Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ during week day and weekend Masses. Registered parishioners of OLL who have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) and are living a Catholic Sacramental life and are in good standing with the Church are eligible to participate in this ministry. Formation and Training is provided and required of first time ministers.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist in the parish with the distribution of communion at all Masses, Sunday and weekdays. Communion is always distributed under both species, the Bread and the Wine, with the help of the Eucharistic Ministers. Training is given before the ministers are commissioned. Recruitment and training of new ministers is in the parish in the fall of the year. Ministers also bring Communion to the sick at home and at Knoll View, Knoll Heights, and Andover Nursing Home. Those too ill to come to church have the Eucharist brought to them. Scheduling is done by Betty Heldak, coordinator of the Eucharistic Ministers.
Contact... Betty Heldak (973) 729-6107
If an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion has a special gift to bring to the world, perhaps it is that awareness of the presence of Christ. It is the gift of bringing Christ’s presence to each one we meet, and of seeing Christ present in each person. It is obvious that we bring the presence of Christ to those who come forward to receive Holy Communion. At that time, as we distribute the Body and Blood of Christ (which is the whole person of Christ), to those in our faith community, we truly are bringing Christ’s presence to them.
In the letter to the Colossians we read, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him” (3:17). These are important words for an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, whose spirituality is based on eucharistia, giving thanks. Faith depends on being a thankful, Eucharistic, person. A Eucharistic faith - a thankful faith - seeks the blessing to be found in every time and circumstance of life, and thereby finds Christ present there.