One other comment to you, my newbie friend: despite very common use of the term, there’s no such thing as a lay eucharistic minister. Lay people who assist in distribution of Holy Communion are called “extraordinary [or lay] ministers of Holy Communion.” The critical difference is that a true minister of the Eucharist exercises his ministry in all aspects of the Eucharist — iow, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass — not just in the distribution of Holy Communion. Priests offer the Sacrifice, sometimes assisted by deacons. So they are the ordinary ministers of the Eucharist. In the absence of a priest or deacon, no lay person can/may perform these offices — ergo, no such thing as an “extraordinary” minister of the Eucharist.
Thanks for hearing out this somewhat tedious explanation. Welcome aboard Peter’s boat.
Thank you for offering it. I was aware that there was a "proper" term but didn't take the time to track it down as, regardless of what they should be called, I avoid them and so don't give the whole thing much thought. There was a discussion on this subject a while back and I had meant to ask the question then, but didn't do so.
Our priest claims not to like them but uses them only to avoid the public outcry that would ensue were an additional 20 minutes to be added on to the mass to accommodate their elimination. I think it's 5 minutes tops and he just wants to avoid the controversy that would ensue, even though our parish is a pretty by-the-book one, liturgically speaking.
I've discovered my heart was always there - my head just didn't know it.