Liturgical Ministries
All the baptized need to understand that part of their duty regarding liturgy is to accept some responsibility for the liturgy, to place themselves and their God-given talents at the service of the liturgical community whenever possible. If liturgy is a duty as well as a right, then part of that duty for those able to undertake these tasks is the responsibility to assume such key roles as those of lector, server or acolyte, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, usher, choir member, etc. . Whether one brings up the gifts at the Presentation, reads the Word of God, assists with the distribution of Communion and brings the Eucharist to those unable to be present at Mass, serves at the altar, provides music that augments the joy, solemnity and festivity of the celebration or serves the assembled community as an usher, he or she is contributing to the worship of the community and fulfilling the responsibility that comes with Baptism.
(USCCB, Ministries and Roles within the Liturgical Assembly at Mass).
(USCCB, Ministries and Roles within the Liturgical Assembly at Mass).
Liturgical Ministries Available
Sacristan:
The sacristan diligently arranges the liturgical books, the vestments, and other things that are necessary for the celebration of Mass.
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister:
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are those parishioners who assist the priest in distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and other liturgical services. In addition to ministering at mass, some Eucharistic Ministers take communion to the sick or others unable to attend Mass. All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.
(USCCB, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass).
Altar Servers:
Altar Servers are those who assist the priest during Mass. The various tasks include: carry the cross and processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. The main task of the Altar Server is to model liturgical prayer with grace and reverence and enter whole-heartedly into the public worship of the community.
Those wishing to be Altar Servers must be able to attend training sessions.
(USCCB, Guidelines for Altar Servers).
Lector:
Lectors serve as those who proclaim the Word of God to the community at every liturgy. Proclaiming the Word is different from any other reading-God speaks to people through the lector. Lectors read from the ambo the readings that precede the Gospel. In the absence of a psalmist, the Lector may also proclaim the Responsorial Psalm after the First Reading. In the absence of a Deacon, the Lector, after the introduction by the Priest, may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer from the ambo.
(USCCB, The Lector at Mass).
Usher/Greeter: Ministers of Hospitality
The Usher/Greeter is usually the first representative of the parish encountered by people coming to Mass. Ushers and Greeters serve the parish community by being a visible sign of "welcome" to members of the parish community and visitors alike. They greet people in the name of the parish community and help to make them feel at home. They provide a sense of order at liturgies, escorting both friend and stranger into the worshipping assembly and assisting members of the assembly with special needs, and they answer questions. They take the collection and they recruit a family or group of individuals to bring the gifts of bread and wine forward to the altar.
The sacristan diligently arranges the liturgical books, the vestments, and other things that are necessary for the celebration of Mass.
Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister:
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers are those parishioners who assist the priest in distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and other liturgical services. In addition to ministering at mass, some Eucharistic Ministers take communion to the sick or others unable to attend Mass. All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.
(USCCB, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass).
Altar Servers:
Altar Servers are those who assist the priest during Mass. The various tasks include: carry the cross and processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. The main task of the Altar Server is to model liturgical prayer with grace and reverence and enter whole-heartedly into the public worship of the community.
Those wishing to be Altar Servers must be able to attend training sessions.
(USCCB, Guidelines for Altar Servers).
Lector:
Lectors serve as those who proclaim the Word of God to the community at every liturgy. Proclaiming the Word is different from any other reading-God speaks to people through the lector. Lectors read from the ambo the readings that precede the Gospel. In the absence of a psalmist, the Lector may also proclaim the Responsorial Psalm after the First Reading. In the absence of a Deacon, the Lector, after the introduction by the Priest, may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer from the ambo.
(USCCB, The Lector at Mass).
Usher/Greeter: Ministers of Hospitality
The Usher/Greeter is usually the first representative of the parish encountered by people coming to Mass. Ushers and Greeters serve the parish community by being a visible sign of "welcome" to members of the parish community and visitors alike. They greet people in the name of the parish community and help to make them feel at home. They provide a sense of order at liturgies, escorting both friend and stranger into the worshipping assembly and assisting members of the assembly with special needs, and they answer questions. They take the collection and they recruit a family or group of individuals to bring the gifts of bread and wine forward to the altar.
If you feel called to volunteer for any of these ministries, please contact the parish office at 968-7913 or mass@stjohnschurchfoley.org