NEW PROCEDURES FOR:

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND MINISTERS OF PREPARATION

The following new procedures will be implemented beginning the first Sunday of October.

Some procedures are the responsibility of only the Ministers of Preparation. Others are the responsibility of the Eucharistic Ministers.

All of these procedures will be evaluated over a 3-month period. This will give all Ministers three turns to try out the new procedures. Modifications may then be developed based on the evaluations. Modifications will be the responsibility of the Worship Commission.

Procedure for Determining the Number of Hosts to Set Out for a Mass

Ministers of Preparation are responsible for this procedure.

Initially, you (as Minister of Preparation) can base your estimate of the number of hosts needed at a specific Mass on the October Counts Average.

• The October Counts Averages are calculated annually and are specific to each Mass time, e.g., for the 10:00 Sunday Mass, the 4:30 Saturday Mass, etc.
  
• For any specific Mass, you have the option of increasing or decreasing this number, depending on your estimate of the attendance at that Mass. This will allow for fluctuations due to weather conditions, community events, etc.
  
• With practice, it is likely that you Will develop a facility for estimating approximately the number needed.

Procedure to be Used if There are More Consecrated Hosts than Communicants

All Eucharist Ministers are responsible for this procedure

1. When you are distributing, and you realize that you will have extra hosts when your line of communicants ends:

• If other communicant lines are substantially longer than yours, please move to one of those lines to help out when your line ends.
  
• If other communicant lines are similar in length to your own, begin to give more than one host each to the remaining communicants in your line.
  
• If possible, please distribute all your hosts.
  
  • - Note: The Presider will retain enough hosts for the ministers and servers.

2. When you have finished distributing, please return to the altar. Transfer any remaining hosts from your bowl into the Presider's bowl.

• Transferal may be done by each distributor, by a designated distributor, or by the Presider.

3. If there are fewer than about 20 hosts left, the Presider will distribute all the remaining hosts to the servers and distributors. This means that some/all of the distributors may receive more than one host.

• If there are more than 20 hosts left the Presider will distribute only one host (as usual) to servers and distributors.

4. The Minister of Preparation will be responsible for taking the remaining hosts back to the Tabernacle.

Procedure for the Minister of Preparation at this point:

• Take the Presider's bowl, containing all the remaining hosts, back to the Tabernacle.
  
• Transfer the hosts into the Ciborium and close the Tabernacle.
  
• Place the empty bowl on the table beside the Tabernacle.
  
• After Mass, retrieve the bowl for appropriate cleansing.
  
  • Note: Knowing how many consecrated hosts were unconsumed will be helpful to the Minister of Preparation in making future estimates.

Procedure to be used if There are too Few Consecrated Hosts for the Number of Communicants

All Eucharistic Ministers are responsible for this procedure

1. When you arc distributing, and you realize that you will not have enough hosts for everyone in your communicant line to get one:

• If you expect to fall short by only a few hosts (6 or less), begin to break the hosts in half for the last 10 -12 people.
  
• If you expect to fall short by more than 6 hosts, go to another distributor to get more. Again, if necessary, break a few hosts in half

2. The Presider retains enough hosts for distributors and servers. However, if necessary. any/all of these hosts can also be broken in half or quarters

3. ONLY AS A VERY LAST RESORT should the Minister of Preparation go to the Tabernacle and bring the Ciborium to the altar.

• At best, this action would be awkward, time-consuming. and interrupt the prayerful flow of the Liturgy.

Procedures for Eucharist Distribution to the Choir members at the 10:00 Sunday Mass

Eucharistic Ministers who serve at the 10:00 Mass are responsible for this procedure.

1. If you are the first distributor of hosts to finish with you line of communicants, you are the one who should go up to the choir loft. Be sure to take a distributor of the Precious Blood with you.

• You should have at least 20 hosts with you. If you have less, get some from another distributor. As described above, you may break some hosts in half if necessary.

2. After distributing to the choir, you should serve each other before returning downstairs. If there are a few extra hosts remaining, either/both of you may consume them.

3. As you return downstairs, please place the bowl in the Tabernacle if any hosts remain in it. If it is empty, leave the bowl on the table beside the Tabernacle. After Mass, please retrieve the bowl for cleansing.

Procedure to be used if the Ciborium becomes too full

Note: At least 25 consecrated hosts must remain in the Ciborium at all times, to be prepared for any emergency need.

Ministers of Preparation are responsible for this procedure, which is unlikely to be needed often.

A specific Mass will be designated at which the consecrated hosts in the Ciborium are to be used.

Father Jack will decide which Mass, and tell the Minister of Preparation for that Mass.

1. You (as Minister of Preparation) can set out fewer hosts to be consecrated during the Mass, since some of the estimated need will come from the already-consecrated hosts.

• At least one large host must always be put out for consecration during the Mass. (One large host equals 70 pieces)
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2. At the Lamb of God, you should get the Ciborium from the Tabernacle and bring it to the altar with you. (You may want to sit near the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for this Mass.)

3. The Presider will place some newly-consecrated hosts and some previously consecrated hosts in each distributor's bowl.

4. All other procedures above are then followed as usual.