Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion

In the Roman Catholic Church can, if necessary, as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion apart from the other acolytes baptized, lay faithful, men and women are entrusted with the distribution of Communion. They are in this country called Communion helpers.

Description

The service of communion helper consists primarily in the handing out of communion, that is, the body or the blood of Christ:

The Episcopal commission as communion helper in time ( usually five years, with the possibility of extension ) limited and locally (own parish or Seelsorgseinheit ). It does not create more liturgical or other function in the parish, but sometimes, the same person may hold several other tasks in worship to unite ( as an altar boy, lector ), what the desired diversity of liturgical services is rather detrimental. The service as a communion assistant is also not a requirement to acquire one of these tasks. A future deacon and priest must provide the service as a delegated Acolyte before his consecration. Increasingly, service officers are used as communion assistants.

The habitual, not justified by real demand use of Communion helpers or acolytes to the gift of communion does not correspond to ecclesiastical order.