For the first time, two women with mental disabilities have been appointed as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist in the Archdiocese of Paderborn. The women have completed a course in liturgy and pastoral care and are now authorised to serve as assistants in the distribution of Holy Communion in a Eucharistic celebration. During the training, the two participants were given enough time and space for questions and practical exercises. This is an important step towards an inclusive Church, said the diocesan representative for the pastoral care of persons with disabilities, Anja Fecke, who said she was not aware of any other diocese where persons with mental disabilities were entrusted with the duty of assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion. She also stressed that this was certainly not going to be the last training course in the distribution of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. The extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are lay Catholics who, in particular situations, help to distribute Holy Communion during Mass or when visiting the sick. They are assigned this task by their bishop or parish priest. Their service is essential when the priest or the deacon is alone and unable to distribute Holy Communion to all the faithful. In Germany, where the number of lay pastoral leaders is increasing in parishes due to a lack of priests, the presence of extraordinary ministers, who may serve in several parish associations, is becoming increasingly important. The two female participants in the course will initially perform their task during Eucharistic celebrations held in the church.