Q: I have several questions about Ordinary Ministers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
We have two men in our parish who will be instituted as acolytes very soon. Is an instituted acolyte considered an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion? Would an instituted acolyte take precedence over an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who is not instituted when determining who will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion?
Would it be permissible or advisable in a parish with multiple priests in residence to have priests who are not celebrating the Mass or sitting in choir come in during the Communion Rite to distribute Holy Communion rather in order to reduce the number of Extraordinary Ministers required?
If an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion such as a permanent deacon is attending Mass but not assisting at the altar, would he still be expected to distribute Holy Communion before Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are brought up to assist?
Thank you!
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We have two men in our parish who will be instituted as acolytes very soon. Is an instituted acolyte considered an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion?
No, they are extraordinary ministers. Only the ordained are ordinary ministers of holy communion.
Would an instituted acolyte take precedence over an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who is not instituted when determining who will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion?
GIRM 100 states that deputed ministers serve when there is no acolyte.
Would it be permissible or advisable in a parish with multiple priests in residence to have priests who are not celebrating the Mass or sitting in choir come in during the Communion Rite to distribute Holy Communion rather in order to reduce the number of Extraordinary Ministers required?
Here’s a previous post: https://paulturner.org/distributing-communion-2/. Personally, I think it’s better for everyone at Mass to be present for the entire Mass.
If an Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion such as a permanent deacon is attending Mass but not assisting at the altar, would he still be expected to distribute Holy Communion before Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are brought up to assist?
I don’t know of any clear rules on this. A deacon is normally expected to vest and assist. But if he’s not functioning as a deacon, he could assist with communion as other ministers would. Judging from GIRM 100, he is the preferred minister at communion time.