During Mass

Procession

Process into church in the following sequence:

• Thurifer (if incense is used)

• Crucifer (Cross bearer)

• Candle bearers

• Deacon (or lector) carrying Book of the Gospels

• Head extraordinary ministers (first two names on the schedule)

• Other extraordinary ministers

• Lectors

• Priest

In procession follow, two abreast, the servers and deacon down the ramp and center aisle.  Always follow the procession.  There are a few times in the year when a longer procession moves through the side aisles before going down the center aisle.  Sing the hymn and bless yourself with holy water.  Before the sanctuary, the servers will pause and so does the procession.  Reverence the altar with a bow and move to your pews.  You may genuflect as you enter your pew.  Head extraordinary ministers proceed to the side front pew nearest the baptistery.  Other extraordinary ministers proceed to the first two side pews nearest the choir.  Your family may await you in this section so that you may all sit together.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Gather during and immediately after the sign of peace.  Head extraordinary ministers proceed to the tabernacle in the chapel, open the tabernacle door, and genuflect.  Remove all ciboria and close the tabernacle door.  Bring the ciboria to the altar and place them only on the corporal (smaller square cloth on center of the altar) on the right side of the priest.  If the priest is occupied, remove the lids from the ciboria.  Then join the other extraordinary ministers at the front of the line.

The first head extraordinary minister receives the chalice from the priest (deacon or acolyte), drinks the Precious Blood, wipes the chalice with a purificator, and distributes to the other ministers.  When finished distributing to the other ministers, distribute to the people on the choir side.

The second head extraordinary minister receives a ciborium and immediately distributes to the people on the choir side.

The other extraordinary ministers are gathered in a line before the from pew to received Holy Communion.  Extraordinary minister #3 must be in a position that leaves room for the head extraordinary ministers, to avoid blocking the aisle.  After receiving Holy Communion from the priest, move next to the altar step so that the choir has room to return to their spaces.  After receiving the Precious Blood, proceed to the altar where you will be given either a ciborium or a chalice and directions on where to stand.  Those with chalices either stand next to the pew or the altar step.  Ask, if you are uncertain.

If there is a deacon, he takes a ciborium to distribute Holy Communion at the top of the ramp, including the chapel and cry room.  If there is no deacon, one of the extraordinary ministers does this.

At Masses that do not have a deacon, one of the extraordinary ministers should assist the priest at the altar.  Go to the side of the altar where communion cups are placed along the edge.  Pick up the flagon (pitcher) of the Precious Blood and pour it into the chalices, filing each one a little less than half full.  As best as possible, pour an even amount into each chalice.  Once empty, give the flagon to an altar server.  Remain and wait near the side and to the back of the altar.  After the priest communicates, he will turn and give you Holy Communion under both species.  Keep the chalice and the purificator the priest gives you and distribute (following the priest) the Precious Blood to the altar servers.  Then give the chalice and the purificator to the first head extraordinary minister.  Return to the altar and distribute the ciboria and the chalices with purificators to the other ministers as each comes forward.  Direct them to fill the positions around the altar from the left to right.

When a communicant stops in front of you, raise the Host or place the chalice within his reach as you say only the following words:  "The Body of Christ" or "The Blood of Christ".  As a minister of the Church, please follow the words chosen by the Church.  Do not alter words, use additional phrases, or say the names of those whom you know.  The communicant should respond "Amen" as an affirmation of belief in the Sacrament presented to him.  If such an affirmation is not given, gently remind the communicant that we say "Amen".

Place the Host on the communicant's hand or on his tongue firmly enough that he knows he now has possession of it, but not so firmly that it may break.  Children and adults who approach you with their arms crossed over their chest are expecting a blessing instead of Holy Communion.

With the chalice, let the communicant take it with both hands.  You may have to guide the chalice to the lips of young children.  After the communicant finishes, wipe the rim of the chalice, so that its lip and a bit of the inside are cleaned, and then turn the chalice slightly for the next person.

When you finish, if there are still many communicants at another station, go there and assist with the distribution of Holy Communion.

Intinction is the manner of receiving Holy Communion whereby a portion of the Host is dipped into the Precious Blood.  If someone comes to you with a Host in hand, take it from him, dip it into the Precious Blood, and place it on his tongue while holding the chalice beneath the Host to prevent losing a drop of Precious Blood.  As you do this you may say only:  "The Body and Blood of Christ".  The communicant is not to self-intinct, that is, dip the Host and communicate himself.  It is a minister's duty to do this.

