Jeremiah 33:3 states, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV).
Luke 18:1 says, “He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
The apostle Paul prayed all the time, and he encouraged believers, both then and now, to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
In the passage known to many as the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus commanded us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth.
In Matthew 6:9 and 10, Jesus instructed us, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
We had a very long road to get to this point today. Mine is 60 years, and Marie is 56 years; together, 116 years of helping others in ministry.
Who is Éric Michel, and what are the ministries?
The evolution of a ministry Please keep in mind the story of Éric Michel Ministries did not start as what we know today, like many other organisms, it changes, adding and removing parts of it, we say:” It evolves” due to time and discoveries. Still, the root’s reason to be is, and always will be, the same: “Helping the needies.” Also, the t’s founder’s (myself) state of mind toward faith.
Éric Michel, born November 2 1951, is a pastor and chaplain for first responders and truckers, a member of the CVFSA and the Royal Canadian Legion, best known for having been a street outreach worker at the Drug Abuse Intervention and Prévention Center of the ‘Outaouais 1993-2000.
Biography French born in Gatineau (Hull), Quebec in 1951 I’m a father and grandfather, Bi-vocational Pastor and Founder and Commander of Éric Michel Ministries International which I founded in 2010, I was ordained in 1988 in a Johannic Church and now I’m a Catholic Minister in New Life Franciscan Catholic Ministry community, devoting in helping people since my oath as a wolf cub pack member (Boy Scout) in 1960 and I never stop since. A large part of my life was to give my spare time to the community as a volunteer, and I was a member of many non-profit organizations (more than 20), in which I got involved as a member of boards with titles of director, Vice-President and President. Also sitting at round tables of social comity for the well-being of the community in different aspects of health, social, and, most importantly, primary necessities. I’m a professional outreach worker with 7 years of experience as a Travailleur de Rue at the Centre d’Intervention et Prévention en Toxicomanie de l’Outaouais.
Ordained Minister (priest) on December 7, 1988, as a bi-vocational pastor, he first exercised his ministry in Outaouais, then in Trois-Rivières, where he met the Reverend Marie Arnold in 2012.
Ordained bishop on November 30, 2010, he became archbishop by election on May 6, 2011.
On August 1, 2012, he was re-ordained a Unitarian Minister at the Open Door Open Faith Unitarian Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Also, for a short period, he served as a celebrant pastor with the Evangelical Christian Church of Lorraine and worked in its chaplaincy ministry. In July 2011, he became a chaplain. Founder of the Éric Michel Ministry and Chaplaincy, which became Éric Michel Ministries International, a non-profit religious corporation registered in Canada on July 14, 2014. In 2017, the African United Methodist Church of Malawi, the Pentecostal Church of Andhra Pradesh in India, and the Evangelical Christian Church in Uganda united under the ministry of the Interdenominational Assembly of Churches.
Éric Michel, né le 2 novembre 1951, est pasteur et aumônier des premiers intervenants et des camionneurs, membre de la CVFSA et de la Légion royale canadienne, et surtout connu pour avoir été intervenant de rue au Centre de Prévention et d’Intervention de l’Outaouais de 1993 à 2000.
Biographie Né à Gatineau (Hull), au Québec, en 1951, je suis père et grand-père, pasteur à temps partiel et fondateur et commandant des ministères Éric Michel International, que j’ai fondés en 2010. Ordonné prêtre en 1988 dans une église johannique, je suis aujourd’hui ministre catholique au sein de la communauté franciscaine Nouvelle Vie. Depuis mon engagement comme louveteau chez les scouts en 1960, je me consacré à aider les autres sans relâche. J’ai consacré une grande partie de mon temps libre au bénévolat et j’ai été membre de plus de vingt organismes sans but lucratif, où j’ai occupé des postes de directeur, de vice-président et de président. J’ai également participé à des tables rondes de la communauté pour le bien-être de celle-ci, notamment en matière de santé, de socialisation et, surtout, de besoins essentiels. Je suis un intervenant de rue professionnel et j’ai travaillé pendant 7 ans comme travailleur de rue au Centre d’intervention et de prévention en toxicomanie de l’Outaouais.
