Training of MECs in the Archipresstate of Castro Daire and Vila Nova de Paiva

“The mission of the Extraordinary Minister of Communion (MEC) is a profound reality that arises from the mission that Christ intended for us when he sent us to witness His presence in the middle of the world.
“Go”, Jesus repeats to us throughout the pages of the Gospel, but in a very particular way in the depths of our hearts…”

It was thus that on the morning of the 2nd Saturday of April, the 13th, Fr Miguel Peixoto began his intervention at the Meeting of Extraordinary Ministers of the Communion of the Archpriest of Castro Daire/Vila Nova de Paiva which took place at the Parish Center of Castro Daire .

This, after the welcome and a short Introduction given by the Archpriest, P Jorge Saraiva, who, although brief, gave the motto and motivation for this training action to which around four dozen participants responded. Together we sang the beautiful Eucharistic song “I Am the Living Bread come down from Heaven” and prayed a Prayer in the form of prayers.

It was up to Fr Miguel Peixoto to develop the theme for the first part of the morning, which, taking a text of his own, spoke in great depth and eloquence about the role that belongs to Extraordinary Ministers of Communion in our Communities. (I confess to regretting not having time to look into it more carefully before writing this article, which I committed to submitting on this date). The text focuses on 3 fundamental points:

1 – Go all over the world (MEC mission)
2 – A treasure in our hands (MEC Identity)
3 – Being an experience of the Resurrected

During the magnificent presentation made by P Peixoto addressed to those who carry out the fruitful and noble mission of Minister of Communion, we heard quotes that were as beautiful as they were emotional, such as:
“The Minister of Communion lives to meet others in an act of donation”; “MECs are ambassadors of Jesus’ welcome and hospitality”; “are those” who meet their brother’s fragility to give him the strength of the Resurrected One. In the middle of Easter Season (this Saturday was the one following Easter Sunday or “Divine Mercy Sunday”, Fr Peixoto also refers to the exercise of the MEC with regard to the practice of Charity because “they bring Our Lord to the most fragile, helping them those to emerge from fragility”.

In the second part, it was Fr. Diamantino Alvaíde’s turn to address a set of practical aspects that must be taken into account when carrying out these functions, taking into account the relevant responsibility that lies with us, the importance and dimension of the act in the context of the Communities, and the dignification of the exercise of the position taking into account a set of rules of (good) conduct that must naturally be practiced.

It should be noted that during this Training Action/Meeting there was always room for dialogue, questions, requests for clarification of any doubts and exchange of experiences by those present.

In the end, we all return richer and more robust, “each one following the path we are building, trying to carry the Living and Real Jesus among us” so that, as long as our strength allows, “We can be true witnesses of the Resurrected One”.

And allow me to also include here a phrase of mine that I think is appropriate to conclude this article: “When we bring Our Lord to others, it is not our presence that counts but the presence of the One we carry”.

João Oliveira, in Voice of Lamegoyear 94/23, no. 4751, of April 24, 2024