Under no circumstances are additional Hosts to be given to communicants so that they may pass them to other people.  Anyone requesting additional Hosts in a pyx should be directed to see a priest or deacon after Mass.  If someone informs you that additional communicants, who are unable to come forward, are in another location of the church, you should have that person lead you to the location.  Holy Communion is to be distributed only by an ordinary minister or a commissioned extraordinary minister.

Accidents with the Holy Eucharist

If a Host is dropped, immediately pick it up and place it back in the ciborium, trying to keep it (as best as possible) separated so that it may consumed later.  Once you have finished, direct the priest that it needs to be consumed.  Obviously, if, for some reason, a dropped Host is wet or somehow soiled, it will require proper disposal.  In such rare cases, seek the help and advice of the priest.

If the Precious Blood is spilled, immediately cover the spill with your purificator, soaking it up.  If additional purificators are needed, they are found in the sacristy.  You can place your chalice on the altar as you clean the spill.  Continue to soak up any spills until the area is dry.  After Mass, the area may need extra cleaning with water.  They should then be wrung out only in the sacrarium (special sink with lid in the sacristy) and the water in the bucket should also be poured slowly down the sacrarium.  Please do not use the regular sink as what is being cleaned and disposed of is Christ's Precious Blood.  In the event of a dropped chalice or a large spill, immediately place your purificator over the area and inform the priest.  Take your chalice to the sacristy and assist with cleanup and then return to your seat.

Ignorance of the Holy Eucharist

Please be attentive during your sacred service.  Your preparation for this moment also involves the duty to guard against anyone abusing the Body and Blood of Christ.  If a person looks confused, as if he does not know what is happening in the Communion line, if someone tries to grab the Host improperly, this may be a sign that he is not Catholic.  It is appropriate that we demand that everyone receive Holy Communion only in the manner set forth by the Church.  Do not allow people to take the Host from you; they may receive it, not take it.  They may either open their mouth to receive on the tongue or hold their hands, one over the other, raised and open.  Exercising good judgment, you may have to inquire whether someone is Catholic or not.  If not, they are not to be given Holy Communion.  Watch to see that communicants actually consume what is given to them.  If not, they are to be stopped immediately, even if that means going down an aisle after them.  It is not unreasonable to inquire whether someone who has walked off with a Host is Catholic.  If he is not, he should be instructed to give the Host back to you.  Do not invite such a person to simply consume the Host.  Assuming such a Host is not soiled, return it to the ciborium and inform the priest.  Unfortunately, it happens too often that people, even Catholics, try to walk off with a Host for various strange or sinful purposes.  Your attention to your surroundings can greatly minimize such sacrilege.

Conclusion

Extraordinary ministers with ciboria return to the altar and replace the ciboria on the corporal.  Cleanse your fingers in the ablution dish (small glass bowl with water) and dry them with the cloth.  Return to your seat.

Extraordinary ministers with chalices go to the sacristy and consume the remaining Precious Blood in silence.  Give your chalice to the sacristan, if there is one.  Otherwise, cleanse the chalice with a small amount of water and drink it.  Leave the chalices on the counter and put the soiled purificators in the linen basket on top of the counter.  The Precious Blood and any water used to purify a chalice are always consumed.  Do not pour any of these contents down the sink nor the sacrarium.  If for some reason the sacred vessels are not immediately purified, they should be covered with their lids (in the case of ciboria) or covered by an unfolded purificator (in the case of chalices).  Return to your seat.

Head extraordinary ministers replace your vessels in the proper area and then immediately return to the baptistery side of the altar.  One of the clergy will hand you any ciboria that need to be returned to the tabernacle.  With ciboria in hand, go to the chapel, open the tabernacle door, place the ciboria inside, genuflect, close the door, and return to your seat.

Recession

With your hymnal, follow the servers up the center aisle two abreast.  Stop and turn toward the altar when the servers do.  Reverence the altar with the priest (bowing) and genuflect toward the tabernacle with the priest.  After the genuflection, turn left and exit up the ramp.

Head extraordinary ministers remain in their seats and do not join the recession.  Immediately after the conclusion of the recessional hymn, return to the sacristy and purify the sacred vessels as described on next page.