How to Officiate at a Holy Communion

Communion is an important aspect of the Catholic faith.

The actual act of communion varies between religious denominations. Which people can officiate a communion also varies. In Roman Catholicism, only a priest or a deacon can officiate a communion, while other Christian religions believe that any person who is "born again" can officiate communion. Regardless, the act of communion is a remembrance of Jesus's Last Supper. If you are planning to officiate a communion, there are some key steps to follow.

Instructions

1. Prepare the bread and wine. Before the start of the service, you need to have all of the key elements. Make sure you have the correct bread and also decide whether to use real wine or grape juice. Many of these choices are based on your particular belief.

2. Hold up the bread so that the congregation can see it. Break the bread into pieces and recite the verses from the Last Supper. This will be the bread that you serve during communion.

3. Present the wine and hold it up for the congregation to see. Again recite the verse from the Last Supper, explaining the change in the wine to Jesus's blood. This will be the wine you use for the communion.

4. Invite the congregation to join you for communion. Depending on your beliefs, you can invite the congregation to come forward, or to join together in a circle to share in the body and blood of Jesus. If you are the head of your church, you can decide how you want to invite the members to communion.

5. Spend time in prayer. After the communion is over, allow your congregation and yourself time for prayer and reflection. The act of communion is a cleansing act, and time is needed afterwards to reflect on the cleanse. People should be allowed to reflect and pray during this time, in whatever way they feel comfortable. There is no need for guidance during this time.

References

• Oasis Christian Church; Communion
• Our Catholic Faith; Rules on Receiving Communion