EMHC

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) are specifically commissioned by the Archbishop once a year for a term of only 3 years at a time, with the understanding that: 

"§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion." 

"They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion."

"To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches: ... the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of 'a great number of the faithful'."

-- ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

This process requires a bit more than most ministries as the EMHCs, beyond being trained, must also be commissioned by the Archbishop.  These ministers should be, more than many others, living a life that models the Catholic faith.  Thus it would be incongruent for an EMHC to routinely miss Mass, thus causing a scandal to the faithful.  Just so, an EMHC cannot be in manifest (read: publicly known) mortal sin, eg: cohabiting, divorced and remarried (without an annulment), compulsive liar, et cetera.  

It is laudable for an EMCH to dedicate himself/herself to Eucharistic Adoration and to grow in love and devotion to the Eucharist, through different book studies or devotional practices.  

If you feel as though God may have gifted you the ability and desire to fulfill this ministry for the People of God, fill out the ministry interest form below.  

(the term Eucharistic Minister only refers to the bishop/priest celebrant at the Mass)