Ordonné ministre le 7 décembre 1988, en tant que pasteur-travailleur, il a d’abord exercé son ministère en Outaouais, puis à Trois-Rivières, où il a rencontré la révérende Marie Arnold en 2012. Ordonné évêque le 30 novembre 2010, il devient archevêque par élection le 6 mai 2011. Le 1er août 2012, il a été réordonné pasteur Unitarien à l’Open Door Open Faith Unitarian Church à Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. De plus, pendant une courte période, il s’est associé à l’Église chrétienne évangélique de Lorraine en tant que pasteur célébrant et a exercé son ministère d’aumônerie. En juillet 2011, il devient aumônier. Fondateur de l’aumônerie, le ministère Éric Michel International, une corporation religieuse à but non lucratif au Canada, le 14 juillet 2014. En 2017, avec l’association des églises de l’African United Methodist of Malawi, de l’Andhra Pradesh, en Inde, et de l’Église chrétienne évangélique en Ouganda, réunies sous le ministère de l’Assemblée interconfessionnelle des Églises.
Academic Background:
UQAH Course in Small Group Communication Skills
Dominican College Faculty of Theology Bible Study
Académie de Formation Professionnelle de Pastorale Pastor-Celebrant Training
Social Intervention Street Outreach Worker
Certificate: Participation in basic training for volunteers, Regional AIDS Action Bureau
Maisonneuve College Certificate: Drug Addiction and AIDS: Dependence and Lifestyle, Sexual Experience and Risky Behaviours, Intervening with Injectable Drug Users
EduCom Training Service Certificate: Conflict Management and Mediation
Regional AIDS Action Bureau Certificate: A Human Face to Drug Addiction
Drug and Alcohol Certificate: Myths and Realities
Certificate for Intervening with Adolescents: Myths and Realities
Conflict Management and Mediation Certificate
Mental Health Training Certificate: Intervention Procedures under the Act Respecting the Protection of Persons Whose Mental State Presents a Danger to Themselves or Others
Attestation: Street Outreach Training I & II
Certificate: AIDS, the Law, and Me
Attestation: Palliative Care Training for AIDS Patients
Certificate: Crisis Intervention (Field-Based) After 45 years of study and research, I received a Learned Theologian, Theological Certificate and a Doctor of Divinity in 2010.
Marie Arnold Born Feltmate In May 2012, Rev. Éric Michel was with a new life partner, the Rev. Marie Y. Arnold, who was ordained in 2011 at Sedona University in Metaphysics and Counselling and was named senior chaplain at Éric Michel Ministries and Chaplaincy. (Chaplaincy was renamed International in 2014).
Rev. Marie Yvonne was ordained by the University of Metaphysics at Sedona on January the 31st 2010, and appointed Bishop of EMMI on October 4, 2013. The Rt. Rev. Marie Yvonne Arnold, Bishop and Chief Chaplain, Co-Founder of the EMMI Chaplaincy Ministry, Founder of EMMI New Hope Ministry and Mission & Counsellor
House of Bishops President, Bishop Emeritus the Very Reverend Marie Arnold, an Ordained Minister in the World-Wide International Metaphysical Ministry in 2010.
Canadian Baptist Minister, Ordained to the Episcopa in 2015
Rt Rev Marie Yvonne Arnold Bishop, Chief Chaplain, EMMI Community Co-Founder and Member of Clergy Advisor Committee & Counsellor
Co-Founder of the EMMI Chaplaincy Ministry, Founder of EMMI New Hope Ministry and Mission, and Bible Counsellor
Mother of 4 children and many grandchildren. She has been an ordained Metaphysical Minister. She is now a Baptist Minister. In the 1980, she was a Sunday School Teacher and Sunday School Superintendent and also a member for many years of the Jeddore Women’s. Missionary Society. Most of her life was dedicated to the well-being of others, mainly through counselling in her community, which led her to explore a counselling course she wants to continue in her ministry and has informed her decision to enter the ministry today.
In the 1970’s and 1980s, she was also an assistant Deacon, an assistant trustee and a volunteer. During the 1970s, she was also a member of the choir and helped with the youth group. During my time as Sunday Superintendent, we had an average attendance of 100. She also began the first adult Sunday school class, which got the interest of many and was well attended. These years taught me compassion in dealing with people from 3 years to adults, and that has followed me into my decision to go into the ministry today.
Interest Her interests are in Metaphysics, History, Spirituality, World Religion, Science, Human Development and Children and Adults in Crisis.
