74 new extraordinary ministers were commissioned

^{Source: Diocese of Nottingham}

The Bishop of Nottingham has encouraged Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist to be careful about the language which they use, when referring to the Body and Blood of Christ

Bishop Patrick McKinney celebrated a Jubilee Mass for Extraordinary Ministers on Saturday November 8 at St Barnabas Cathedral, where 74 new extraordinary ministers were commissioned.

During his homily, Bishop McKinney said that a recent study in the USA, found that 75% of Catholics believed that the bread and wine at Mass were merely symbols and did not truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. This belief was even more prevalent among younger people, who also mistakenly thought that their thinking was in line with the Church’s teaching.

Bishop McKinney continued: “So I ask you, please aways be reverent in your exercise of this ministry and careful in the language you use when speaking of the Lord’s gift to us of his very presence in Holy Communion.”

He went on to explain, that it is indeed bread and wine when the gifts are brought to the altar, but they are then transformed through the prayers of the priest and the Holy Spirit, and so “it is none other than the Body and Blood of Christ that you will administer to others.”

He thanked all present for their generosity of service and encouraged them to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration, whenever they could.

The Jubilee Mass was followed by refreshments in the cathedral hall.

Eucharistic ministers who could not attend the Jubilee Mass, were able to receive a blessing the following day in their parish church, and all parishes were encouraged to make the following intercession:

“In this Jubilee Year of Hope we pray for all the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in our Diocese.  We ask God to bless them with the graces they need to fulfil their ministry, so that in their parishes and communities they may bring the Body of Christ to their fellow parishioners, during Mass and in their own homes, so that all may receive this heavenly Gift of God. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.”

You can access to the photos here: