PYX—Communion to the Homebound
By Liturgical Coordinator
Judy Zunk
The Good Shepherd assembly is invited each weekend Mass to take Communion to the Homebound. This is a wonderful ministry outreach to individuals who are unable to attend Mass. It creates relationships with others. It may be the only connection someone has to the Church. Bringing Christ to them is a tremendous blessing. You who serve the homebound in this capacity are also blessed.
We use a container called a pyx to hold the consecrated host until it is given to the intended individual with the words “This is the Body of Christ.” At Mass, you take a pyx and receive one or more consecrated hosts for those to whom you are taking Communion.
To be able to continue to offer this opportunity of receiving the sacred host by those who are homebound, we need to have enough pyx. In the past 2 ½ years we have purchased 42 pyx at a cost of $5.00 each. As of today, there are 17 pyx available for use.
We can always buy more pyx, yet we request good stewardship of resources on your part by searching your pockets, purses, dresser drawers, cars, kitchen counters, and sofa cushions, for any pyx you may have used to minister to another. Please bring the pyx back and place it in the return basket in the narthex. These will then be available for the next time we need to extend Christ’s presence and the Church’s care to those who cannot be with us in person.