POLICIES FOR DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION TO THE SICK

Individuals who desire to take Holy Communion to the Sick are asked to stop by the office during office hours Monday - Tuesday - Thursday - Friday  8:30 am - 4:30 pm or Wednesday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm to pick up the key for the tabernacle in the adoration chapel.  Once you get the Blessed Sacrament please return the tabernacle key to the office.  If the office is closed for a holiday or closes earlier because of weather you will need to reschedule your visit.  Changes to the office hours will be posted in the bulletin and any last minute schedule changes will be listed on the website.

All Extraordinary Ministers are to go directly from the chapel to the individual(s) they will be visiting.  Extraordinary Ministers are not allowed to pick up the Blessed Sacrament and go shopping or out to eat.  Please make sure you confer with the person you are visiting before heading out that way one doesn’t make a wasted trip.  Extra hosts are to be returned to the tabernacle following your visit.  

For those who would like to make a evening visit please see Priest or Deacon before or after the Wednesday 5:30 pm Mass.  In the event you have extra hosts after you conclude your visits the Blessed Sacrament must be returned to the tabernacle, in the most extreme case after the office is closed or late in the evening the Extraordinary Minister may reverently consume the remaining hosts at their last visit…but again this should be an extreme case for it is important to call and confirm your visitation before picking up the Eucharist.  
 

Holy Communion to Sick on the Weekends
Distribution of the Holy Communion on weekends can be done after any of the scheduled weekend Masses.   

It is most appropriate for EMHCs to the homebound to be sent directly from the celebration of the Eucharist.  Before Mass the EMHC should bring an empty pyx to the sacristy indicating to the priest/deacon how many hosts will be required.

At the conclusion of any announcements, the celebrant will call the EMHCs forward, offer an exhortation and gives them the pyx. The celebrant says, in these or similar words:

Dear brothers & sisters, this Eucharistic assembly sends you forth now to our brothers and sisters who are unable to be with us here today.  Bring to them our greetings and love, read todays Holy Scriptures to them, pray with them, and minister to them this Most Blessed Sacrament. The EMHC then returns to their place. 

When Mass has concluded, remember that you carry with you the Most Holy Eucharist.  Go directly to the sick to whom you will distribute the Eucharist.  Do not go anywhere else or make any other stops.  If you have concluded your visits but consecrated hosts remain, you may either reverently consume them or return them to the church.  DO NOT leave them in the pyx or take the Eucharist home.

If an EMHC forgets to give their pyx to priest/deacon before Mass, do not go to the tabernacle on your own, give the pyx to the priest/deacon or seminarian indicating the number of hosts required.  He will provide you with the needed Hosts.