Ministry of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is really and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine, in order to offer himself in the sacrifice of the Mass and to be received as spiritual food in Holy Communion. It is called Eucharist, or "thanksgiving," because at its institution at the Last Supper Christ "gave thanks," and by this fact it is the supreme object and act of Christian gratitude to God.

Priests are, by definition, the proper ministers of the Eucharist, therefore only priests can rightly be called Eucharistic Ministers. Deacons, as ordained ministers of the Church, properly assist the priest in distributing the Eucharist to the faithful at Mass.

Lay people can be deputed, on either a temporary or ongoing basis, to assist the priests and deacons of the Church to distribute the Eucharist either at Mass or to the homebound. Since they are not ordained, they are not ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, but are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.