Guidelines and Requirements for Eucharistic Visitor

Title III, Canon 4, Section 7

A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of 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.

Discernment

Candidates considering the ministry of Eucharistic Visitor should confer with sponsoring clergy, spiritual directors, their Congregational Commission on Ministry, and other vocational guides to discuss honestly how to test a call.

Discernment Questions for those discerning a call to this ministry:

•  How have I experienced God’s grace in my life?
• What does the Baptismal Covenant mean to me?
• What is ministry and what are things that I do that are ministry?
• Have I asked God whether God might be calling me to this ministry?
• What would I tell someone if asked, “What is important to know about God?”
• How do I understand the mystery of the Eucharist?
• What are my experiences of receiving the Eucharist? What experiences have I had with the Eucharist being brought to myself or my family?
• What gifts do I have that would be an asset for this ministry? What particular gifts do I bring now, and what gifts do I hope to develop/grow?
• What do I hope to help people understand or experience through my service as a Eucharistic Visitor?

Qualities of Call

• Physical ability to handle the Eucharistic elements.
• Access to transportation.
• Prays easily with others.
• Can read aloud effectively.
• Understands necessity of confidentiality.
• Is able to act as a conduit between person visited and congregation, providing information to congregation that person visited has given permission to share.
• Comfortable being with people who are confined by illness, injury or childbirth and can adapt to a variety of environments.
• Ability to work as a team with another Eucharistic Visitor to administer the Eucharist. Refer to “Eucharistic Visitor, My Ministry” available on our website.

Background Knowledge:

• A basic knowledge of the Book of Common Prayer.
• Names of the Eucharistic vessels and linens.
• A basic understanding of sacramental theology from the Catechism.
• Detailed knowledge of guidelines for Eucharistic Visitors in the Book of Occasional Services.
• Knowledge in Pastoral Care principles.
• Basic knowledge of infection control techniques.

Skills

• Ability to lead the liturgy of Distribution of Holy Communion by Eucharistic Visitors from the Book of Occasional Services.
• Ability to administer the bread of the Eucharist in the various ways practiced in the Episcopal Church (in the hand, in the mouth, intinction).
• Ability to administer the wine of the Eucharist in the various ways practiced in the Episcopal Church (from the common cup, intinction from the common cup, use of an intinction cup).
• Awareness and sensitivity to people with special needs, such as elderly, those with disabilities, and children.
• Ability to deal with unexpected occurrences related to administering the sacraments.
• Ability to record visits in Register of Services.
• Demonstrate proper care of Eucharistic elements and portable communion kits.
• Ability to acknowledge and respond to pastoral needs of communicant.
• Capable of determining when situation requires intervention by clergy member or others.

Education and Training Possibilities

• Training and mentoring by deacon, priest, and other Eucharistic Visitors.

To be Licensed

• Complete Eucharistic Visitor application.
• Recommendation of Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-charge and Vestry/Bishop’s Committee.
• Recommendation by the deacon under whom the Eucharistic Visitor will function, if available.
• Complete criminal background.
• Complete all training required for this license.
  • Safe Church, Safe Community modules are required.
  • Contact Human Resource Administrator and Financial Assistant (hr-finasst@diowestmo.org) to set up online training and criminal background check.
• Complete Diversity Workshop. Contact diocesan office for more information.

To Renew Your License

• Complete Eucharistic Visitor renewal application.
• Diversity Workshop is required if not completed previously.
• Complete Safe Church, Safe Community modules if not completed previously.

Resources:

• A Manual for Eucharistic Visitors. Beth Wickenberg Ely, Morehouse Publishing, 2005
• The Lay Pastoral Workers Hospital Handbook: Tending the Spiritual Needs of Patients Neville Kirkwood. Morehouse Publishing, 2005
• Liturgy for Living. Charles F. Price and Louis Weil, Harper and Row, 1979
• Prayer Book Rubrics Expanded. Byron D. Stuhlman, Church Hymnal Corp., 1987.
• The Meaning of Ritual. Leonel Mitchell, Paulist Press, 1977
• “Eucharistic Visitor, My Ministry” available on our website.