St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may be called forward by the priest only when a sufficient number of priests or deacons is not present. (162) First among those to be called forward are instituted acolytes, then those who have been commissioned as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and last of all, those commissioned for the occasion. (162)

The Institutio describes in detail the way in which such extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion exercise their ministry. At Mass, they assist only with the distribution of Holy Communion. Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion come to the altar only after the priest has received Communion (162) and always receive from the priest the vessel which contains the Blessed Sacrament which they will distribute. (162) The distribution of consecrated hosts and the Precious Blood to sacred vessels is reserved to the priest or deacon.

After Communion, the remaining consecrated wine is consumed by the deacon, or in his absence, by the priest. (163) The deacon or priest or instituted acolyte are likewise charged with the purification of sacred vessels immediately after Mass. (279) No provision is made for the purification of vessels by an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. From the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy