Introduction

Ministers are people entrusted to perform a special function for their community. As the Catholic Church, a community of faith and love, continues to change under the vision and reforms of the Second Vatican Council, we are growing in appreciation and utilization of many kinds of ministers.

For example, we have restored a ministry that we once had, namely the ordained ministry of the deaconate. In other instances, we are now officially recognizing the services of people like catechists and lectors who have been working faithfully without formal commissioning or blessing. And in some instances under the guidance of the Pope and bishops, we are creatively defining news ministries in response to proliferating needs.

One of these new ministries is that of helping priests and deacons in the distribution of Holy Communion, either at Mass, or at another time, when the Eucharist is carried to the home-bound or hospitalized. The people who do this are called special Ministers of the Eucharist or Lay Ministers for Holy Communion.

“Why Special Ministers of Holy Communion?”

The answer is simple; THEY ARE NEEDED. This is what Pope Paul VI wanted the world to know, when on Jan.29,1973, he ordered to be promulgated a document known familiarly as Immensae Caritatis (Immense Love) and more formally known as “Instruction on  Facilitating  Sacramental Communion in Particular Circumstances”.

There are various circumstances in which a lack of sufficient ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion can occur during Mass, when its difficult because of distance to take the Sacred Species, especially the Viaticuum, to the sick in danger of death, or when the very number of the sick especially in the hospitals and similar institutions requires many ministers. Therefore, in order that the faithful who are in the state of grace and who with an upright and pious disposition, wish to share in the sacred banquet, may not be deprived of this Sacramental help and consolation, it was deemed appropriate to the Holy Father to establish Special Ministers, who may give Holy Communion to themselves and to other faithful.

The Special Ministers of the Holy Communion (SMHC) of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish (OLAP) had its beginning sometime in 1990 when OLAP was still a chaplaincy of St. Charbel under the then Fr. Jun Zurbano. Bro. Caloy Pineda, Bro. Danny Arroyo and Bro. Paeng Calixto who were then assisting Fr. Zurbano can be considered as the first lay ministers of the Ministry.  Later, the ministry was formally organized and new members were commissioned.

The SMHC has the following Vision and Mission:

P A N A N A W  ( VISION )

ISANG SAMAHANG MAY PAGKAKAISA, MAY PAGMAMAHALAN AT SAMA-SAMANG NAGLILINGKOD NG TAPAT SA PAGBIBIGAY NG TINAPAY NG BUHAY SA BAYAN, SA PATNUBAY NG PANGINOON.

L A Y U N I N ( MISSION)

MAKAPAGBIGAY NG KATAWAN AT DUGO NG PANGINOON SA SAMBAYANANG MANANAMPALATAYA AT MAKATULONG SA PAGBUO NG BANAL NA SIMBAHAN.

AMING PALALAGUIN AT PAGYAYAMANIN ANG SAMAHAN SA PAMAMAGITAN:

1. Pagtatalaga ng mga Recollection, Banal na Pagsasanay (Retreat) seminar at iba   pang kahalintulad na Gawain para sa dagdag kaalaman ng samahan.
2. Pangangalaga sa pangangasiwa na kailangan para sa kapakanan ng samahan.
3. Patuloy na pangangalap ng mga dagdag na miembro ng Taga-Paglingkod ng Banal na Komunyon

Kaming mga Espesyal na Ministro ng Banal na Komunyon ay lubos na nagagalak at nagpapasalamat sa PANGINOON sa pagbibigay o pagtatalaga sa amin ng gawaing makapaglingkod sa Kanya. Ang pagbibigay namin ng katawan at dugo ni Kristo ay nagdudulot sa amin ng galak at saya.

Sinasabing ang sinumang tumanggap ng katawan at dugo ni Kristo ay nagiging

“KALAMAN AT KADUGO NI KRISTO AT KASAMA NIYA SA KRUS AT KASAMA RIN NI HESUS SA PAGLILIGTAS SA KASALANAN NG TAO”

As of date, the SMHC-OLAP stays focused and coordinated  on track with its VISION and MISSION . Its numbers has also grown to sixty one (61) active members composed of  professionals and laymen, and  continues to recruit new members as more lay ministers are needed to help Priests give Holy Communion to the faithful.

To qualify as a lay minister one must be of good moral character, with deep religious sentiments, faithful and obedient to the Roman Catholic Church, and who will not cause scandal to the Parish. He shall be a model husband (if married) and a responsible father of his children

He shall also:

• assist the Priest Presider in giving Holy Communion to the faithful during Mass
• give Holy Communion to the faithful outside the mass in a church or in a place where a local community gathers for liturgical prayer in the absence of a priest.
• give Holy Communion to a sick person when priests are not available.
• must be willing to be a member of the Adoracion Nocturna Vigil and must attend the once a week vigil, every Thursday, and once a month Adoracion  Nocturna Vigil conducted after the monthly ministry regular meeting.
• pay a minimum monthly dues of P 50.00.

Before a lay person is accepted to the ministry, he must first undergo a three- day orientation seminar and must attend three consecutive monthly regular meetings of the ministry. After accomplishing the above requirements, he shall attend the one-day formation seminar being given yearly by the Diocesan Liturgical Council. Only when he has been commissioned by the DLC and the Parish Priest can he be allowed to assume the duties and responsibilities of a lay minister.

SMHC SCHEDULE OF REGULAR ACTIVITIES

1. Monday to Sunday Mass Services
2. Regular Monthly Meeting and Adoracion Nocturna Filipina Vigil every 4th               Saturday of the Month at 7:00 PM at the St. Vianney Chapel.
3. One hour group vigil at the Adoracion Chapel from 12:00 mn to 6:00 AM every Thursday.
4. Weekly cleaning of the Tabernacle (Group Assignments)
5. First Saturday of the month – Dawn Procession
6. Communion Service for the sick, handicapped and the elderly, on a case to case basis.
7. Core Group meeting every 3rd Saturday of the month.
8. Group prayer meeting once a month, the schedule of which is to be agreed by group members.

SMHC OFFICERS 2007-2008

MEMBERS OF THE CORE GROUP

Officers and Advisers
Group Leaders and Asst. Group Leaders

Following is the list of the SMHC active members: