Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are qualified laypeople who may assist with distributing Holy Communion when the Church’s ordinary ministers are absent, impeded, or insufficient for a genuinely large number of communicants. Their service can be generous and necessary, but the Church gives it clear limits because the Eucharist deserves careful and reverent handling.
Revised October 5, 2026, to replace an unattributed commentary with a pastoral explanation based on the Church’s liturgical norms.
Who Are the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion?
Bishops, priests, and deacons are the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. “Ordinary” here does not mean commonplace. It means that distributing Communion belongs to their ordained ministry in the normal course of the Church’s sacramental life.
An instituted acolyte is an extraordinary minister by virtue of his institution. Other members of the lay faithful may be deputed to serve when a real pastoral need exists.
When May Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Be Used?
They may be used when there are not enough ordinary ministers to distribute Communion without excessively prolonging Mass, or when a priest or deacon is absent or prevented by illness, advanced age, or another genuine reason.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 162, describes these circumstances. The Church’s instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum also explains that this assistance responds to necessity rather than convenience.
The judgment belongs to the pastor and those responsible for the liturgy. Parishioners should avoid assuming either that extraordinary ministers must always be used or that their use is always an abuse.
Why Are They Called “Extraordinary” Ministers?
They are called extraordinary because they assist outside the ordinary pattern of ordained ministry. The word describes the form of service, not the holiness or importance of the person serving.
The preferred title is “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion,” often shortened to EMHC. “Eucharistic minister” by itself can cause confusion because priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers, and only a priest or bishop consecrates the Eucharist.
May an Extraordinary Minister Replace an Available Priest?
An extraordinary minister should not replace an available ordinary minister merely to give the priest a break or make the schedule easier. If sufficient priests or deacons are present and able to distribute Communion, they normally do so.
Pastoral circumstances can be more complicated than they appear from the pew. A priest may be ill, have limited mobility, or need to attend immediately to another duty. Questions about a particular parish should be brought respectfully to the pastor rather than settled through assumptions.
What May an Extraordinary Minister Do?
An EMHC may distribute the consecrated Host or Precious Blood at Mass when properly assigned. A trained minister may also bring Holy Communion to someone who is sick or homebound when authorized by the parish.
This ministry does not authorize a layperson to:
- consecrate the Eucharist;
- give sacramental absolution;
- act as though the role were a right or permanent honor;
- add personal words to the Church’s formula when giving Communion; or
- take the Blessed Sacrament home or elsewhere without authorization.
When Communion is taken to someone who is sick, it should be carried directly and reverently in a pyx, following the parish’s instructions.
Can Extraordinary Ministers Give Blessings in the Communion Line?
The liturgical books do not assign extraordinary ministers a ritual blessing during the Communion procession. Local practices differ, so ministers should follow the directions of their pastor and diocese rather than improvise gestures or formulas.
Anyone who cannot receive Communion may remain in the pew and make a spiritual communion. For the Church’s teaching about receiving worthily, see who can receive Holy Communion.
How Should an Extraordinary Minister Prepare?
- Be a Catholic in good standing and able to receive Communion.
- Receive the formation required by the parish or diocese.
- Dress and act in a way that does not draw attention away from Christ.
- Handle the sacred species slowly and carefully.
- Know what to do if a Host is dropped or the Precious Blood is spilled.
- Arrive in time to receive the day’s instructions.
The deepest preparation is Eucharistic faith. Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ, not a symbol or ordinary food. Our articles on the effects of Holy Communion and the Eucharist as source and summit explain why this ministry calls for such reverence.
A Prayer for Those Who Distribute Holy Communion
Lord Jesus Christ,
truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist,
give reverence, humility, and care
to all who assist in bringing your Body and Blood to your people.
Keep them faithful to the Church’s guidance,
attentive to those who are sick or frail,
and mindful that every act of service points to you.
Amen.