Eucharistic Assistant
Updated 21 July 2008
Appointment
A Eucharistic Assistant is appointed annually at a Vestry meeting by the Incumbent and the Vestry Canon I-4 Par 7 (c). The Incumbent is the clergy in charge of the parish, normally a priest. A Parish Lay Reader is a Eucharistic Assistant by virtue of the appointment as a Parish Lay Reader; see Ministry Description - Parish Lay Reader.
A Eucharistic Assistant may distribute either bread or wine during a Eucharist at St. Stephen's. To take communion to the sick requires an appointment as a Shepherd.
Directions
Prior to the service the Eucharistic Assistant should wash his or her hands. See Eucharistic practice and the risk of infection.
Once the Lord’s Prayer is said, the Eucharistic Assistant comes to the Sanctuary. The Presider, the bishop/priest officiating at the Eucharist, gives the servers, Eucharistic Assistant and anyone else sitting in the Sanctuary communion. The Presider then gives the Eucharistic Assistant the chalice and a purificator, which is a cloth used to wipe the edge of the chalice. Normally clergy distributes the bread.
To administer the chalice, the Eucharistic Assistant holds the chalice around the stem so that the person can grasp the base and tip the cup towards them. Watch the chalice and stop tipping it when the wine has come up to the person’s lips.
For someone who is standing, the chalice may be passed to the person.
When the bread is given say, "The body of Christ", "The Body of Christ given for you", or "The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven." When the chalice is administered say, “The blood of Christ”, “The blood of Christ, shed for you” or, “ The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”
The Eucharistic Assistant wipes the chalice with the purificator prior to giving the chalice to the next person.
If someone is unable to come to the Sanctuary Rail to receive communion, once everyone has received, the Presider and a Eucharistic Assistant will go to the person and administer communion.
At services with a large attendance such as Christmas Eve and Easter, two Eucharistic Assistants will be scheduled. Clergy sitting in the Sanctuary may administer the bread. Follow the Presider's instructions for who administers communion.
Children may receive communion with their parent’s permission. Watch to see whether the child received the bread. If you are unsure, ask the child if he or she can answer or ask the adult accompanying the child if the child would like to receive communion.
Some people will dip the bread in the wine, which is Intincture. Hold the chalice low enough so that the person can see the wine. The Bishop would like this practice discouraged. See New report asserts common cup is safe, Dipping can increase bacteria count in cup.
Use purificator to wipe up spill, a spare purificator is in burse. The burse is found on the altar. It is two pieces of cardboard covered with the same material as the veil. A spare purificator and a veil are normally in the burse.
On services with a large number of communicants, the Presider ought to consecrate a cruet of wine; if the wine runs out, refill the chalice from the cruet on the altar;
Use the bread or wine from the private communion set that is in the tabernacle; and
If all of the consecrated bread or wine is used up, advise the Presider who will then consecrate more.
The tabernacle is the cupboard on the Sanctuary wall that is used to store reserved sacrament (consecrated bread and wine).
Once people have received communion, the Eucharistic Assistant communicates the Presider with both the bread and wine. The Presider may ask the Eucharist Assistant to drink some of the wine.
Too much Consecrated Bread or Wine
If consecrated bread or wine remains after communion, it is either consumed; put on the credence table covered with a white veil from the burse; or put in the private communion set. If it is set on the credence table, it is left for the Altar Guild or the Presider to look after.