Fort Worth, Texas
The "ordinary" minister to distribute communion is a bishop, priest or deacon. This means that ministering communion is part of their normal role in the church. Following Vatican II allowances have been made for lay ministers, having been duly trained and commissioned by the local bishop, to help minister communion. They are called "extraordinary" ministers of communion as they are not clergy.
Every Extraordinary Minister of Communion is graced to hold the Body or Blood of Christ in their hands and have the joy of sharing the Body or Blood of Christ with others, an important role in thecelebration of the liturgy. This ministry calls for participants to make a commitment to themselves, to the church community and to God. Being involved in the ministry will allow you the opportunity to rededicate yourself to God and to find spiritual fulfillment in service to him. Open to youth, grades 8 and up, and adults.
All interested volunteers must be up to date in the Diocesan Safe Environment Program Training
After a person has completed training and commissioning to become an Extraordinary Minister of Communion in our parish, they may schedule an appointment with Fr. John Shanahan, T.O.R. for training and materials for ministering communion to the homebound.
Reach out and touch someone with love! We have many people in our parish who are sick or homebound and unable to come to church to receive communion, but are hungry for the Body of Christ and the compassion and reassurance from us that they are still part of the Body of Christ. We want them to know the Church is praying for them because we miss them and are incomplete without their presence. Every effort is made to create an atmosphere as similar and prayerful to church as possible in the person's residence when Communion is taken to them.
If you love people and enjoy listening and sharing stories with others, please give prayerful consideration to taking communion to those who can't come to us. You don't have to be retired to fit one visit a week into your life and the blessings you will receive from the connections you'll make are life-changing. Reach out and make a difference! We need your help.