August 25, 2024
As we come to the end of the Bread of Life discourse, and as we prepare to welcome Deacon Kevin Webb, and his wife Donrita to our community, I want to take the opportunity to describe some developments to our reception of Holy Communion. This time of Eucharistic Revival in our country is another reason why it is the perfect time to address these thoughts of mine. I have two main items for you today. One is the reception of the Precious Blood, the other is the flow of the communion line. Both of these items have been brought before the worship committee and both parish councils. These important gatherings of leaders from both parishes have helped to refine these ideas as I have prepared to present them to you.
Receiving the Precious Blood – Since I started at Saints Aloysius and Benedict Parishes over a year ago I have described my desire to highlight the reception of the Precious Blood from the chalice by limiting it to special seasons and holy days. There is, however, an issue in the works as we prepare to welcome Deacon Kevin in his ministry. One aspect of this issue is that deacons, like priests, are Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion which means if we continue with the current practice there will be no Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs), that is lay ministers, helping to distribute Holy Communion on Sundays in Ordinary Time. The Deacon is also traditionally a minister of the Chalice. To allow the deacon his traditional service, and to provide opportunities for the laity to be involved in this ministry, we have decided that the Chalice with the Precious Blood will be made available on all Sundays and Holy Days starting the weekend of Aug. 31 / Sept. 1. This will require the service of EMHCs, so I invite anyone who is interested in this ministry to please let me know.
The Flow of Holy Communion – It is my understanding that the lay faithful have the right to receive the Eucharist on the tongue, or in the hand, I also hold that it is your right to receive either kneeling or standing. (see Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 91) When I first arrived at Saints Aloysius and Benedict I wondered if the altar rails factored into the reception of Holy Communion. I soon realized that they had not been incorporated into the flow of Holy Communion for some time now. I have, however, recently visited a very lively, young, full parish Mass where kneelers were incorporated into their flow of Holy Communion which allowed the maximum opportunity for the faithful to practice their rights in receiving the Eucharist. This practice, in my opinion, also lent itself to a generally more reverent reception of Holy Communion. Here at Saints Aloysius and Benedict, we do not need to place kneelers out to accommodate these rights, we already have the altar rails. To incorporate this ideal, starting the weekend of Aug. 31 / Sept. 1, the Eucharistic Ministers distributing the consecrated host will stand in one spot behind the altar rail. The faithful will approach the altar rail and receive the Consecrated Host on the tongue or in the hand, while either standing or kneeling. You are not being asked to change the way you receive Holy Communion, just where you go to receive. For those who need to hold onto the pew for lack of balance, please continue to do so, the Eucharistic Minister will come to you. It is my intention, with this relatively minor change, to accommodate the rights of all those who desire to receive our Lord in the Eucharist.
Two Parishes, One Heart,
Fr. Adam