Eucharistic Ministers & Eucharistic Visitors

Eucharistic Ministers

A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith (Canon III.4.6). 

Requirements & Guidelines

1. Eucharistic Ministers must be adult confirmed communicants in good standing, be carefully chosen and trained, and be licensed for this ministry. Candidates are recommended by the cleric in charge of the congregation to the bishop. This license is given only at the request and the recommendation of the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation in which the eucharistic minister will be serving.*
2. Eucharistic Ministers are licensed on a triennial basis. All licenses expire on the First Sunday of Advent in Year A.

   Applications for triennial renewal should be sent by November, in order to provide adequate time for processing.

3. Eucharistic Ministers at Holy Communion are to function only in the absence of a sufficient number of ordained clergy. 

* In congregations where there is an extended period of time without a Priest-in-charge, a Senior Warden may request the renewal of a license.

Eucharistic Visitors

A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith. (Canon III.4.7).  Additionally, Eucharistic Visitors should have a background check before conducting visitations.

Requirements & Guidelines

Eucharistic Visitors to the sick and confined:

1. The administration of the Sacrament to the person visited should take place immediately following a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Parish, usually after the principal service of the week.
2. Following the communion of the people, the Eucharistic Visitors gather in the sight of all and are commended for this Ministry with following or similar words: In the name of this congregation, I send you forth bearing these Holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the Communion of Christ’s body and blood. We who are many are One body, because we share one bread, one cup.
   
   
3. A suitable container in which to carry the two vessels for the bread and wine, corporals, and purificators is to be supplied. The container is to be returned to the church along with any unconsumed elements immediately following the visit.
4. The people to whom Holy Communion is to be administered are to be notified in advance and the time of the visit clearly set. If at all possible, another members of the congregation should conduct the visit with the Eucharistic Visitor.
5. It is desirable that other parishioners, relatives, and friends also be present to communicate with the person visited.
6. Persons who receive the ministrations of a Eucharistic Visitor should also be visited regularly by the clergy of the congregation.
7. The form of “Distribution of Holy Communion by Lay Eucharistic Ministers to person who are ill or infirm” should be used. This service can be found in the Book of Occasional Services (BOS 2003 p. 322, BOS 2018 p. 284).
8. Details of all services should be recorded in the Church Service Register.