Serving Hyde Park’s Catholic Community since 1869


5472 South Kimbark Avenue,
Hyde Park, Chicago IL, 60615-5297
Phone: (773) 324-2626 Fax: (773) 891-0602

Eucharistic Ministers

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” (Act 2:42)

Holy Communion increases our union with Christ. Just as bodily food sustains our physical life, so Holy Communion nourishes our spiritual life. As an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, commonly referred to as a Eucharistic minister, lay people can serve the Catholic Church by distributing Holy Communion during Mass.

Who we are: We are a group of parish volunteers who are interested in taking a more active role during the Mass and in serving the God’s people at St. Thomas the Apostle during Eucharistic celebrations.

What we do: Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist have the privilege to help the priest administer the Eucharist by distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to those who come to Holy Communion:

  • at the Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses,
  • at the Holy Day Masses,
  • at the School Masses.

Time commitment: The schedule is set based on individual’s Mass preferences and availability.

A Eucharistic minister must be a fully initiated member of the Church (having received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation). Training provided.

Contact: parish office, (773) 324-2626 or parishoffice@stapostleparish.org

Bishops, Priests and Deacons are ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders and as such are “ordinary” ministers of Holy Communion. “Extraordinary” ministers of Holy Communion are lay persons who are trained and authorized to carry out this sacred ministry whenever there are insufficient numbers of ordinary ministers to distribute Holy Communion with reverence and in a timely way. Willingness to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion reflects not only a response to your Baptismal call to service but a commitment to Christ as you share in feeding the spiritually hungry. Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament is essential in this ministry.