why are ordinary people giving out Communion in he catholic church?

Question

there not ordained

oh its THE CATHOLIC CHURCH NOT HE

Answer 1

Really? It sort of puts a mockery on things...Doesn't it?

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: good question these helpers are called extra-ordinary ministers. They do not consecrate the bread and wine only a priest can do this during the liturgy of the Eucharist. In a world where there are over 1 billion Catholics that's alot of communion to celebrate and some parish priests require help administering to the layperson hence the use of
extra-ordinary ministers. It use to be each parish would have 2-3 priests and the issue of logistics wasn't a problem.
It is true that these helpers are used when they should not be used and that should be questioned by layperson as members of a smaller parish population.

Answer 3

They are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy COmmunion. They assist at the Mass and by taking the Eucharist to shut ins and the ill.

They are specially trained, and usually asked to join this ministry rather than asking for it for themselves.

They help because there is a shortage of priests and deacons- who are the ordinary ministers of the Eucharist and should always be distributing unless there is a health issue.

The Vatican gave permission for EMHC back in the early 1980's

Answer 4

In the Catholic Church the term minister refers to the person whether lay or ordained who is commissioned to perform some work on behalf of the Church. The term minister is not commonly used to refer to a member of the clergy nor as a common term of address. While this the longstanding Christian tradition, it is unlike the usage of the term in many Protestant churches who developed its clerical meaning in order to avoid the use of term "priest." There are two principle kinds of ministers, the general and the sacramental

Answer 5

One does not have to be ordained to distribute communion. Lay people can be trained to so as well; they are called "extrodinary ministers of the Eucharist," although most of us just call them "Eucharistic Ministers."

To lead the whole Eucharistic Prayer which comes before communion and includes the part where we believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus, one has to be an ordained priest.

Answer 6

Sore subject.

The pope certainly isn't happy about it.

The allowance made for Extraordinary Ministers - was done to HELP with the priest shortage. Now many churches take advantage.

Yet another reason I don't go to the church across the street from me. 5 priests - could totally handle mass without the help of laity. But they don't.

I believe this abuse is another reason the Pope is bringing back Tridentine Mass.

Answer 7

They are called Eucharistic Ministers

A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person mandated by the archbishop or pastor to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful. They are also called extraordinary ministers.

"The priest, by virtue of his ordination, offers the sacrifice of the Mass. He confects the Eucharist and most fittingly it is he who distributes Holy Communion to the faithful. Therefore, the bishop, the presbyter and the deacon are ordinary ministers for Holy Communion. For pastoral necessity, however, the Holy See permits local ordinaries to mandate a suitable person individually chosen as an extraordinary minister for a specific occasion, either to give Eucharist to himself or to other faithful and to take to the sick who are confined to their homes.”

The faithful who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute communion only when there is no priest, deacon, or acolyte; when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to communion is so large as to make the celebration of Mass excessively long.

Answer 8

Because there are not enough priests and deacons. You do not have to be ordained to be a Eucharistic minister (lay person who assists with the Eucharist). They do, however, have to be trained in the proper method of doing it.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 9

They are called "Extraordinary Ministers" and they have been given the authority to administer the Eucharist.

There are rules associated with the number and necessity of Extraordinary Ministers.
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/girm/lit4.shtml

Answer 10

And, Biblically speaking, where do you find the need to be "ordained" in order to participate fully in the Lord's Supper? Those disciples who passed the cup and bread after Jesus gave it to them were not ordained. They were still fishermen, tax collectors, one doctor, etc.

You're getting hung up in ritual ..... just like the Pharisees of Biblical days.

Kev

Answer 11

Because we're not in the Dark Ages anymore. Nowadays we don't actually believe it's Jesus being handled in that little plate of crackers. It's done at my church and lightning hasn't struck it down yet.