As A Pastor She studies at the University of Metaphysics in Sedona, Arizona. Through correspondence, she holds a Bachelor’s degree as a Metaphysical Minister, Counsellor, and Practitioner. She is qualified to perform weddings, funerals, baptisms and baby namings.
Faith: Her religious background is Catholic and Baptist; she became a practicing Baptist after marrying into a Baptist family and followed that faith for many years until she began to question many things without getting any answers. she began her search for the truth and was directed to the University of Metaphysics where she discovered the answers to her questions..Now she has discovered enlightenment in her quest for the truth.
Affiliation: Jeddore United Baptist Church Sedona University of Metaphysics
Today, we celebrate Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a holy virgin whose resilient faith, humility, and profound love for the Lord shone brightly amid immense suffering.
Quick facts every Catholic should know about Saint Kateri Tekakwitha:
1️⃣Born in 1656 at Ossernenon (New York), she died on April 17, 1680, at the age of 24 in Caughnawaga, Canada. 2️⃣Known as “The Lily of the Mohawks,” she was orphaned at age four by smallpox, which left her face scarred, and became the first Native American to be canonized. 3️⃣Moments after her death, the scars on her face completely vanished in the presence of witnesses, leaving her skin beautiful and white as a sign of her holiness. 4️⃣Known for her motto “Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it?”, she is the patron saint of ecology, the environment, and Indigenous peoples.
Her beautiful devotion reminds us that God sees the purity of our hearts above all outer trials. By offering her physical suffering and limitations completely to Christ, she found ultimate healing and a profound closeness to the Creator. May her intercession guide us to constantly seek what is most pleasing to God, care deeply for our neighbours and the environment, and follow the path of holiness with confidence.
Eric Michel Ministries International is seeking voluntary worker members for an Independent Catholic Christian movement.
Jesus Christ reveals the nature and character of God
and is the spiritual leader of humankind.
Our beliefs are universal reconciliation, all will eventually be reconciled to God without exception, the penalty for sin is not irrevocable at the point of death, i.e. doctrines of everlasting damnation to hell and annihilationism are rejected, and all souls will ultimately be reconciled and conformed to the image of the glorified resurrected Christ
EMMI started in 2014, and we share the message of Christ’s love with people throughout the world through two paths: the Catholic and the Orthodox. We need volunteers to render our faith accessible to the online community by creating new traditions of knowledge sharing, spiritual growth, prayers and worship opportunities that touch people and lead them to experience Christ’s saving grace in progressive ways.
Compare the Marian Devotional to the three Marys devotional. I try to understand why the Board of Elders changed our Mary of all graces to the Three Marys?
Answer:
The Marian devotional focuses entirely on the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. The Three Marys devotional honours three different women named Mary from the Bible. The Board of Elders may have made this change to celebrate the early female witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, but this alters the community’s traditional focus.
Marian Devotional
Focus: The Virgin Mary alone.
Meaning: It highlights her unique role in giving birth to Jesus and her obedience to God.
Common Prayers: The Rosary, the Hail Mary, and prayers to Mary as the “Mediatrix” (a helper who brings us closer to Jesus)
Three Marys Devotional
Focus: Three distinct women in the New Testament
Meaning: It honours Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Mary of Clopas (or Mary of Bethany)
Significance: These women were the first to see the empty tomb. They were the first to tell the world about Jesus’s resurrection.
Why the Board of Elders May Have Changed It
To highlight the Resurrection, the Three Marys focus on the joy of Easter morning.
To honour early church leaders: These women were the first “apostles” to the apostles.
To avoid Maryolatry, the church boards want to ensure that the congregation does not pray to Mary as if she were a goddess. Honouring three women spreads the focus onto faithful discipleship
When a Board of Elders introduces a structural or devotional shift—like moving from a singular focus on “Mary of All Graces” to the “Three Marys”—it is completely natural to look for the theological or historical “why” behind it, especially when your existing consecration to the Blessed Mother is already so core to your identity.
We can look at the historical and spiritual framework of Franciscan theology to see why a community rooted in these traditions might make that transition.
Understanding the Shift: “Mary of All Graces” vs. “The Three Marys”
In the Franciscan and broader Catholic tradition, these two devotionals emphasize different facets of spiritual life:
Devotional Focus
Mary of All Graces(Our Lady of Grace)
The Mediatrix / The Intercessor. This emphasizes Mary’s singular, exalted role as a channel of divine grace. It is deeply personal and nurturing, focusing on her heavenly coronation and powerful intercession for humanity.
