Extraordinary Ministers

Guidelines and Norms

For Weekend Masses:

Before Mass:

  • Sometime, towards the beginning of the semester, a schedule and EM contact file will be e-mailed to you.  Please review the schedule and if you are aware of conflicts, notify Harv Humphrey at humphrey.17@nd.edu.
  • At some point during the week before your weekend assignment, the Mass Coordinator will e-mail a reminder that you are scheduled to serve. PLEASE REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. We understand that conflicts arise, but the sooner we are aware of these conflicts, the sooner we can make alternate arrangements.
  • Try to arrange a sub if you can't make your assignment - but please don't send out e-mail blasts. Make 3 to 5 phone calls to find a replacement. Notify the Mass Coordinator of your replacement. If, after making the requisite phone calls, you cannot find a substitute, notify the Coordinator.
  • When you arrive for Mass, come to the sacristy and check in with the Coordinator. He or she will give you your assignment and any special instructions particular to that liturgy. If you are not sure of your station, ask for clarification. The Coordinator will be happy to show you on the Basilica map where your assignment is. Note that alpha assignments are for bread stations, numeric for cups. Please arrive 15-30 minutes before Mass. Even if you are not assigned on a given weekend, if you are at a Basilica Mass and are willing to assist, please check in with the Coordinator.  Frequently, there are last minute needs that arise and your assistance could be crucial.

During Mass :

  • As the Lamb of God begins, if you are not sitting in the sanctuary, move to the foot of the sanctuary. Line up on the side of the altar where you will be serving. If you are serving on the Dome side of the Basilica (East side), line up on the Dome side of the altar. If you are serving on the sacristy side of the Basilica (West side), line up on the sacristy side of the altar. DO NOT COME FORWARD IF THE COORDINATOR HAS NOT ASSIGNED YOU TO A STATION. If you come forward without a specific assignment, you will end up taking a position already assigned to someone else, which will lead to cascading confusion.
  • For some Masses we have do not have enough EMs to offer communion under both species. When only the Body of Christ is presented, all EMs line up on the sacristy side of the sanctuary, between the altar and the ambo.
  • As soon as the presider begins to consume the Body of Christ, ascend the steps into the sanctuary (do not hestitate!) or, if you are already in the sanctuary, move to your position as a Bread or Cup Minister. Cup Ministers line up along the sides of the altar, facing the transepts. Bread Ministers are behind the altar, along the rug, facing the congregation. (Exception: as noted above, if only the Body of Christ is offered, the Bread Ministers line up along the sacristy side of the sanctuary.)
  • The Bread Captain receives Holy Communion from the presider (or his designee) under both species, then receives a ciborium, and distributes the Body of Christ first, to the Cup Ministers on his or her side, then to the Bread Ministers. the Cup Captain receives Communion from the Bread Captain, then receives a cup from the presider and distributes the Precious Blood to each of the Cup Ministers, then to the Bread Ministers. As a Cup Minister, once you have received under both species, step forward to receive a cup from the presider. Go to your station as soon as you have your chalice in hand. If you arrive in place before the Bread minister, simply turn to the altar and await his/her arrival. This simple motion will discourage congregants from coming up to receive the Precious blood before they have received the Body of Christ. Bread Ministers proceed to their stations once they have received their ciborium.
  • Cup Ministers: once your cup is empty, return to the sanctuary to receive another chalice from theMC. DO NOT put the purificator in the empty cup. Do not take a cup from the altar yourself - wait for the MC to return if he or she is absent when you arrive. Once you have a new cup and fresh purificator, return to your station. If there are no more cups at the altar, return your cup to the O'Hara Chapel. When your Communion line is finished, attempt to replenish nearby stations with any remaining Precious Blood. Then return the cup to the O'Hara Chapel. If you need any assistance consuming remaining consecrated wine, other ministers will be available in the O'Hara Chapel. If you are able to help consume Precious Blood, please remain in the O'Hara Chapel. Otherwise, you then can return to your pew or your seat in the sanctuary.
  • When walking with the chalice, hold the vessel in two hands.
  • Bread Ministers: when your line is finished return to the altar and surrender the ciborium to the MC. If the MC is not there, you can place your ciborium on the tray on the altar. Note: Bread ministers should not go to "help out" other stations when their area has been communicated. (A coordinator may direct you to a new station.) This may result in unintended "traffic" congestion.
  • When walking with the ciborium, hold the vessel in two hands.

For Weekday Masses:

  • Generally there is no coordinator for the weekday Masses, so there is no check in procedure.
  • Try to arrange a sub if you cannot make your assignment. If you are unable to find a replacement, expect a sub attending Mass to fill in. This is a way we can help each other out.
  • If you are scheduled: Immediately at the beginning of the Lamb of God, line up at the front, two on either side of the main aisle.
  • If you are NOT scheduled: At the beginning of the second verse of the Lamb of God, if there are fewer than 4 EMs assembled up front, join the complement. This will ensure that the presider does not have to ask for additional extraordinary ministers from the sanctuary.
  • Ascend the steps into the sanctuary as soon as the presider begins to consume the Body of Christ (do not hestitate!).
  • After Communion, return the cup to the credence table. Place the purificator on the tray. There is no need to genuflect to the credence table after finishing consuming the Precious Blood. A simple bow of the head as a sign of reverence is sufficient, as when receiving communion.