Great article. I always try to get in the line of the actual priest. Funny thing is, I have timed it and sometimes it takes longer for all of the Eucharistic Ministers to receive their communion first than if the priests themselves would just begin giving communion with no delay.
LOL. I can believe it !! Personally, we only go in line to receive from a priest (or deacon) ourselves. However, one time recently, the priest did not want to hand out Communion [for almost a whole week at daily Mass] because he was sick; nothing sadder to see than four EMs distributing the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, while the priest sits in a chair.
True! Not to mention purifying the Sacred Vessels... It would be better to just have Father distribute, then use the time after for prayer and thanksgiving. I’m not in a hurry. I love my time with Jesus after Communion!
We run to the altar. We are actually rushed to the altar after waiting for all the sleeveless women and shorts and sandals wearing guys to go up to the altar to first
I also get into the priest’s line. My parish is relatively small, and the church is never packed except at Christmas and Easter, yet we usually have as many as 6 extraordinary ministers. Ridiculous.
It is worse when I attend my sister’s parish in Pennsylvania. Their congregation is much larger, but I have yet to see the church packed at any Mass I have attended there. Yet there are usually at least 8 lay people converging upon the altar, and they all wear white cassocks.