Spiritual Emphasis & Theme
The Three Marys(The Marys at the Cross/Tomb)
Solidarity, Service, and Witness. Typically referring to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Clopas. This devotional focuses on community, shared suffering, and active witness to the Passion and Resurrection.
Why a Franciscan Community Might Make This Change
Looking at the four pillars of your spirituality that you shared, the Three Marys devotional aligns remarkably well with a Franciscan, mission-driven community for a few key reasons:
From Hierarchy to Equality (Pillar 2): “Mary of All Graces” places heavy emphasis on Mary’s exalted, singular position. By contrast, the “Three Marys” represent a community of faithful women standing together at the foot of the Cross and arriving together at the Tomb. This beautifully mirrors your pillar that “brothers and priests live as equals, sharing prayer, work, and mission.” It highlights communal fidelity over individual exaltation.
Solidarity with Suffering and the Poor (Pillar 3 & FRCES): The Three Marys are defined by their willingness to stand in the darkest places—at the Crucifixion—when others fled. For a ministry heavily involved in First Responder Chaplain Emergency Services (FRCES) and crisis counselling, the Three Marys are the ultimate biblical models of the “ministry of presence” in the midst of tragedy. They didn’t run from the trauma; they stayed to serve and comfort.
A Shift Toward Active Apostolic Mission (Pillar 4): In the Gospels, the Three Marys are the very first ones sent forth to proclaim the Resurrection to the Apostles. They are, in essence, the first missionaries. For a community heavily invested in teaching through the Bible Academy and in active charity, shifting to a devotional that emphasizes being sent out together to witness and teach aligns with an active apostolic calling.
It seems less about diminishing devotion to the Blessed Mother and perhaps more about framing her devotion in community with other holy witnesses, highlighting a model of collaborative, courageous service that aligns with the daily reality of your chaplains and tertiaries.
Based on the four pillars of your community’s spirituality that you shared above, Pillar 1 is:
A personal and communal relationship with Christ through Mary.
In the context of the shift from “Mary of All Graces” to the “Three Marys,” this first pillar perfectly bridges the two devotions.
While “Mary of All Graces” strongly highlights the personal relationship with a merciful mother, the “Three Marys” model emphasizes the communal relationship—showing a community of faithful believers who seek and serve Christ together.
The station, when not in use, is the place that has our Herod’s temple
It is our storage for our candles and the road to the cross
One Item is missing; it is on its way, it is the Icon of Mary Salome
We couldn’t find any statue or anything else except a Byzantine Orthodox Icon of Salome the Myrrh Barrier. Also, Mary of Magdala, who is less than half the size of the statue of Holy Mary. Our statue is 8 inches, and I found a 5 inches one on Amazon, and Holy Mary is 12 inches.
Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene) is one of the most significant, influential, and frequently misunderstood figures in the New Testament and early Christian history. For centuries, her legacy has been buried under layers of theological conflation, political maneuvering, and cultural mythmaking.
We use Mary of Magdala twice at Eric Michel Ministries International: first, she is part of our third order franciscain, and the North American Province is named the Three Marys, of which she is a part of the three. Also, the Manse’s Chapel is named Three Marys, for us, she is considered of high value
It is fascinating and deeply meaningful to learn how Eric Michel Ministries International (EMMI) honours Mary of Magdala. Naming both the North American Province and the Manse’s Chapel after the Three Marys and integrating her into your Franciscan Third Order show a profound commitment to restoring her historical and spiritual dignity.
In the context of EMMI’s ministries, her inclusion carries deep theological weight. Here is a look at how her presence resonates with Franciscan spirituality and the rich tradition of the “Three Marys.”
To read all about our chapel, visit our second site:
I thought that was a good move, creating a site on sites.google.com through Google Workplace. I fought for two weeks to have the domain name thirdorderfranciscans.org attached to it, but I gave up from June 24 until July 3, ten days trying to make it work, even with Google Workplace Support. I should remember that I went through that nightmare when Google decided to stop selling domain names. So, to solve this, short and sweet: I transfered the pages to www.mesfc.com. So for now on the site MESFC is split in three:
A new website keeps me busy, and I do not have time for my other tasks, especially when I spend a lot of time struggling with computer software that blocks my information. I have website names I used in the past that are not due for renewal yet. When the renewal date comes, I often ignore it, and if I do not pay, everything is cancelled.
