Spring 2012 - Grasshopper Hosting

Diocese of Nottingham
Extraordinary Ministers
of Holy Communion
Newsletter Issue 23: January 2012
A Message from Fr. Michael
May I respectfully remind you of the commitment of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to
the Annual County Renewal Days. These Days are very important spiritually as well as being kept
up to date with the business side of the Ministry. Please do your best to attend these Days. If you
have any problems of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will always do my best to
help.
Thank you.
Father Michael
SECRETARY’S REPORT 2011
At the beginning of this report, I would like to bring to mind, Shaun Aitken, who came to a
training weekend in 2010 but, because of illness, was not Commissioned. He died just before
Holy Week this year. He will be remembered in the Book of Remembrance as will all our
deceased Ministers. May they rest in peace.
This has been a quiet, tranquil year of service and commitment which has seen no special
events or happenings except for the introduction of the new translation of the Service of
Word and Holy Communion. This was made easy for us by the timely intervention of Searle
Clark who, as Director of Aftercare, ensured that we had the translation in a handy format
by the beginning of August. This just needed to be circulated, via our Secretariats, and
copied. Thank you, Searle.
The attendance at Renewal Days was again disappointing. The promise made by us, at our
Commissioning, to attend a Day of Renewal, seems to be being glossed over or forgotten.
Obviously there are times when attendance is not possible but one day a year, which we
promised, does not seem to be asking too much. Please read Fr Michael’s message on this
topic. Next year we hope to see Bishop Malcolm at the one Renewal day to be held in
Lincolnshire.
Training of future Extra-ordinary Ministers took place as usual but, this year, we began to
see our ever increasing need of new recruits to our little team as sickness, accidents and the
onset of old-er age took their toll. We did welcome one new member, Anita Kerry, who
joined us for a weekend and is there ‘for good’! To all who were unwell, we send our good
wishes.
The initiative, started last year, of training younger members of our communities to be
Ministers of Holy Communion to serve in the schools and colleges, has continued this year and
about twelve young men and women spent a special weekend at Crich. This is very heartening
at a time when so many young people seem to be disaffected and we thank them for their
generosity.
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The Commissioning Mass was, once again, a time of rejoicing, thanksgiving and hope as we saw
nearly one hundred members of our Diocesan Community commit themselves to bringing
Christ to others. The Parishioners of St Barnabas’ Church once again helped us with the
organization on the day. They with Fr Geoffrey Hunton, Parish Priest and Dean, made us feel
most welcome. Thank you.
Gradually, over the years, the Training Team has become ever more self-sufficient. We have
now got our own laptop, projector and speaker system. In addition to the Sacred vessels etc.,
which we have had for some time, this year we went even further and bought our own
Monstrance and a beautiful new Altar cloth. We realized that becoming less dependent on
any Parish for these articles would be sensible so Fr John Daly came to our rescue, very
handsomely!
Believing that we cannot give what we do not ourselves possess, the training Team and the
Executive members get together for a Day’s retreat, sometime before the Commissioning
Mass, each year. This year we went to the Rosmini Centre where we had two inspiring talks
given by Bro. Michael Burleigh, Novice Master at Mount St Bernard’s. The afternoon
continued with Adoration and Evening Prayer and Mass celebrated by Fr Michael Eastwood.
May I remind all Ministers that we have a Web site on which County Reports and other
information can be readily accessed. Just open the Diocesan website and follow the links.
The Chairman and Executive members of the Commission thank you all for your generous
service and for your willingness to help those, who in their homes, need Christ’s presence and
yours.
Celia Bermingham (Secretary to the Commission)
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County Reports
Derbyshire
There were again two Renewal Days in Derbyshire in 2011: on March 26th at St Mary’s Derby and May 14 th
at St Anne’s Buxton. Thank you to so many of our Extraordinary Ministers for filling in the Questionnaires
on the days; we hope to implement as many of these as possible at the Renewal Days in 2012. Watch this
space.
Bryn Kelly brought everyone up to date with the finances. His very valuable financial acumen is much
appreciated.
