Formation for EMHC

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 42 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) from the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Health attended a formation session on March 17 facilitated by Fr Raymond Michael OFM Cap. We learnt to appreciate our responsibility of bringing Holy Communion to the sick and homebound as a calling, a vocation, a ministering that matters.

The Eucharist makes present for us the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is the source of our redemption. It makes present the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Himself. Hence, the Eucharist is the ultimate aim of our Christian living. Jesus does not limit His Eucharistic Presence to the solemn moments of holy Mass. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are bestowed the unique privilege to bring Jesus to the sick and homebound.

It was wonderful to discover the eight characteristics which were the hallmarks of Jesus’ PASSION for His Ministry:
l It is love of God and neighbour. The focus of Jesus was always on His Father and people, not Himself. Our life with God is like the sheep and the vine. Who are the people that God puts in our life? Each time the EMHC brings Holy Communion to the sick and homebound, it is a visitation of joy that is similar to the First Visitation when Mary visited Elizabeth, bringing the Son of God in her womb. Each visitation is nothing about ourselves but about God.

–It is not a job but a vocation. It is not how much I have done but how much I have grown in my love for Christ. We were reminded that everyone, including the priest, works for God. However, very few see beyond the fact that we are actually doing God’s work. Just like a vocation, once we are immersed in this ministry, it is no longer “what do I prefer” but rather “what does God want me to do”.

–It is doing God’s Will. Just like Jesus for whom everything is always for the Kingdom of God, we too should not be motivated by self-will. Using the wheel as an analogy, it is neither the tyre nor the spokes that move the wheel but the hub. In our lives then, the spokes and wheel form the exterior while the hub is the interior of our lives where God resides.

— It is beginning each new day with a clear vision and passion. What is the intention of our involvement? This question is important because intention sets the vision and without a vision, our mission can lose its passion. From His first dialogue in the temple at the age of twelve till His passion and death on the cross, Jesus never lost sight of His vision to do the Will of His Father to build His Kingdom on earth. To have a vision is to know what you are doing, why and where you are going.

–It is a desire to seek out the lost. The Emmaus Encounter was used as a model for EMHC. As the Risen Lord enters into the presence of the two disciples on their journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, so too the EMHC enters into a Ministry of Accompaniment whenever he brings Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. Our minds were opened to the world of the sick and homebound who may carry with them their feelings of guilt, depression, anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, boredom, loneliness and despair.

—  It is being ready to face opposition. In spite of temptations and betrayal, Jesus was never overwhelmed but instead reached out with compassion and love.

— It is not allowing emotions to dictate our ministry. There are obstacles that can hinder us from embracing our calling. Known as the Jonah Complex, these obstacles are characterised by fear (such as fear of the unfamiliar, of change, of losing control and identity, of being set apart from others, of being ridiculed, of responsibility and of failure).

—  It is growing each day in the favour of God. It helps if we give priority to regular times of prayer, live contemplatively in the midst of an active apostolate, have an attitude of constant gratitude, and understand what it means to have poverty of spirit.

Since the sick and homebound face many challenges, our response should be one of love and compassion (in other words, empathy), mercy and hope. We need to respect the individual’s current state of being and to be genuinely interested in the individual’s welfare, with active listening. Keeping confidentiality will help to build trust. The gift of our accompaniment will foster a capacity in the person to help himself and to grow in responsibility for his own personal choices and actions. Ultimately, the sick and home-bou nd will be able to cope better in life. — Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online