Why I Became an EMOE and My Advice to Others

By Anne Kearns

I am what you call a “Cradle Catholic” – I have grown up in the Church since I was a baby and always attended Mass on Sundays – but I didn't truly appreciate my faith until high school. Although my journey has been a culmination of countless events that deepened my spirituality, I can point to four major turning points that inspired me to become more involved in the Church, specifically as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist (EMOE).

My first experience was reading St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s autobiography, Story of a Soul. Like countless others, this book changed my life – holiness felt attainable and, what's more, expected. Her “little way” has served as a guideline for my life: to do every small action out of love. She is not only my confirmation saint but also my guide lamp in pursuing goodness. On the Eucharist, she once said: “Receive Communion often, very often ... there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing.” If you are experiencing a season of desolation, I invite you to reflect on St. Thérèse’s words and be open to letting the Eucharist change your life. I know it changed mine.

The next significant step toward becoming an EMOE was my pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2023 in Europe. Over the course of two weeks, my sister and I visited many holy sites like Lourdes, Fatima, and several cathedrals, before attending World Youth Day and seeing the pope. We also attended Mass with our religious sisters and mothers almost every day, which opened my eyes to how vast and truly alive the Catholic faith is, especially among the youth. I knew more than ever that I wanted to be part of something so wonderful and universal. Church became novel and exciting rather than just routine.

 Like many other high school students in our parish, I also attended the annual Diocesan Youth Retreat. Once again, I had the opportunity to attend Mass almost daily and receive sacraments like confession and adoration. What set this experience apart, though, were the deep relationships I built, which gave me the confidence to live my faith in the real world, not just privately. Because the people in my small group were vulnerable and open about their faith, I could be too. God’s love doesn't want to be quiet; it wants to touch every soul and every heart. During this retreat, His love was loud and resounding in every single person I interacted with. Even now, it keeps me excited about being Catholic and has deepened my love for the sacraments.

Fast forward to this past summer: I was able to attend a Catholic leadership training program called Youth on a Mission. This was the true catalyst for becoming an EMOE. From my past three experiences, I had found the passion to serve the Church and deepen my faith, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. Here, I discovered tangible ways to live it out. Through keynote speeches and workshops, I learned about various ways to serve the Church and tried them out during our daily Masses. After exploring different roles, I realized that I loved being an EMOE the most – partly because it involves such an amazing sacrament and also because it allows me to be so close to Jesus.

To whoever is reading this, I encourage you to reflect on the key moments in your life when God lovingly pulled you closer to Him. I invite you to take a moment to sit with Him and ask: “How can I love You more?” For me, the answer was becoming an EMOE, but for you, it might look like becoming a lector, helping with mental health ministry, or simply praying for the wellbeing of our Church. As the holidays bring their whirlwind of busyness, center yourself in Jesus’s constant peace and be still in His presence. This is the first step to serving the Church. Everything falls into place when you align your will with God’s.