Both days were expertly led by Father Philip Scanlon with the theme “The Mass...what is it” He led us
from Biblical beginnings to the crossing of the Red Sea showing how, in one act of salvation, God led His
people through water, from slavery to the Freedom of the Promised Land. He drew our attention to the
exact parallel with the Christian plan of salvation, whereby Jesus led His people through the waters of
Baptism, from slavery and sin to the Promised Land of Paradise.
In his second talk, he included our role at Mass, and visits to the sick. Extraordinary Ministers were able to
air any concerns they had about taking Holy Communion into people’s homes or to hospitals. Fr Philip
quickly put our minds at rest and everyone went home with a new attitude and a spring in the step.
One person said all her worries disappeared at a stroke!!!
Fr Michael could only attend our Renewal Days in the mornings but while at the Derby Day he gave a very
fitting tribute to Anna Zimand and Bill Grattidge for their hard work at Renewal Days over many years.
Derbyshire Extraordinary Ministers asked Fr Michael to say a Mass for them both, because we can never

epay them enough for all they have done not only for Derbyshire Extraordinary Ministers but also for the
Secretariat.
At Derby and Buxton Fr. Philip led us through beautiful meditations and intercessions at Holy Hour. The
day concluded with Mass.
We must thank all those people who gave their help and support at Derby and Buxton in so many ways.
It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Derbyshire Days and we look forward to seeing even more
Ministers in 2012 when the Renewal Days are: March 10 th at St Mary’s Derby, and May 19 th at St Anne’s
Buxton.
Julie Corden
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire continued this year with three Renewal Days, in the hope that Extraordinary Ministers in this
large rural county would not have too far to travel. We were welcomed for a second year running in the
parishes of Our Lady of Lincoln (Lincoln) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Sleaford) and St Bernadette’s
(Scunthorpe). We are all indebted to the Parish Priests, Parish Contacts and parishioners of our three host
parishes. The hard work of the contacts and the welcome we all received ensured that our Renewal Days
were a really great get together and spiritual boost for us all.
Our Renewal Days were enhanced by a very thought provoking talk by Deacon John Wilford. The title of his
talk was “Thomas Watson the last Catholic Bishop of Lincoln”. He particularly linked Watson’s love and
devotion to the Real Presence, with our work as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.
After a lively business meeting, and a slightly more thorough registration process to facilitate an update of
our records, we enjoyed a break for lunch prior to a quiet and reflective Holy Hour which Fr. Michael
Eastwood and Deacon John Wilford led. We are especially grateful to Fr. Michael for being with us on each
of our Renewal Days, and for Deacon John who on all three occasions spent the whole of the day with us.
On Saturday October 8 th eighteen parish contacts met together for a meeting at Our Lady of Lincoln.
There was much discussion of the challenges of the New Translation and Fr. Eastwood who was our
celebrant at morning Mass, stayed to lead a question and answer session before travelling across the
diocese to Crich to attend the Youth Formation weekend. That we were able to begin our day with Mass,
and have the opportunity to sit and talk to Fr. Michael about anything that we had queries or concerns
about made the meeting especially fruitful. Thank you Fr. Michael.
We look forward to 2012 and the one Renewal Day to be held on May 12 th in the parish of St Peter & St
Paul in Lincoln. Bishop Malcolm who will be the main celebrant at Mass, will be joining us for the whole
day. We look forward to a day with a varied format and the opportunity to offer (via workshops) a choice
of topics for the Extraordinary Ministers attending. It was really great to get ideas and suggestions from
the parish contacts at the meeting. We would love to hear from those not able to attend the meeting, as
we are keen to make Renewal Days really focussed towards everyone’s needs.