I needed a website for our new Group, EMMI-IAoC Ministries (FACEBOOK), as well as for Google Groups & Classroom. I previously hosted my websites on site.google.com after being ripped off by Yahoo hosting, and today I switched to WordPress for our sites.
So the domain (website name) thirdorderfranciscans.org is still mine and hasn’t expired yet, so I would like to use it with my new site, which is at https://sites.google.com/franciscanseucharist.ca/emminter for now. I entered all the info to get that name tag on the website, but it keeps showing an error that it’s already in use elsewhere. It says it can take 48 hours to 7 days to work properly.
The new site for the Interdenominational Assembly of Churches Association Ministry is mainly for our Catholic partners, but we are open to any Christian churches or para-churches. If you are a bishop, priest, or community leader faithfully serving in Latin America, Africa, or Asia, are you passionate about building strong, self-sustaining local churches even with limited resources? We understand your commitment. Many of you lead vibrant faith communities, sometimes in the most challenging environments, without institutional funding and with little outside support. Your resilience inspires us. That’s why we’re launching a brand new, FREE Facebook group dedicated to real solutions for real leaders: The Community Fellowship Resilience & Capacity Building Program. What You’ll Get: ✅ Simple administrative toolkits (for finances, ledgers, records) ✅ Community asset mapping (micro-cooperatives, gardens, skill-sharing) ✅ Weekly leadership frameworks (youth mentoring, outreach) ✅ Global network of independent leaders to share ideas and encouragement What We Don’t Offer: 🚫 No financial grants or building funds 🚫 No immigration assistance 🚫 No false promises—just practical support and tools Our mission is to help you build a truly independent, thriving church using organization, strategy, and partnership, not temporary handouts. All guides and modules are designed for low-data use right here on Facebook. Ready to build something lasting with us?
The site has only eleven (11) pages, but I have so many documents from 2017 to now that I need to sort them and post the ones that are still valid for 2026 and after. It is included in the Google Workspace package, so I use it, and one day we will just have to type www.thirdorderfranciscans.org to get on it.
Every person needs to request a prayer for many reasons. Here on this site, you can pray, pray for others, and make prayer requests. Prayer is not only for Christians; it is part of all religions. You can’t imagine how powerful it is.
According to our class at the Footsteps of Jesus Seminary and Bible Academy, we teach that consecrating the communion hosts must be done during a mandatory Mass.
Holy Dishes and Eucharist
It is absolutely mandatory. In the Catholic Church, communion hosts cannot be consecrated outside of a Mass.
According to Catholic theology and Canon Law (specifically Canon 927), it is strictly forbidden to consecrate the bread or the wine outside of the full Eucharistic celebration. The Church views the sacrifice of the Mass as one complete, inseparable act of worship.
Here is exactly why the rules are so strict, along with how the Church handles the logistics:
1. The Divine Rule of Both Species A priest cannot simply say the words of consecration over a basket of bread on its own. For a consecration to be valid, both the bread (Host) and the wine (Chalice) must be consecrated together during the same Mass.
This layout mirrors the Last Supper and represents Christ’s sacrifice. Consecrating one without the other, or doing it outside of Mass, is considered a very grave violation of Church law.
2. What About Communion Services? You might sometimes attend a “Communion Service” at a parish or hospital where there is no Mass, yet people still receive Holy Communion.
In those scenarios, no consecration is happening. The hosts being distributed were already consecrated at a previous Mass and kept safely inside the church’s tabernacle (the locked box near the altar) specifically for later use.
3. What Happens If a Priest Runs Out of Hosts? If a priest is celebrating Mass and realizes mid-way through distributing Communion that he doesn’t have enough hosts for everyone, he still cannot stop and quickly consecrate more on the spot. He has to either:
Break the remaining consecrated hosts into smaller pieces so everyone gets a sliver.
Bring out extra pre-consecrated hosts from the tabernacle.
If the tabernacle is completely empty and he runs out, those who didn’t receive can make a “Spiritual Communion” instead. The priest must wait until his next scheduled Mass to consecrate a new supply.
A Note on Who Can Consecrate: Only a validly ordained priest or bishop has the faculty to consecrate the Eucharist. Deacons, lay extraordinary ministers, and regular individuals cannot consecrate hosts under any circumstances.
