My sister Cathy has been bringing Communion to me on Sunday’s since I have not been attending mass due to the pandemic.  This past week she brought me an envelope from Sister Maria (from Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg).  I was not sure what it was until I opened it up.  Inside was a certificate certifying me as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

 

Now many of you who are not Catholics may not understand just what this means.  It certifies that certain individuals in the church, after having received special instructions may assist the priest in distributing communion at mass.  Every several years classes are held to update us on any changes in the mass according to the guidelines of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

 

If my memory serves me right the bishop approved this in the 1990s.  At our church there were three individuals commissioned first and then about nine months later a second group was commissioned.  I was in that second group and have served continuously since that time. 

 

Unless corrected, I think that I am the oldest and longest serving minister in our church.  Generally, individuals are assigned different masses to serve.  For about 20 year, Frannie Phares, Bill Rota, and I served the 7 a.m. mass every Sunday.  Then due to a shortage of priests mass times were changed and then I served as needed at other masses.  I have served at funeral and wedding masses.  I have also visited shut ins from the parish with communion.  Of all of my appointments, this is one of my proudest.

 

A big thank you to all who helped me celebrate my 82nd birthday.