Ethne Dawson
Leicestershire and Loughborough Deaneries
Both the 2011 Renewal Days were held at St Peter’s in Hinckley. The attendance around 300 was down
from previous years. Those who attended commented on the superb facilities in the Parish Centre which
had been dedicated in September 2010. The parish and Fr. Daly extended a warm welcome to all who
attended. Many positive comments were expressed about the Spirituality, the content of the day and the
good humoured way in which Fr Daly delivered his serious message. Fr. Daly concentrated on the practical
aspects of our Ministry and the issues which could arise. He felt that the primary duty was to serve others
and the Lord in a discrete and conscious manner .This involved mainly taking communion to the sick in
hospital, to the elderly in residential care homes and those who are housebound. He said that people who
had been active in the parish should even when ill feel that they are still an integral part of the parish. Fr
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Daly then discussed many of the issues which could arise in Ministering to the sick and gave practical
suggestions on carrying out our Ministry within the restrictions imposed by institutions. He also spoke with
feeling about our obligation to attend the Celebration of the Eucharist because not as many now attend or
choose to only when it is convenient and fits in without changing more material with other commitments.
During the days and at the Parish Representatives meeting views were canvassed on a number of practical
issues which had arisen.
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Other issues
The lower attendance appeared to be due to the days being on consecutive Saturdays. It was
agreed that this was not ideal but was due to the commitments of the Parish Priest.
The venue was too far for some to travel to. It was agreed that in future at least one day would be
held in a Leicester parish assuming suitable accommodation could be found.
The dates clashed with parish fixtures especially First Holy Communion. It was however agreed that
the timing of either March or April was a good one. The Secretary agreed to notify all parish
representatives about the 2012 Renewal dates as soon as they were agreed. This was done in
October with a reminder to let all EM’s know.
It came to light that the January newsletter was not circulated by some parish contacts. Hence
some EM’s did not know the dates of the Renewal Days until the detailed attendance forms came
out later. It was pointed out that a letter was enclosed with the newsletter reminding the parish
contact to circulate it to all their EM’s.
The Secretariat was not being notified of EM’s who pass away, although a reminder was sent out
annually about the need to do this.
During the year Mr Paul Kamm the representative for the Leicester West Deanery resigned for personal
reasons. We thank him for his service. His replacement on the committee is Mr John Ambler from The
Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Leicester.
The Renewal Days for 2012 are,
28 April at Our Lady of Victories, Market Harborough
12 May at St John Bosco - Leicester
Louise Kidd and Mary Hunt
Nottinghamshire
Our Renewal Days for 2011 were held on 9 th April at Our Lady & St. Thomas of Hereford, Ilkeston and on
the 21 May at Holy Trinity, Newark. We held mass in the morning, which in both cases was conducted by
the parish priest of the said churches.
At Ilkeston we were given a talk by Father Stanley Ofoegbu a Nigerian priest from Holy Spirit West
Bridgford, followed by a Holy Hour which was based on “Peace Throughout the World.”
At Newark we were given a talk by Deacon John Wilford, who kindly postponed his birthday celebrations
until the next day, Sunday, in order to be with us, which was much appreciated. This was also followed by a
Holy Hour on the same theme as Ilkeston.
Attendance at both days was just above average, there obviously being some room for an improvement in
attendance figures. To all of us let’s try and make 2012 a bumper year.
Generally both days went very well and were appreciated by all those who were there; once again we were
blessed with fine weather on both occasions.
Both Graham and myself would like to personally thank all those who attended for making the occasion a
memorable one. We would also like to thank the parish priests Father Peter Harvey from Ilkeston and
Father Michael O’Donoghue from Newark for giving their precious time and making their churches
available to us.

Finally we would like to thank Father Michael Eastwood, our Director, for his attendance and his very
kindly and spiritual talk and words of encouragement to us all in our Ministry.
Alan Simmons
County Renewal Days 2012
As you are aware one of the conditions of your commissioning is that you attend a Renewal Day each year.
If you are one of the few who have not managed to attend for the past three years please make a special
effort to attend one this year.
