Commissioning of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
October 3, 2021, Lawaan Talisay City. Don Bosco Formation Center, both a house of formation for future Salesians and a place of prayer and liturgy, has recently opened again its doors to the faithful for their daily public Mass last October 1st after more than a month of seclusion due to the rising number of Covid cases in the city. This resulted in a need for more Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion as the attendees grew in number. Hence, the senior aspirants were called to the task in this ministry of service.
7 senior aspirants: Pius Yawalele, Ace Rollo, Peter Kamara, Rodel Cabil, Vince Pedrola, Charles Arranchado, and Ralph Suriaga, were commissioned by the Rector, Fr. Adrian Mendoza, SDB, on the evening Mass of October 3rd. This commissioning gave them the faculty to distribute Holy Communion in all the Masses of DBFC.
The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion(EMHC) is a novelty of Vatican II as a response to the dwindling number of priests. Until 1973, only the ordained ministers–deacons, priests and bishops– were allowed to carry the Sacred Hosts and distribute Holy Communion. Pope Paul VI, answering to the need of the time, instituted the EMHC. Their primary duty is to assist the priest in the distribution of Holy Communion within the Mass and to bring the Sacred Hosts to those at home who are sick.
