LOCAL NEWS

Training for 'extraordinary' ministry

By Janice L. Semmel, news@catholicsun.org
November 6, 2008

CAVE CREEK — Fr. Dennis J. O’Rourke led the training for new extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist last month at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish.

To serve as an extraordinary minister, St. Gabriel’s churchgoers must be at least 16 years of age, baptized, confirmed, received their first Communion and be recommended by the pastor, said Ann Gruener, St. Gabriel ministry coordinator.

“This is a very privileged ministry,” Gruener said.

Some parishioners attended the Oct. 21 training for the first time while others came to learn new guidelines. Parishioners signed in to record attendance, received a guidelines packet and proceeded into the 750-seat church.

With nearly 70 parishioners seated, Fr. O’Rourke, the parish pastor, began the training session with a prayer. He launched into a brief history of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the slight revisions since 1969 and the long period of time it took to approve the recent translation from Latin to English.

Fr. O’Rourke emphasized the importance of the liturgy in the Church and said that just worshipping together isn’t enough.

“We celebrate who we are by what we do,” he said. “We’re about bringing that joyful participation as the community for someone who doesn’t want to be here.”

The U.S. bishops, by means of a special indult, permit EMs to serve as helpers to deacons and priests in distributing Communion. EMs only distribute Holy Communion if the presider is ill or infirm or if the presider needs help to serve a large number of parishioners at Mass.

“Liturgical ministers set the example for the community,” said Fr. O’Rourke. EMs need to follow correct ministerial procedures so that the congregation also practices correct procedures.

“If someone does not consume the Body immediately, do not follow them,” said Fr. O’Rourke. Instead, he suggested that they talk to the churchgoer following Mass.

Jeff and Denise Betcher attended the training session as new EMs.

“We’ve been here from the beginning, and we needed some other way to be involved,” Denise said. “This is a way to participate and work it into a busy work schedule.”

“It’s such a privilege to actually be part of the Mass,” said Dolores Galligan. “I’m of the older generation. Now girls can be altar servers and women can be EMs.”