Each county will be holding their County Renewal Days as detailed below: -
County Date Location
Nottinghamshire 21 st April 2012 Our Lady and St Thomas of Hereford – Ilkeston (to be
confirmed)
26 th May 2012 Holy Trinity – Newark (to be confirmed)
Derbyshire 10 th March 2012 St Mary - Derby
19 th May 2012 St Anne - Buxton
Leicestershire 28 th April 2012 Our Lady of Victories - Market Harborough
12 th May 2012 St John Bosco - Leicester
Lincolnshire 12 th May 2012 St Peter and St Paul – Lincoln
Mass to be celebrated by The Bishop
Note there is only one Renewal Day in Lincolnshire this
year
An invitation and further details will be sent nearer the time. There will be elections at some of the
Renewal Days. Your County Secretariat will advise you of these. If you are unable to attend your own
county day then why not attend the day of another County.
Scapulars
If you require a new scapular please send your request to Alan Simmons, 36 Holkham Avenue, Chilwell,
Nottingham NG9 5EQ. Along with a cheque for £12.00 each made payable to X.M.O.H.C.
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Handbooks
In 2008 a copy of the new handbook was sent to every church and chapel in the Diocese through the Parish
Contact. It should be located in a place that is available for every Minister to have access to it, such as in
the Sacristy. It is also available on the Diocesan website in PDF format for you to download. Should you
require your own copy one can be purchased for £5.00. Please send your request and cheque to Searle
Clark, 75 Horsegate, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8EW. Cheques should be made payable to
X.M.O.H.C.

Points of Contact
If you have any queries, comments, suggestions or notifications of deceased Ministers please
contact one of the people listed below: -
Position / Name
Address
Secretary
Mrs Cecilia Bermingham
Nottinghamshire
Mr Alan Simmons
Derbyshire
Mrs Julie Corden
Leicestershire
Mrs Louise Kidd
Lincolnshire
Mrs Ethne Dawson
52 Foxley Court
Bourne, Lincolnshire
PE10 9TY
36 Holkham Avenue
Chilwell
Nottingham NG9 5EQ
4 Mallard Walk
Mickleover
Derby DE3 0TF
34 Westland Road
Cottesmore
Oakham
LE15 7DT
2 Addiston Drive
Lincoln
LN2 4LF
Tel: 01778 426310
Email: celiabermingham@talktalk.net
Tel: 0115 849 4623
Email: maal_canis_vulpes@ntlworld.com
Tel: 01332 513846
Email: auqh92@dsl.pipex.com
Tel: 01572 812494
Email: l.kidd194@btinternet.com
Tel: 01522 824636
Email: ethne.dawson@ntlworld.com
A full list of the Secretariat members is given in the yearbook and on the Diocesan website at
http://www.grasshopper-hosting.co.uk/Diocese/04_Liturgy+Euch/euch_ministers.htm .
The Faculty
Those of you who have attended the Formation Weekends at Crich in recent years will be aware that the
Faculty that you received at the Cathedral is valid for three years, and at the end of that period will need to
be renewed by your Parish Priest. This gives both you and your Parish Priest an opportunity to decide
whether you and he are agreeable that you continue to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
The Facilities of those who were commissioned in November 2008 are now due for renewal.
This is really a reminder so that those who have not had their Faculty renewed, and wish it to be so, to
contact their Parish Priest and obtain his signature. Once renewed the faculty will be valid indefinitely.
Those of you who hold a Faculty issued in February 2002, in which Bishop Malcolm re-commissioned you,
need take no action as this Faculty has an indefinite status.
Temporary Commissioned Ministers
At the present time there are a number of temporally commissioned ministers in the Diocese. These occur
when for pastoral reasons there is an urgent need for Extraordinary Ministers and there is no possibility of
them attending a Formation course in time or when a trained Minister has been unable to attend the
commissioning at the cathedral. In all cases the temporary commissioning lasts until the person can attend
the next Formation course and Commissioning. This is normally a maximum of one year.
Those who have attended a formation course and have not been able to be commissioned should reserve
Saturday 10 November 2012 and make sure that they are invited to the commissioning.
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If you have not heard from the EM Commission by October 15 2012, then please contact Graham McKenna
Tel 0115 849 4623 to ensure that you are commissioned. This is especially important if it is more than one
year since your formation course.
May we remind all Ministers especially those who are temporally commissioned that they may not take
communion to the sick and housebound unless they have a current CRB check certificate in place covering
parish work. Without this they may only distribute communion in church.
