Dear Rev. Father,
APPOINTMENT OF EXTRAORDINARY RELIGIOUS MINISTERS OF
HOLY COMMUNION IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF COLOMBO
Some of you might remember that the practice in the Archdiocese was that Religious Brothers or Sisters had to be officially appointed by the Archbishop or by the Auxiliary Bishop before they are eligible to distribute Holy Communion in parishes or in Institutions during Mass, or to take Holy Communion to the sick. This, in fact, is the ordinary liturgical requirement in the whole Catholic Church. For many years we have not paid enough attention to these appointments, and as a result, any Religious Brother or Sister on being professed, and wearing the Religious Habit automatically has become eligible as Extra Ordinary Religious Ministers of Holy Communion. This is not proper. Hence, we have decided to strictly revive the liturgical requirement of officially appointing ERMHC.
Please note the following instructions carefully :
- All Parish Priests are hereby notified to apply on behalf of the Religious Brothers and Sisters who are serving in their parishes or Institutions.
- Applications are to be addressed to the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo.
- All applications must reach the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo before 01st September 2005.
- Names of the Religious and their Religious Congregations need to be mentioned clearly in the application forms.
- In the event of transfers the Religious Brothers and Sisters are eligible to distribute Holy Communion in their new places until expiry of the appointment.
- Religious, on being transferred to a new location, if they do not have a letter of appointment need to obtain same from the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese.
- Letters of appointment are issued only for those who attend a one-day training session conducted by the Archdiocesan Liturgical Service.
- Letters of appointment are issued for a period of 05 years, and they need to be renewed on expiry.
- All Religious distributing Holy Communion will be required to wear a special cape which will be prepared for the purpose by the Archdiocesan Liturgical Service.
- All Religious need to be first given Holy Communion by an ordinary minister before they go and distribute Holy Communion to other faithful. Self Communication is not allowed for any Religious.
May I also draw your attention to the following :
- All the Priests and Deacons must wear at least a surplice and a stole when distributing Holy Communion.
- Priests must first give Holy Communion to the Religious or Lay ERMCH, before they are handed over the ciboria to go and distribute Holy Communion to other faithful.
- Priests are not authorized to permit ERMCH to purify sacred vessels after distribution of Holy Communion.
- It is imperative that sacred vessels used for the sacred species, and for distribution of Holy Communion.
- It is imperative that sacred vessels used for the sacred species, and for distribution of Holy Communion are kept very clean. Using all kinds of vessels ( plastic curry bowls etc. ) at distribution of Holy Communion is strongly discouraged.
With prayers and my cordial blessing,
Yours devotedly in Christ,
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