Ordinary ministers of communion are the bishop, priest and deacon.  However, due to the pastoral needs of providing communion to all the faithful, the Church authorizes special ministers who will be able to distribute communion at Mass and to persons who are sick and/or homebound.  Pope Paul VI wrote, “The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith, and morals recommend them.  Let them strive to be worthy of this great office, foster their own devotion to the Eucharist, and show an example to the rest of the faithful by their own devotion and reverence toward the most august sacrament of the altar.”  Eucharistic Ministers must also be fully initiated into the Church, having celebrated baptism, confirmation and First Communion.  In addition, this is an appointed position of the Pastor and will need his approval.

 

Please contact Jennifer Lawerence, Pastoral Associate at 330-626-3424 or stjoanpm1@gmail.com  for more information.