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Eucharistic Ministers/Visitors

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS (formerly titled as LEM 1) are lay people authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith (Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 6).

The authorization is a license issued from the Bishop’s Office to the Church for the lay person to exercise this ministry. In the Diocese of Long Island the license is granted for three (3) years, renewable twice (for a total of nine years), following the Diocesan training program for EMs.

In renewing the license, the Bishop shall consider the performance of the ministry by the person licensed, continuing education in the licensed area, and the endorsement of the member of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith in which the person is serving (Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 2b). Before the license can be renewed for a third time the EM shall undergo another training session to be held at the Mercer School of Theology. This training and retraining course is normally one day in length for a total of five (5) class contact hours.

EUCHARISTIC VISITORS (formerly titled as LEM 2) are lay people authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if any, or otherwise, the member of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith (Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 7).

The authorization is a license issued from the Bishop’s Office to the Church for the lay person to exercise this ministry. In the Diocese of Long Island the license is granted for three (3) years, renewable twice (for a total of nine years), following the Diocesan training program for EVs.

In renewing the license, the Bishop shall consider the performance of the ministry by the person licensed, continuing education in the licensed area, and the endorsement of the member of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith in which the person is serving (Title III, Canon 4, Sec. 2b). Before the license can be renewed for a third time the EV shall undergo another training session to be held at the Mercer School of Theology. This training and retraining course is normally a two-day class, for a total of ten (10) class contact hours. (The first day of this training is the same as the EM.)

For schedule of classes please click here.