Lay Minister By Emergency

I have been a Mass reader (lector/commentator in the Philippines) for a couple of years already, but never been a special minister of Holy Communion (a.k.a. ‘lay minister’ or ‘Eucharistic minister’). Actually, when I was serving at the Manila Cathedral, lay ministers were enticing me to join their ranks. Msgr Coronel, who was then Cathedral Rector, wanted me to stay in my original ministry – there were a few readers that time.

But one unforgettable event happened when I was compelled to assist in distributing communion. It was the Feast of St Albert the Great, patron of the College of Science. Our college was having a Mass at the UST Cinematorium. I was assigned to be the commentator when Fr Pompeyo de Mesa, OP, College Regent, told me they were expecting a lay minister to help them. However, he asked me to get ready in case that person doesn’t turn up. Mass began. Still no signs of the lay minister. When it was Communion, I saw Fr de Mesa holding a ciborium and was giving it to me!

It’s really a different experience giving communion to those who attended the Mass. Some were colleagues, others were students, etc. There’s that privilege to hold the Lord in your hands and feed Him to His people.

It didn’t stop there. Right after the Mass, the priest told me to bring the ciborium containing the remaining sacred hosts back to the UST Chapel. A sacristan accompanied me holding a lighted candle. I feel like I was in a Corpus Christi (‘Body of Christ’) or Christ the King procession. This time, in my hands wasn’t a rosary or a candle, but the Blessed Sacrament – Jesus Himself.

Regardless of the ministry we may have in church, what’s important is we serve God and man with dignity, humility, and purity of heart.

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Many happy returns to my long-lost friends who are celebrating their birthdays: Roann Ramos (13 June), Miralynn Malupa-Kim (16 June), and Mike Flores (20 June).