On 25thJanuary 1973 Pope Paul V1 issued
an Instruction which permitted
laymen and women to assist in the distribution of Holy Communion.
To enable large congregations to receive Holy Communion and to enable
the
sick and housebound to receive Holy Communion more frequently, Pope Paul
V1
established Special Ministers for Holy Communion to assist the priest.
At present in our parish we have sixty five Eucharistic Ministers. They
assist the priest at all Masses in the distribution of the Sacred Host
and
the Precious Blood.
Several of the Eucharistic Ministers take Communion to the sick and
housebound on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
No one is worthy to be a minister of Holy Communion. "Lord I am not
worthy"
is true.
Probably everyone in the ministry feels a special closeness to the Lord
and
is very humbled at having the opportunity to distribute the Eucharist
and
the Precious Blood at each Mass. "Lord I Am Not Worthy" takes
on a special
meaning to each of the Eucharistic Ministers, and constantly keeps us
in a
state of prayer and spiritual growth as we attempt to live up to the awesome
responsibilities that this very special ministry presents.