such as at Messiah Village, they face the special challenge of being personal and prayerful over and over again, and must try to avoid any impression of being perfunctory, abrupt or uninterested in the person they are with.  This is difficult, but it is important to the communicant to have prayerful contact with another believer greater than the mere swift giving of the Host.

18.  In the Liturgy for Communion to the Sick that follows, the outline is appropriate for individuals who are lucid and who appear at first glance to be able to respond to questions and prayers.  For any others, the visit can be abbreviated by eliminating the Penitential Rite and the Scriptural Reading(s).

19.  Upon entering the sick room, the pyx should be placed on the corporal or purificator (optional, but encouraged), or else in a shirt or inside suit coat pocket.  The pyx should not be opened before it is time to distribute the Host, and should be closed immediately thereafter.

20.  Following the Liturgy for Communion to the Sick, the EMHC should give a brief farewell and leave a copy of the Parish Bulletin, if possible, to symbolize that the sick are united not only with the Lord's sacrifice, but also with the parish community itself and are supported by the love of their brothers and sisters.

21.  If the communicant should drop the Host to the floor, or even spit it out, the EMHC should calmly pick it up, place it in a handkerchief or Kleenex, and upon returning to the church, put the Host in a small bowl of water.  The Host will dissolve, at which time the contents of the bowl can be emptied into the sink in the credence table closet, or better yet, in the flower beds outside of church.

22.  The pyx and other items should be returned to the sacristy immediately after the sick call.  Leftover Hosts should never be allowed to remain in the pyx, but should be promptly returned to the tabernacle.  A small number (up to 5) of Hosts can be consumed if it is not practical to return them to the tabernacle.  The pyx should be carefully purified in the kitchen sink, and returned to the sacristy drawer.

23.  In the Liturgy for Communion to the Sick that follows on the next two pages, the full rite is given, which is appropriate for ordinary circumstances.  However, there may be times when it is not possible or practical to celebrate the full rite, such as when a person is unable to receive Communion.  In such cases, an alternative (shorter) rite may be used by skipping the parts of the rite which are highlighted in red below.  However, care must be taken not to diminish the rite to its absolute minimum if not appropriate.

24.  At all times the EMHC should remember and realize that the Lord chooses to be present in him as well as in the Sacrament.

LITURGY FOR COMMUNION TO THE SICK

(The full Rite of Communion to the Sick is given below.  Under certain circumstances, it may be more practical to use a shortened rite, such as when Communion is given in a hospital or medical institution.  Under these circumstances, a shortened rite, skipping the parts highlighted in red below, may be used instead of the full rite.)

1.      GREETING:                     Begin with the Sign of the Cross.

"The peace of the Lord be with you", or "Peace to this house

and all who live in it", or something similar.

     Reply:  "And also with you."

2.      PENITENTIAL RITE:       "My brother (or sister, or brothers and sisters, as

appropriate), to prepare ourselves for this celebration, let us

call to mind our sins."

Brief silence.

"I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brother (or sister,

or brothers and sisters), that I have sinned through my own

fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done

and in what I have failed to do, and I ask Blessed Mary, ever

Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brother (or

sister, or brothers and sisters), to pray for me to the Lord,

our God."

"May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life."

                                    Reply: "Amen."

3.      CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD:

Read one the daily readings as listed in the Parish Bulletin.  After the reading, close with "The word of the Lord", or "The Gospel of the Lord."

                                    Reply: "Thanks be to God", or "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ", as

appropriate.

4. LORD'S PRAYER:           "Now let us pray together to the Father in the words given us

by our Lord Jesus Christ:"

                                    ALL:    Recite the Our Father together.

5. HOLY COMMUNION:       Show the Blessed Sacrament and say:

                                                "This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the

world.  Happy are those who are called to His Supper."

                                    ALL:    "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word

and I shall be healed."

Extend the Host and say: "The Body of Christ."

                                    Reply: "Amen."

                                                Allow a few moments of quiet reflective meditation and

 thanksgiving.

6. CONCLUDING PRAYER: Conclude with a prayer such as the following or something

similar:

                                                "Let us pray.  Lord, in the Eucharist we share today You

renew our life.  Through Your Spirit, make Your life grow

strong within us and keep us faithful to You.  We ask this in

the name of Jesus, the Lord."

                                    Reply: "Amen."

                                                "May the almighty and merciful God bless us and protect us,

(make the Sign of the Cross) in the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

                                    Reply: "Amen."