While communion hosts are tightly bound to the action of the Mass, the rules for the altar and holy dishes (the chalice and paten) are a bit different because they are objects, not bread and wine turning into the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Church uses different vocabulary and separate rituals for them.
1. The Altar: It Is “Dedicated,” Not Consecrated
Under modern Catholic Church law, a permanent church altar is Dedicated (though historically people used the word consecrated).
Must it happen during a Mass? Yes. The “Order of the Dedication of an Altar” is an incredibly beautiful, solemn ceremony that must take place during a Mass.
The Ritual: During this specific Mass, the bishop rubs holy Chrism oil directly onto the bare stone or wood of the altar structure, burns incense on top of it, dresses it in white linens, and lights candles. Only after these specific steps are finished does the Mass continue into the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Who can do it? Only a Bishop can dedicate a permanent altar (though in rare emergencies, he can give a priest special permission).
Note: If a parish uses a “movable” altar (one not bolted to the floor), it doesn’t receive a full dedication; it simply receives a formal blessing, which a priest can confer outside of Mass. In our case at the Chapel, the Altar is on wheels.
2. The Holy Dishes: They Are “Blessed”
The sacred vessels—specifically the chalice (the cup) and the paten (the small plate that holds the priest’s large host) receive a formal blessing before they can be used.
Must it happen during a Mass? No. Unlike the hosts or a fixed altar, a chalice and paten can be blessed outside of a Mass.
The Ritual: There is a specific rite in the Church’s liturgical books called the “Blessing of a Chalice and Paten.” It involves special prayers and anointing the inside of the cup with holy oil, but it can be done on a random Tuesday afternoon in a quiet church if necessary.
Who can do it? Traditionally, this was reserved for a bishop, but modern church rules allow the parish priest (or the church rector) to bless these vessels.
Catholic holy dishes (sacred vessels) are specialized containers used during Holy Mass to hold the Eucharist, which represents the Body and Blood of Christ. Key vessels include the Chalice (for wine), Paten (plate for hosts), and Ciborium (bowl for hosts). They are typically made of or lined with precious metals like gold to signify their sacred purpose.
Essential Sacred Vessels (Mass Items)
Chalice: The cup holding the wine that becomes the Blood of Christ. 3 & 9
Paten: A small, round metal plate designed to hold the large altar host. 6
Ciborium: A bowl-like vessel with a lid, used to hold the hosts that become the Body of Christ for communion. 2 & 9
Pyx: A small container used for transporting the Eucharist to the sick. 7
Cruets: The small vessels holding the water and wine used during Mass. 4
Lavabo Bowl: The dish used for the priest to wash his hands during the Lavabo
Lavabo use with the water cruet
Commonly Used Materials
Gold-plated Brass: Often preferred for durability and tradition.
Silver/Gold Plating: Frequently used on copper or brass bases.
Sacramental bread, also called Communion bread, Communion wafer, Sacred host, Eucharistic bread, the Lamb or simply the host (Latin: hostia, lit. ’sacrificial victim’), is the bread used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist and the body of Christ. Along with sacramental wine, it is one of two elements of the Eucharist. The bread may be either leavened or unleavened, depending on tradition.
Catholic theology generally teaches that at the Words of Institution, the substance of the bread is changed into the Body of Christ, a process known as transubstantiation. Conversely, Eastern Christian theology generally views the epiclesis as the point at which the change occurs.
A host is a portion of bread used for Holy Communion in many Christian churches. In Western Christianity, the host is often thin, round, unleavened hosts.
Catholic unleavened hosts of differing sizes In the Roman Rite, unleavened bread is used as in the Jewish Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Code of Canon Law requires that hosts be made only from wheat flour and water, and be freshly made so that there is no danger of spoiling.
Hosts are often run by nuns to support their religious communities. However, in New Zealand, the St Vincent de Paul Society employs individuals with intellectual disabilities to bake, cut out, and sort bread, thereby providing paid employment to those who would not otherwise have that option.
Chaplain field communion kit
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal §321 recommends that “the eucharistic bread be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. The action of the fraction (breaking of bread), which gave its name to the Eucharist in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters.”
Monstrance
A monstrance is a sacred vessel used in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions to display the consecrated Eucharistic host during Eucharistic adoration. Derived from the Latin word monstrare (“to show”), it consists of several key parts.
