To Walk with Christ - be a Minister of the Eucharist

SCMC Minister of the Eucharist Reference Guide

Welcome Dear Servant

Thank you greatly for your willingness to share your love and compassion with our sick and injured. This is, I believe, nothing less than an answer to God’s love in your life.

As ministers we remind ourselves daily that we are servant to those in need of God’s healing. We bring the Sacred Host into a room where Christ already resides as patient, “When I was sick you came to visit me”. How important for us to remember and live out of the truth that Christ resides within everyone we meet, including ourselves. We are as St. John, not worthy to “un-strap your sandal,” yet Christ gifts us with the soul enriching experience of service.

God’s grace and blessings for you always,

St. Charles Spiritual Care Services

Copyright: Robert K. Smith, SFO

The primary responsibility of an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist is to respect the patient as God’s child and the host to God within them. You should also protect the Eucharist and show reverence at all times to the body of Christ - when at rest within the Tabernacle and when in motion while carried within the Pyx. Not only are you following Jesus, you are bringing Him. You are a Servant Leader to the Catholic Community – God, the Parish Priests, and the Catholic community trusts you.

Protection and reverence of the Eucharist is shown in the following activities:

1. Tabernacle and Ciborium

· When accessing the key and returning the key for the Tabernacle to its assigned place

· Genuflect toward the Tabernacle when opening and closing it

· When transferring consecrated hosts from Ciborium to Pyx and back to Ciborium

· Ensure the Tabernacle door is closed and locked before closing the outer door

2. Pyx

· Eucharist must always be carried in a Pyx within a burse, ideally around the neck.

· Purifying the Pyx after administration of Eucharist: Use a small amount of water

(making sure not to over fill the Pyx) to dissolve any small particles remaining in

the Pyx. Drink the water from the Pyx. Repeat as needed until no particles remain.

Dry the Pyx using a small cloth.

· When breaking the Eucharist into small pieces, be careful to hold the consecrated host

over the Pyx so no particles fall on the bed or floor.

· If the Pyx is borrowed and belongs to the Parish or SCMC, return it to its appropriate

location for use by the next Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.

· Ensure the patient has consumed the Eucharist. Offer a sip of water, if authorized.

Procedures

1. Helpful Hints:

• Lock purse in car. There is no secure, locked place at SCMC to leave it.

• Wear comfortable shoes (walking shoes, cushioned sole shoes are good).

• Know the meaning of the hospital emergency codes, e.g. “Doctor Strong.”

(Carry the 3x4” laminated card or refer to the SCMC Volunteer Services Handbook

received at Orientation.)

• Read the Volunteer Services Position Description by Diane Kutcher dated 10/03/2006.

A copy will be available in the Spiritual Care Department and in Volunteer Services

Department.

• If needed early in your ministry, obtain a glossy “Visitor Guide & Map” at the

Information Desk near front entrance. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

2. Items to Bring With You to the Hospital

· Hospital identification badge

· A pen (for writing notations / codes / special requests, etc.)

· Bible, or print readings from http://www.usccb.org/nab/, prayer booklets, rosary, etc.

· Pyx - a container in which consecrated hosts are kept

· Burse - a flexible material, leather, velour, or cloth case to carry the Pyx

· Purificator - a small linen cloth to place beneath the sacred vessels when transferring Eucharist, from the Ciborium to the Pyx and from the Pyx back to the Ciborium. (*)

(*) With permission, these can be borrowed from the Sacristy (Room PC24)

at the Catholic Center or from the cabinet above the Tabernacle at SCMC.

Hand wash as appropriate.

3. Sign In

· Upon entering the hospital, sign in at the Information Desk computer station.

This ensures that you are covered under the accident, liability, and property damage

insurance during your assigned hours of duty in the hospital. Notify the Emergency

Department if an insurance claim is being filed by you; also notify Volunteer Services

as soon as possible.

· If you forget, fill out one of the forms (kept in a tray next to the computer station)

as you leave, or do this on your next visit.

4. Spiritual Care Office

· This office is located near the Medical Library on the 1^st floor.

· The office is not accessible after 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday,

nor is it accessible on Saturdays and Sundays (unless you call ‘Security’).

· Monday thru Friday: Check top tray for previous day’s Patient List (for notations / codes).

Saturday and Sunday: Obtain the Patient List from the Emergency Room Operations Desk.

Be sure to show your ID Badge and ask for the Catholic Patient List.

· Confirm the list reflects “Denomination: Catholic” at the top of the page.

· You are restricted to visit Catholics only.

· You will be entrusted with the location of the Tabernacle key during your training.

