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This is not from my parish so I hope it's ok to post in this section. This is a parish that is near the nursing home where I work. They are very involved with the nursing home.

Are there rules about the distribution of the Eucharist in a setting like a nursing home or even in a hospital?

The EMHC go throughout the nursing home after a Mass. They have a list of Catholic residents and will find them. They will go to busy areas and give Communion to the residents who are involved in other activities, not just to the residents who are in their rooms. There can be a lot of hustling and bustling going on and they will say the Lord's Prayer in the midst of other activities and then distribute Holy Communion.

It bothers me because there isn't a sense of reverence sometimes when a resident can be exercising and chit chatting or people (like me) are working and the EMHC are going through the room. There can be 3-4 EMHC coming in all holding the consecrated hosts (in containers) and then popping the container (sorry I don't' know the right term) open almost like giving someone a piece of gum. Ok that's exaggerating, but it is not done in a holy manner at times.

Ok, off that topic slightly, but we once had two priest come through to do the anointing of the sick in the same manner. You think they could gather the residents they needed in an area and do it instead of going through a room with a list of Catholics and anointing them with oil ...

I don't know if I am explaining this right, but it's been unsettling for me.

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Judas was the first to leave mass early

There usually are policies set up to ward against potential problems. On a visit to a nursing home this summer with a priest, he did exactly what you mentioned -- he coordinated with the nursing home administrators, and everyone who was interested in an anointing were gathered in one of the rooms, ready for him to arrive.

I've been an EMHC in my parish, as well as bringing communion to those in the hospital, and in my experience, they're usually two distinct ministries: as an EMHC, I might take communion to our parish's shut-ins and those unable to attend Mass, and separately, I was on the schedule at a local hospital to distribute communion there. That distribution, though, always took place in rooms, and yes, there are slightly different norms with respect to distribution in the hospital.

(One of the oddest situations I'd heard about in the hospital was the case of hospital workers who hadn't gone to Mass, but wanted to receive communion. Difficult situation, there, but we were told to inform the workers that we weren't given the rights to distribute to all, but only to patients...)

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Larry

When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD.

-- Jeremiah 15:16

Mary,

My mother is in a Nursing Home and always receives in her room.

The proper name for the container is Pyx

Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Encyclopedia

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Bob C

We were instructed to give communion to the caregivers, which includes the hospital personnel, if they had not received previously that day. However, we were to remind them that that did not excuse them from the obligation to attend mass that Sunday if possible.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

In the retirement homes we gather those who are ambulatory for a Communion Service, or once a month for mass. Then take communion to those who cannot make it to the community service.

In Hospitals and extended care facilities there are usually too few ambulatory to make a community service feasible:so we go from room to room. We have to try to match their schedule. So if someone is in rehab or something we have to go where they are. The staff is always good about fitting us in and giving us a quiet corner.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Thanks for the insight/comments.

Joe I think a quiet corner would be more respectful and a separate room for anointing would be great or at least take them to a place like they do when the foot doctor, eye doc or dentist comes (for anointing).

I've seen anointing done bedside on a regular basis (not for someone on the verge of death). I can understand wanting to group the residents so it saves the Priest time which might even be part of the reason when they go to the residents for Communion in a crowded room.

I have never even thought about receiving Communion while working as a health care provider, I probably wouldn't be fasting, might not be eating, but maybe coffee at the least.

When my Aunt was in a nursing home they would bring the Eucharist daily after Mass (it was a Catholic nursing home) and once I did receive when I was with her. And it was very nice because I really needed the Lord at that time. I was my Aunt's legal guardian and it was a very trying time. I truly felt as though the Lord was coming to me. I was thankful Sister offered me the Eucharist.

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Judas was the first to leave mass early

As I recall the sick are encouraged to observe at least a 15 minute fast, but they are not strictly bound. I think the same was for attendants; especially since our schedule was sometimes erratic.

I have someplace the instructions I drew up, and the pastor approved, for our people. If anyone wants a copy drop me an e-mail.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

I didn't want to get into all the P's and Q's, but yes, in my case, family members present and visiting the patient were also permitted to receive -- the concern was that health care providers would keep an eye out for EMHC's, and use them as a sort of "Sunday Mass obligation substitute".



In all charity, I might remind all to consider that the right to establish these particular guidelines falls largely within the domain of the diocesan bishop; that is to say, what's fine in one diocese might be right out of the question in another. Although the offer here is made in good faith, and may be legitimate in one or more dioceses, the proper course of action would more likely be to contact the Liturgy office of your diocese and ask what particular guidelines they've established for the situation in question.

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Larry

When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD.

-- Jeremiah 15:16