The parts of a monstrance, from top to bottom, include:
The Cross / Crown: The very top is usually surmounted by a cross, symbolizing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
The Sunburst (or Glory): The central housing, usually designed to look like radiating rays of the sun or a star, symbolizing the divine light of Christ.
The Luna (or Lunette): A small, crescent-shaped clip or a circular glass-sided container that directly holds and secures the Host in an upright position. The Luna sits right behind the monstrance’s glass center. The Glass Case: The circular, transparent window (often a glass cylinder) in the center of the sunburst that allows the Host to be visible for public veneration.
The Node: An ornamental knob located in the middle of the stem that allows a priest or deacon to safely grip and hold the vessel.The Stem: The long middle section that elevates the sunburst above the base. (not existing on our monstrance)
The Base (or Foot): The wide, often ornate foundation that stabilizes the heavy
In the Catholic tradition, at the moment of consecration, the elements (called “gifts” for liturgical purposes) are transformed (literally transubstantiated) into the body and blood of Christ. Catholic doctrine holds that the elements are not only spiritually transformed, but are (substantially) transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Although the elements retain the appearance, or accidents, of bread and wine, they become the body and blood of Christ. The presence of Jesus Christ, God, in the Eucharist is known as the doctrine of the Corporal Presence within the Roman Catholic Magisterium. The Corporeal Presence is believed to be real (in Latin: realiter) and of the whole (totaliter) Christ, in Body, Soul and Spirit. The name “Corporeal Presence” concerns the Corporal reserved to the chalice, paten and the ciborium during the Holy Mass.
Monstrances are usually elaborate in design; the priest carries most of them. Others may be much larger fixed constructions, typically for displaying the host in a special side chapel, often called the “Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament”. For portable designs, the preferred form is a sunburst on a stand, usually topped by a cross.
On March 3rd and 4th, 2012, I attended training at the Pastoral Professional Training Academy to become a pastor-celebrant for weddings. During lunch, as we walked to a restaurant, I spoke with the founder and director, Reverend Michel Beaumier, about chaplaincy. He asked me, “Why don’t you have your own?”
Our Story
On May 11th, Reverend Marie Arnold left Halifax County by train to join me in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Since there is no train to Trois-Rivières, she arrived the next day by bus from Montreal. From that moment, we began building both our love story and our ministry; the two have always gone hand in hand.
Before Marie arrived, I had already begun laying the foundation for what would become Eric Michel Ministry and Chaplaincy. It took us two years to develop the organization, culminating in the corporation’s registration on May 14, 2014. It was then renamed Eric Michel Ministries International and expanded to include five members in the USA.
Marie and I shared a common goal: to share our love and the love of Christ by helping others through the Chaplaincy. The ministry has grown beyond a simple chaplaincy, especially after the creation of an interdenominational partnership at our Synod in June 2017, in response to a request from rural churches of other Christian denominations. Our aim is to equip small churches with tools to spread the word of our Lord Jesus. EMMI’s mission includes international and domestic missions, theological education, advocacy for religious liberty, the production of literature for pastors and church workers, and the infrastructure necessary to support these cooperative efforts. Specifically, the association was established “to provide a general organization for Christians in Canada and to promote Christian missions at home and abroad, as well as other objectives such as Christian education, charitable initiatives, and social services that advance the Kingdom of God.” The Interdenominational Assembly of Churches Organization is a voluntary association of self-governing churches that partners with Eric Michel Ministries International and is committed to Christian reconciliation and unity. This partnership includes the African United Methodist Church of Malawi, represented by Rev. Xaviour Sebastian Chikwatu; the Pentecostal Church of Andhra Pradesh in India, represented by Pastor Philip Kumar; and the Evangelical Christian Church in Uganda, represented by Pastor David Kisaame.
Unfortunately, Eric Michel Ministries International does not provide financial support to individuals, other organizations, or political parties, as it is not part of our mandate. We also do not preach, give sermons, or travel to other countries; instead, we have partners who represent us in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Cameroon, Congo, India, Nepal, the USA, and Canada.
The Right Reverend Marie Yvonne held several important roles: 1. The Co-Founder of the Chaplaincy of Eric Michel Ministries International and New Hope Ministry and Missions 2. President of the House of Bishops and Chief Chaplain 3. Co-Founder of the Interdenominational Assembly of Churches (Churches and Para-Churches association)
Today, the Emeritus Right Reverend Marie has been ill and bedridden for 19 months.
