Dear Parishioners, Instructions from the Chancelry
Distribution of Holy Communion Outside of Mass by an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion 2025
1. Members of the Catholic faithful must be delegated by the diocesan bishop to function as extraordinary ministers of holy communion, even to their spouse and members of their own family or others living in their own homes. Extraordinary ministers of holy communion to the sick and homebound must commit to the diocesan Code of Ethics and background checks according to diocesan policy. (Ministers to family members or others living in their home are exempt from this requirement.) Priest celebrants in the Diocese of Portland have the general faculty to delegate one member of the faithful for this purpose during the course of a given Mass as needed. (See Roman MissalAppendix III.) This faculty does not apply to the delegation required to minister Holy Communion outside Mass.
2. Extraordinary Ministers use the rite found in Pastoral Care of the Sick, Chapter III , “Communion of the Sick”. They may also use Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass Chapter II, “Administration of Communion and Viaticum to the Sick by an Extraordinary Minister.” This revised version of the rite is mandatory as of December 1, 2024.
3. In addition to all the provisions found in Pastoral Care of the Sick and Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery, I am enacting the following further specifications for parishes and institutions: a. Extraordinary ministers receive the Blessed Sacrament in either of two ways: i. Apart from Mass or after the conclusion of Mass, delegated extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion sign a register in the sacristy indicating their name, the date, and the person(s) to whom they are bringing Communion. They receive the Blessed Sacrament directly from the tabernacle in a metal, secure pyx either with the assistance of others or on their own. Upon receiving the Blessed Sacrament in the pyx, the minister goes immediately and directly to the intended destination, without any stop along the way for any purpose. ii. If the Blessed Sacrament is to be received during the course of Mass, the following provisions are to be observed: Prior to the beginning of Mass, they sign a register in the sacristy indicating their name, the date, and the person(s) to whom they are bringing Communion. They entrust their pyx to a designated person. During the Mass, or even prior to Mass, that pyx or those pyxes are filled as needed, preferably with hosts consecrated at that Mass or to be consecrated at that Mass. After the conclusion of the distribution of Communion and before the post-communion prayer, the priest celebrant calls forward those who are to go to the sick and distributes the appropriate pyxes from the altar. Upon receiving the Blessed Sacrament in the pyx, the ministers leave the church and go immediately and directly to their intended destinations without remaining in church for the final blessing and without any delays or stops at the church or elsewhere. The celebrant continues with the post-communion prayer and concluding rites. (See Roman Missal, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, no.36)