Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers serve as extraordinary ministers to the celebration of the Mass by assisting the priests in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ. The ministers are trained in the rubrics of the mass and are directed by the parish priests of any liturgical changes affecting the distribution of the Eucharistic.
The Goal of the Ministry is to prepare selected OLQA parishioners to become Extraordinary Ministers to the Eucharist. Through training they are able to administer with confidence, respect and reverence the Eucharist under both species.
Schedule for Eucharistic Ministers
To view the 6-page schedule, click the link below. The schedule will open in a new window.
Eucharastic Minister Schedule July 2008 thru October 2008
Opportunities for volunteering or getting involved
The priests have requested that all of the Sunday Masses (except 7 AM) and the Saturday vigil have 11 Eucharistic Ministers. Currently, there are not a sufficient volunteers to fulfill this request. The identification of reverent and committed volunteers is an urgent present and future need.
Volunteering is easy. A sign-up form is maintained at the back of church on the bulletin
board. Potential ministers must adhere to the following requirements as stated on the
form:
- Regular attendance at Sunday Mass.
- At least 25 years of age.
- If married, married in the Catholic Church.
- Willing to receive the Eucharist in both species.
- Mandatory training sessions.
- Commit to at least two years as a minister and be willing to serve twice a month.
- Attend annual half-day retreat.
- Attend a commissioning ceremony at a Mass on a date to be announced.
- If you are unable to honor your scheduled commitment, obtain a substitute from the Eucharistic Minister list.
The form must be presented to the Pastor for approval. The Ministry team members would contact the approved applicant to determine a mutually-agreed-upon time for training. Training material and hands-on training would be conducted in a session that last approximately one hour. All qualifying adults are welcome to join this most blessed ministry.
Responsibilities of members and volunteers
The Eucharistic Ministry Coordinating group serves at the request of priets under the leadership of Father Thai. The coordinating group is comprised of two ministers from each of the weekend Masses. These ministers serve as a liaison to that mass, act as a “super captain” and are available as a training and communications resource to the ministers who are scheduled for the assigned mass. There is a need for two volunteers to be part of the coordinating group from the 5pm mass on Saturday and one from the 10am mass on Sunday.
Parish Staff Volunteer Coordinator
The priests’ time is valuable and shouldn't be taken up by somewhat clerical aspects. A Parish Staff Volunteer Coordinator could assist us in such functions as:
- Coordinate the annual notification to the diocese of the current roster of Eucharistic Ministers.
- Alert Jean Keating, the ministry's scheduler, of address changes reported to the parish by the volunteers.
- Help with mailings.
- Act as a clearinghouse of parishioners interested in becoming ministers and could help us recruit new members.
For more information, contact Father Thai, Moderator or Jean Keating, Chief Scheduler (7 a.m. Mass).