In order to protect the Eucharist, the location of the Tabernacle key is not to be

divulged to unauthorized inquirers. You will receive verbal instructions of the process.

Note: You will be instructed in the backup process to obtain a spare Tabernacle key.

Again, you are not to divulge this information to unauthorized inquirers.

· IMPORTANT: Always return the Tabernacle key to its assigned place when you

finish your visits. If you forget to return the key, notify the Chaplain on call and

make arrangements to return the Tabernacle key as soon as possible.

5. Second Floor Chapel

· Approach slowly and genuflect before the Tabernacle located behind the altar.

· Open outer door; then Tabernacle door (using key).

· Place a Purificator (fully opened) on the flat surface to the left of the Tabernacle.

Note: A supply of Purificators should be next to the Tabernacle.

· Remove the Ciborium containing the consecrated hosts from the Tabernacle and

place it on the Purificator. This precaution is necessary to prevent any particles

of the consecrated hosts from falling to the floor.

· After you remove the number of Eucharist needed for your visits, please note the

number remaining in the Ciborium.

· Place the Ciborium back inside the Tabernacle.

· Fold the Purificator top to middle, bottom to middle. Return the folded Purificator

next to the Tabernacle.

· Genuflect

· Turn the key to close the Tabernacle door, remove the key, and keep it safe.

(It must be returned to its assigned place at the end of your visit.)

· Close the outer door.

· When you finish your administration of Eucharist to the patients, return any Eucharist

remaining in the Pyx to the Ciborium. Because the Ciborium is replenished on Mondays

(during 11:30 a.m. Mass at the 2^nd floor Chapel), check the count of Eucharist in the

Ciborium. If it is late in the week and the count is below 25, inform the Chaplain

(via a note on his desk, email, or phone message).

6. Important Reminders

· If possible, identify yourself to a nurse before entering a patient’s room.

Explain that you are a Eucharistic Minister delivering Holy Communion to

patients in the rooms noted on your Patient List.

· Every day, Note “lock out” for the following:

o Intensive Care Unit (ICU) – Room Numbers 101 to 130

Note: Lock out times: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For patients in ICU, you must request access at the volunteer

station located outside the main ICU double door, or on weekends, use the phone located outside the double doors and speak to a nurse.

o Family Birthing Unit – Room Numbers 150 to 179,

o Note: two digit room numbers, e.g. 04a, 06b designate new borns.

Note: These two Units are at opposite ends of the hospital 1st floor.

· The 1^st floor Psychiatric Unit (You may only visit in this area with a nurse’s permission and you must be invited by the patient through the nurse) and the 5^th floor Pediatric Unit

(Room Numbers 508 to 516) have access phones x6500 - located just outside the doors.

· Patients in the 190 series of rooms are not available for visits due to restrictions

(surgical areas).

· Patients in Room Numbers 701 to 710 are in the Rehabilitation Center located in the

Lower Level (LL).

o Although there is open access, the patient may be in the large therapy room.

o If the patient is in therapy, permission to visit must be authorized by a nurse.

7. Plan your route based on the locations of patients and the time of day.

Suggested Route:

· Intensive Care Unit (Rooms 101 to 130) and Rehabilitation Center 701 – 710

(located in the Lower Level)

· Family Birthing Unit (Rooms 150 to 179) – Located at south/opposite end of hospital

· 5^th through 2^nd floors

· Return Eucharist to Tabernacle at the 2^nd floor Chapel

· Return borrowed Pyx to the parish or SCMC as appropriate

8. Visiting Patients

· Self care - Ministry can be very contagious. Loving the person God created (us) is just as important as service to others. In fact without self care we are open to spiritual illness (depression, blame, guilt, etc.). If you have a contagious illness (a cold, sore throat, cold-sore, Flu, etc.) Contact a substitute Minister of the Eucharist rather than expose patients (who may have low white blood cell count).

· Always attempt to identify yourself to a nurse before entering a patient’s room. Explain that you are a Eucharistic Minister delivering Communion to the patients in the rooms noted on your Patient List.

· Before entering, check each door:

o If a colored strip is visible or a note of any kind is posted on the outside door of a patient’s room, check with the nurse (nearest each patient) for permission to enter.

o NPO = Nothing by mouth (ask patient if he/she wants to pray with you)

o Yellow Strip = Caution. There is a danger to either you or the patient by you entering the room. Check with a nurse.

· Gently knock; or if the door is open, quietly announce that you are from

Saint Francis of Assisi Church, bringing Eucharist. (Always ask permission

to enter the patient’s room after you have indentified yourself.)

