EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS BLESSED TO OFFER THE
A
s Catholics, we are blessed with many ways in which laypeople may participate more fully in the Mass. Beginning at a young age, children may train to serve at the altar. Other parishioners enjoy helping with the Liturgy as sacristans, ushers, or lectors. Still, others choose to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist, offering the consecrated Body and Blood of Christ to their fellow parishioners at each Mass. St. Leo’s parishioner Dusty Hast has served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist for over 20 years. He and his wife, Diana, serve as the coordinators of this ministry for our parish. Anyone who has attended a 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Leo’s is likely to have seen Dusty at the altar! “Over the years, I’ve gotten the comment from people asking if I am ever not serving as a Eucharistic Minister,” Dusty laughs. “Whenever someone is not there, I step up. My wife and I are both like that — when we make a commitment, we follow through until we’re not able to.” Those who serve as Extraordinary Ministers
“Years ago when my kids were younger, my wife and I and our older two all served as Eucharistic Ministers, and my youngest was an altar server for that Mass, so that was pretty cool. Then, when my aunt passed away in Iowa, they were looking for Eucharistic Ministers and I volunteered. It was nice being able to give Communion to my cousins in their time of need — that was really satisfying.” — DUSTY HAST 4
BODY AND
find that this participation in the Mass strengthens their relationship with the Lord and helps them to connect with their faith community. In addition to the closeness Dusty has experienced with his fellow parishioners by serving in this role, it has also presented him with the opportunity to connect with family members in a truly special way. “Years ago when my kids were younger, my wife and I and our older two all served as Eucharistic Ministers, and my youngest was an altar server for that Mass, so that was pretty cool,” he says. “Then, when my aunt passed away in Iowa, they were looking for Eucharistic Ministers and I volunteered. It was nice being able to give Communion to my cousins in their time of need — that was really satisfying.” While stepping up to share the Body and Blood of Christ may at first seem an overwhelming or even intimidating experience, Dusty ensures that new Extraordinary Ministers learn the ropes and feel comfortable in the role. “We do a training at the church,” he says. “We try to make the training fun but also stress the
