by Louis D'costa
KUWAIT, DECEMBER 27, 2013: Nine new Extraordinary Ministers for Communion Distribution (EMCD) were inducted during the Holy Mass on 
Fr. Francis Kharjia, the spiritual director of the EMCD's, had planned the formation program spanning for eight Months, for duration of an hour and a half. He was assisted by Frs. Blany Pinto, Joy Marangatikkala, Franco Pereira and Ben Barrameda. Each priest took a session or two and the sessions ranged from the teachings of the church on Eucharist, Papal encyclicals concerning the Eucharist, Eucharistic piety and instructions on the practical aspects of distributing communion.
The nine new EMCDs took the oath during the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, 8 December and thereby committing themselves to the ministry. 
The strength of the parish is more than 15000 parishioners. There are eleven weekday masses and 16 masses of obligation on Friday, Saturday evening and on Sunday. It is virtually impossible for the priest to distribute the Holy Communion without the assistance of the EMCD. The parish already has forty three EMCD members and with the inclusion of nine more members, the overall strength of the EMCD members is fifty two.
A special thanks to Fr. Francis Kharjia who animates the EMCD members by organizing regular meetings and annual spiritual retreat.