Msgr. Jerry and I want to introduce some new procedures to improve how we, at the weekend Masses, bring the Eucharist to the Homebound and to care facilities. These changes have been in the works for over a year and will help us serve our sick and needy with greater reverence and care. I do want to take the opportunity to thank the many generous parishioners who help bring Christ to the members of our community who cannot join us for Mass. Your generosity is a great blessing!
I will first lay out our new procedures that began the weekend of October 10/11th and then briefly explain the reasoning behind the changes.
New Procedures
1) At the beginning of each Mass, a tray will be placed on the credence table in the sacristy. On the table will be a bowl of unconsecrated hosts. Please fill a pyx with the number of hosts that you need.
2) Cards will be on the tray with a space for your name and number of hosts. Those bringing the Eucharist to the homebound would fill out the card and place the card with their pyx on the tray.
3) During the preparation of the altar, the servers will place the tray on the altar for the hosts to be consecrated.
4) After Communion is finished, the priest will come in front of the altar and call forward all those who will be bringing communion to the sick. Each person will then take their pyx from the tray and the priest will give them a short blessing.
We are making these changes for several reasons:
First, our diocese has asked us to move in this direction instead of having individuals simply bring a pyx in the communion line and ask for a host.
Second, having people come forward during the Mass is a beautiful reminder to us that our parish community includes those who are sick or unable to attend Mass every week. Thus, we can be reminded to pray for those who are sick or suffering.
Third, our new process will help us ensure that the Eucharist is handled with the greatest care and reverence by allowing us to track and train those who bring Communion to the homebound, as well as helping us to better know who our homebound parishioners are.
All of us want to treat the Eucharist with the utmost respect and our new procedures can help avoid inadvertent mistakes.
As we adjust to the new process, we do ask that people no longer
ask for an extra host in the Communion line.
If someone does so (such as a non-parishioner, etc.), simply direct the person
to speak with the priest after Mass.
We know that this transition will take a few weeks to settle in and
we thank you for your patience as we adjust to the new process.
Christ has given us the great gift of Himself in the Eucharist and may we draw ever closer to Him through Communion, especially our homebound and those in care facilities. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Blondin or Linda Waggoner at the parish office, 810-694-4891.
God Bless,
Fr. Gary