Recent Queries
During the past year the following queries have been raised by Extraordinary Ministers. These queries have
been referred to Bishop Malcolm and the following are his answers to them.
Q/ Can the service of Communion to the Sick and Housebound be provided in Braille
A/ The Bishop is happy for the Service of Communion for the Sick to be provided in Braille.
Q/ Do we have to use the new translation when taking communion to the sick and
housebound especially when the person has difficulty with it
A/ The Bishop is more than happy for any sick and housebound person to use the old formulae should it be
too much for them to change.
Q/ When is a service of Word and Communion allowed
A / It is important that a worshipping community is kept together, and that the faithful be able to be
nourished by Word and Sacrament without having to travel an unreasonable distance, and The Bishop is
happy for the following to be the norm: -
Services of Word and Communion may be held in any parish on any weekday other than a holyday of
obligation in place of the celebration of Mass when the priest is not able to celebrate Mass due to his
absence from the parish. They may be led by a Deacon, or in his absence an Extraordinary Minister of Holy
Communion.
There should be no more than one such Service in any parish on any given day. A Service of Word and
Communion may not be held in a parish if Mass is being celebrated in the parish church or chapel-of-ease
on that day, unless the two churches are more than ten miles apart. Only the formula which the Bishop has
approved may be used.
The Bishop is aware that the Department for Christian Life and Worship is preparing a revised edition of
the text for celebrations in the absence of a priest, and will let us know when the text is ready.
Bishop Malcolm hopes, in particular, that no Minister feels that what he or she has been doing in the past
is `wrong', since their ministry is valued immensely.
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Book of Remembrance
Please remember all deceased Extraordinary Ministers in your prayers, especially the following whose
names were added to the Book of Remembrance during the past year.
Name
Bernard McCabe
Mary Sage
Rosanne Higgins
Mary Snee
Michael Atkin
Sr Bernadine Comerford
Ruth Boothroyd
Glenys Moore
Keith Moorhouse
St Theresa Anne Aylward
Catherine Farrell
Heather McKenna
Derek White
Shaun Marshall Aitken
Eileen Veronica Curtis
Mary O'Malley
Betty Dolan
Theresa Kelly
Joan O'Boyle
Raymond (Dickie) Bird
Michael Rooney
Lydia Rose Whittle
Tom Maher
Thomas Anthony Ely
Mary Mould
Mary Reilly
Andrew Christie
Stanley Vernon
Deacon John Hague
Parish
Christ the King - Alfreton
St Patrick - Leicester
Sacred Heart & St Margaret Mary - Leicester
St John Bosco - Leicester
Our Lady of Victories - Market Harborough
Sacred Heart Convent - Rearsby
St Mary - Marple Bridge
The Asumption - Beeston
Our Lady of Lourdes - Mickleover
Holy Trinity - Holbech
St Mary the Immaculate - Grantham
St Margaret Clitherow - Keyworth
St Francis of Assisi - Long Eaton
Holy Souls - Scunthorpe
St Francis of Assisi - Long Eaton
Immaculate Conception - Oadby
Immaculate Conception - Oadby
St Anne - Radcliffe-on-Trent
St Anne - Radcliffe-on-Trent
Our Lady of Lincoln - Lincoln
Our Lady of Lourdes - Michleover
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Carlton Nottingham
St Joseph - Derby
St Mary the Imaculate - Grantham
St Joseph - Oakham
St Mary – Derby
Holy Trinity - Newark
St Peter & St Paul - Swadlincote
All Saints – Hassop & English Martyrs Bakewell
Some of these Ministers died over a year ago but we have only received notification during the past year.
Eternal rest grant to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
We try whenever possible to send a condolence card to the next of kin and for a member of the Secretariat
to be present at the funeral. This is only possible if we are notified promptly of a Minister’s death. There
are currently 309 deceased Extraordinary Ministers recorded in this book.
Please also remember in your prayers all those Ministers throughout the Diocese who are no longer
enjoying good health especially those who are suffering serious illness.
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