3 minute read
Extraordinary Ministers Of Holy Communion: Sharing Christ And Growing In Participation Of The Mass
The statistics are startling. Nearly 800 million people in the world do not have adequate nutrition. You don’t have to leave the TV on for long before you’re encouraged to sponsor a hungry child in a third world country or even here in the United States. People are starving.
And as important as it is to help those in need of food around the world, there are other kinds of hunger we must address — loneliness, feeling worthless or unloved, anger, hurt or bitterness. These are examples of spiritual hunger, and they can only be satisfied with spiritual food.
Advertisement
Along with priests and deacons, laypeople within our parish serve as Extraordinary Ministers — or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Recognizing the spiritual hunger in their community, they choose to serve the parish by helping bring nourishment to those in need of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life.
“I truly feel it an honor and a privilege to serve our congregation,” says St. Joseph parishioner Ross Maenza, who has served as an Extraordinary Minister for the past six years. “Words cannot express how it makes me feel, how it has changed the way I participate and pray, in and outside of Mass.”
St. Joseph parishioner Tim Nye has served the parish as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the past 25 years and also helps coordinate the scheduling of those involved in this ministry at St. Joseph. He initially became involved to model the importance of service to his children, and his dedication to the ministry has only grown through the years.
“I wanted to set an example for my children that my wife and I felt that giving back to the church was important, and this was a way to do it,” Tim says. “It’s increased my commitment to serving — it’s been a blessing to me.”
In addition to helping the priests distribute Holy Communion during Mass, those who serve as Extraordinary Ministers also come early to help set up, as well as remain after Mass to help ensure everything is cleaned and returned to its proper place. Extraordinary Ministers attend diocesan training, which helps them embrace the heart of the ministry, as well as training at St. Joseph’s, which helps them to understand the practical aspects of how the ministry functions in our parish.
“Our function is to not only distribute Communion but to assist the priest, in any way possible,” Tim says.
For Ross, not only has serving as an Extraordinary Minister been a way to give back to the parish, but it has also strengthened his own faith and devotion to the Eucharist. His understanding of the Mass has also increased through having a more active role.
“I can honestly say that my faith has grown through my participation in this ministry,” Ross says. “I believe I have a deeper perspective of the Mass itself and participate more fully during the entire celebration.”
Ross encourages other parishioners to consider serving the parish as an Extraordinary Minister and Tim hopes that others — especially those with children at home — will join the ministry.
“It’s a great way to set an example for your children, reinforcing for them that it’s important to participate and not only go to Mass but also to participate,” Tim says. “This is a great way to participate in the parish community.”
“You will never regret it,” Ross says. “The experience of sharing the Eucharist as a minister is a very personal and spiritual experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the Church.”
Joe Siekeres coordinates the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Nativity and has served as an Extraordinary Minister for over 25 years.
“To me, it’s part of helping out at the church,” Joe says. “It’s just part of the responsibility of being part of the parish. “I just feel it’s important,” he adds. “It gives you a special feeling when you distribute Communion at Mass — it’s an honor to be able to do that.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nativity only has one Extraordinary Minister at each Mass, with there being only one Mass at Nativity each weekend. Yet, in the face of the great uncertainly we have faced this year, we remain blessed to be able to gather at the Eucharistic table.
“I just try to keep a sense of reverence,” Joe says. “I try to concentrate on having reverence, that this is a great honor.”
