Union Catholic students take on important role in Mass

Eleven students at Union Catholic High School are serving their school community as newly mandated Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion.

At the Thanksgiving Liturgy on Nov. 20, United Catholic seniors Megan Falvey, Emily Haake, Kristen Valendo, Alexis Malec-Neuberger, Maria Montesclaros-Te, Henry Hiel, Rory Harrigan, Joshua Kwasnik, Benjamin Cook, Jamielynn Hamilton, and Isabella Capati were commissioned to distribute Holy Communion at Mass.

“I feel more connected to my faith and the Church now,” said Kwasnik, who was inspired to become a Eucharistic Minister by his grandmother and grandfather, who are also Lay Eucharistic Ministers. “When I handed out the host, I felt a connection to those around me and the Mass as a whole.”

In adherence to Archdiocesan Policy, candidates for the ministry of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be practicing Catholics in good standing with the church and be at least 18 years of age or a senior in a Catholic high school. While in high school and under the age of 18, they are limited to serving at Masses within the Catholic high school. Seniors who are 18 or older may serve in their local parish with written approval from their pastor to the Worship Office, and after completing the necessary training outlined in the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

The term “Eucharistic Minister,” or more accurately a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM), refers to a lay person who aids the priest in administering Holy Communion—the consecrated bread and wine. They may also bring the sacrament to those unable to attend church services due to illness or other reasons.

To become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, students must be practicing Catholics, having received first Communion and Confirmation, and complete training provided through Union Catholic Campus Ministry.

Malec-Neuberger, also a peer minister and cantor at school Masses, expressed her eagerness to become a Eucharistic Minister as part of a personal goal to “take chances and grow closer to the Catholic faith.

“Becoming a Eucharistic Minister has helped me feel closer and more connected to Jesus,” she said.

Father Thomas Dente, Director of the Worship Office, said Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Newark provide this opportunity to enrich students’ faith and promote engagement with the Mass.

“Serving in the role helps young people become better disciples of Christ,” Father Dente said. “It is an indicator of maturity in faith and demonstrates their devotion to Christ, emphasizing that the Church and Jesus matter to them.”

Valendo, one of the Eucharistic Ministers recently mandated at Union Catholic, said her connection to her faith and the Church has been deepened since she began her service.

“Serving in this role has strengthened my desire to always prioritize God and allowed me to recognize the power of worshiping Him with my school community,” she said. Valendo also serves as a Peer Minister and Student Ambassador at the school. “This entire process has also brought a newfound sense of love and belonging to my life.”

The students’ mandate comes at a poignant time in the Church – as laypeople and clergy across the United States participate in the National Eucharistic Revival. Launched in 2022 on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the revival aims to inspire a movement among Catholics to be healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.

Hiel, a senior, said that he is honored to be a Eucharistic Minister and to participate in the Eucharistic Revival in such a personal way. “I think the Eucharistic Revival will show the younger generation the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and death, and they will understand how important attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist truly is,” he said.

Hiel said that since taking on the role of Eucharistic Minister, he has noticed some of his friends are considering taking on the role as well. “It is a fantastic way to become a more present part of your parish community and a gateway to so many meaningful relationships,” he said.

Haake, also a senior, said since becoming an Eucharistic Minister she has been able to connect with the Mass on a deeper level. “I have always looked forward to the celebration of Mass. I am now excited that I am an active participant in the Mass.”

The National Eucharistic Revival will culminate this summer with the 10th annual National Eucharistic Congress, which will be held from July 17-21, 2024 in Indianapolis. This gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist will be a pivotal, unifying, and transformative moment for the Church in the U.S.