· Check near the head of each patient’s bed for a:

o NPO = Nothing by mouth (ask patient if he/she wants to pray with you)

o Posted 8x10 Pink Form = Aspiration Precaution

(Even a small piece of host could cause choking. Offer prayers instead.)

· IMPORTANT: Be respectful of the fact that the patient is in control of your visit into

his/her sacred space (hospital room). Ask permission in all things: prayer, preference

for receiving in hands or on tongue, holding of hands, and ask if entrance-way curtains

should be pulled shut, or if the door be closed when you leave.

· If you sense a patient is in ‘spiritual pain,’ ask if he/she would like to talk to a

priest or chaplain. If so, relay the message to the chaplain and leave a message

on the phone recording at the Catholic Center (Phone Number: 382-3631).

8. Visiting Patients (Continued)

· If a patient is not available at the time of your visit, leave an “I Came By Today” card

in a visible place in their room (bedside table, etc), not on the bed or pillow. These cards are available in the Spiritual Care Office.

· Frequently use hand-sanitizer spray tubes (near entrance to each patient’s room), or wash your hands after visiting each patient.

· Handling Rejection

It is possible that in your ministry, you will encounter a patient who is angry and

abusive. Do not take this personally. The patient does not know you well enough

to be angry with you. In some cases, the patient is angry at God and the world

in general. Politely excuse yourself and leave the room; and if need be, go to the

2^nd floor Chapel to center yourself and refocus on your ministry.

Inform the Spiritual Care Office of your encounter, giving the patient’s name

and room number.

These are the minimal words that a Minister of the Eucharist must say in

administering the Eucharist. It is preferable to have prayer before administering

the Eucharist, but in some cases a weakened patient may not be able to tolerate

a prolonged interruption of their rest.

HOLY COMMUNION

Minister says: (if the patient has the physical stamina and mental acuity)

Now let us pray together to the Father in the words given us by

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister says:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Happy are those who are called to His supper.

Recipient says: (Minister should say the words if the patient is not able)

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I

shall be healed.

Minister says:

The Body of Christ.

Recipient says: (Minister may say this alone or with the patient,

and make the sign of the cross)

Amen.

9. After Visiting Each Patient

· Enter appropriate code on Patient List (See list of codes on page 12).

10. Before Leaving the Hospital

· Return Eucharist to the Tabernacle, genuflect, and lock the door.

· Refer to instructions on page 2 for purifying the Pyx.

· Return Tabernacle key to its assigned place.

· Return the list of patients visited (to include new notations / codes) to the

Spiritual Care Office.

Note: On weekends, put the list in a messenger envelope addressed to

Spiritual Care Office, and slip it under the Medical Library door

(near the Spiritual Care Office).

· For patients in ‘spiritual pain,’ who may want the Sacrament of the Sick,

relay a message to the chaplain and leave a message on the phone recording

at the Catholic Center (Phone Number: 382-3631).

· Sign out on the computer as you leave the hospital.

11. Suggestions, Recommendations, and Thoughts?

· How can the Spiritual Care Department improve its sense of community to all of the

staff and volunteers? http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1481/build/g1481.pdf

· Twice a year the hospital provides a “Volunteer Luncheon” for all its volunteers,

usually held on a week day. Perhaps Ministers of the Eucharist and Pastoral Care

Volunteers could sit together (if possible, select tables that are close together and

seat 8 persons per table). In so doing, participants can associate names with faces

and share experiences – a good start.

Note. Being a Minister of the Eucharist is an awesome responsibility because it squarely places you in the role of not just a volunteer, but more to the point, you are a servant leader who by the power of the Holy Spirit, animates religion and spirituality – you are the bridge, the messenger, perhaps some would say the angel without wings or halo.

When administering Eucharist to a patient, your spiritual eyes will allow a glimpse into the Divine - some call eternity. You make spirituality a here-and-now practicality that connects you more to others on this part of your Earthly journey – some call life. Remember - it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. You will be better positioned to make the transition because you walked with Christ.

Thank you for your time, effort, and good will

in devotion to Ministry of the Eucharist

Eucharistic Minister Codes

(to be noted on the Patient List page, next to each patient’s line item)

C Communion (patient received)

NC No Communion

NPO Nothing By Mouth. This is a medical requirement.

(Usually you will be notified by patient, family, or ask nurse if unsure.)

A/C Affiliated Catholic. Patient is not Catholic, but member of family is.

BL Blessing

NAV Not Able to Visit

N/P Not Practicing Catholic

NT Not at this Time

V Visit

DIS Discharged

P Prayer