EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND

The remarkable experience of taking Holy Communion to a homebound elderly friend led Carl Niemand to continue his service as a St. Joseph Parish Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to the Homebound.

“It was a wonderful experience, so Father assigned me to other gentlemen to care for,” Carl says. Carl’s ministry is to men from St. Joseph Parish. He typically takes Holy Communion to them on Wednesdays.

“We usually talk awhile, and Father has set up a little prayer we do ahead of their receiving Communion, and then I present the Host,” Carl says. “We may talk awhile after, depending on how they’re feeling and if they want to visit.”

Carl acknowledges that the act of taking Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass is truly taking the love of Christ to them.

“It is important that we receive the Body of Christ at least once a week,” he says. “They appreciate it, that it shows Christ’s love for us, and it’s important they see it each week.”

Not only is Carl able to help others remain close to Christ and strong in their faith, but he also realizes that his own faith has been strengthened through his ministry.

“I am seeing people who are basically coming to the end of life, and they are very welcoming, and their faith is deep,” he says. “It is a comfort for them. I have one parishioner I see, who said he had it really tough during the COVID restrictions. He told me he always went to Mass all his life, but under COVID, he couldn’t go for almost a year. He was asked if he wanted to have someone come in and give him Communion, and was very welcoming to that.”

The other parishioners in Carl’s ministry have also been very thankful for his care.

“It kind of surprised me, but they were very welcoming of me into their homes, where I go,” Carl says. “I was quite amazed at how happy they are to see me each week.”

Carl encourages others who are considering this ministry to take that step.

“Bringing Communion is only part of it,” he says. “It’s your special time with these parishioners, but it brings them close to Christ. Plus, they find out what’s going on at church. Most don’t get out, if at all. It keeps them abreast of things.”

Interested in becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion? Contact the Area Office at 320-269-5954.