Once upon a time, I went a date where the topic of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EM) came up. (Doesn’t that happen on your dates?) My date asserted that an Extraordinary Minister must be just that: an extraordinary Catholic who is beyond reproach and exemplifies the absolute best Catholic life you could lead. I countered that, if that were the case, we would have no one to help distribute Holy Communion when needed.

I serve at my parish as a lector, EM, and organizer of young adult activities. At more than one Mass, I ended up doing the first reading, second reading, and Prayers of the Faithful, then serving as an EM, and then returning to the lectern after Mass to announce upcoming young adult events. Sometimes, this happens several Sundays in a row. Believe me, I am not an extraordinary Catholic. I also know that an individual lay person should not be at the pulpit almost as much as the priest during Mass. Yet, there I am. Why is this the case?

Perhaps it is because that some believe, as my date did, that only perfect Catholics should be allowed to serve as liturgical lay ministers. If that is the case, allow me to clarify.

Regarding EMs, “[b]ishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. . . .If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, ‘the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose’” (USCCB, “Liturgy Guides: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass”). If a priest is considered an ordinary minister, then an extraordinary minister is just that: out of, or in addition to, the ordinary.

In the case of Extraordinary Ministers, ‘extraordinary’ does not mean ‘remarkable’ or ‘worthy.’ Any Catholic serving as an EM must “fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence” after thorough preparation (USCCB), out of love for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is indeed a remarkable privilege to hold the Body and Blood of Christ and distribute Holy Communion to one’s fellow parishioners. At the same time, no one is worthy of receiving Holy Communion (“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”) and no one is worthy of distributing it. Jesus Christ, the most high King, came down to be one of us, break bread with us, and command that we do this in memory of Him. He died to forgive our sins and it is only through God’s grace and mercy that are we able to receive His Son, and therefore His forgiveness.

Even the saints did not consider themselves worthy of this incredible gift, yet they humbled themselves, recognizing that God knows better than they do and that we must follow when He calls. Serving is not a matter of being a worthy Catholic; it is about being a willing Catholic, one who humbles him/herself to fulfill a need in God’s Church. It means looking for where you can serve and then doing so, even if you could never feel completely worthy.

Serving is not a matter of being a worthy Catholic; it is about being a willing Catholic.

Perhaps you feel shy or embarrassed to be in front of the congregation, or you believe that liturgical lay ministers are not needed. If that is the case, let me tell you that the Church needs the lay faithful to serve and your parish needs you. The number of people who serve is small, but the need is great. Serving at our parishes is not about us as individuals; rather, it is about a community coming together to serve Christ. I know that it can be uncomfortable to be in front of the congregation. I still get nervous when lectoring from time to time, and I have been a lector for about ten years! Even if you are not drawn to serving as a lector, there are several other ministries that need help. Extraordinary Ministers, altar servers (depending on your parish’s traditions), ushers, people to bring up the gifts, choir members, ministers to wash the altar linens… The different needs are endless and they all need you.

In the same way that the Church is one Body made of many peoples, the individuals serving at Mass (or elsewhere in their parish) should reflect this diversity. This includes women being represented in church leadership and within the Mass. Having more women serve as liturgical lay ministers is a great opportunity to bring the feminine genius into our parish communities. I believe that any way that women can take on a more active role in the Mass, in the community, and in the Church should be taken advantage of fully. I truly believe that the Church can only prosper from such action, becoming more loving, more empathetic, more egalitarian, and more inclusive.

Having more women serve as liturgical lay ministers is a great opportunity to bring the feminine genius into our parish communities.

I encourage you to volunteer as a liturgical lay minister in your parish, if you are able. You attend Mass every Sunday, so why not show up a bit early to help as a greeter or usher? You listen to the readings anyway, so why not dive into Scripture more and then proclaim the Word of God at Mass? A small service creates a big impact, especially when everyone chips in. Serving your parish community, whether as a liturgical minister or in another capacity, is a great way to get to know your priest and fellow parishioners, and become more engaged in your faith community.

You do not have to be worthy, you just have to be willing.