Liturgical Ministries

The liturgy is the public worship of the Church.  It is celebrated, not by individuals or groups within the Church, but by the entire Body of Christ.

All of the faithful are called to fully participate in the liturgy.  Most of us do this by coming to the liturgy spiritually prepared, ready to join our minds and hearts, indeed our bodies, to all that we as a Church hear, say, and do in the liturgy.  In this way, we cooperate with grace.

However, there is need of some of the faith ful to take up special, integral roles in the liturgy, such as altar servers, sacristans, musicians, lectors, greeters, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.  
Photo credit: Joe Garcia of eCatholic.com

Liturgical Ministers - The parish is always in need of servants for liturgical ministries (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Choir members, Altar Servers, Hospitality Ministers, Sacristans, and Altar Guild). Please check out our liturgical ministry page for more information. 

Altar Servers

Altar Servers assist the priest and deacon at the altar during the celebration of Mass.  The duties of the altar servers include processing into the church with cross and candles, holding the missal for the priest, setting the altar during the offertory (in the absence of a deacon), and assisting the priest or deacon with whatever they need during the liturgy.  Altar Serves are to maintain a reverent and attentive disposition during the Mass, even so as to allow the congregation to enter into deeper worship.
Diocesan Guidelines for Altar Servers

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC for short) assist the ordinary ministers of communion (priests, deacons, and instituted acolytes) with distribution of Holy Communion.  At our parish, the congregation receives under both species, so EMHC's distribute both the Consecrated Hosts and the Precious Blood. This ministry requires a deep reverence for and awareness of our Lord's Real Presence in the Eucharist.  

Diocesan Guidelines for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Lectors

Lectors proclaim the Word of God during the liturgy. On weekday Masses, Memorials, and Feasts a reading from either the Old or New Testament and a Psalm are proclaimed. On Sunday Masses, Solemnities, and certain Feast days an additional reading is proclaimed after the Psalm. A Lector is also responsible to proclaim the Prayers of the Faithful, the prayers of the entire community offered to God, when a deacon is not present. Lectors must be able to proclaim the Word of God clearly and with devotion. Proclaiming the Word of God is  a sacred act in which the lector allows the Holy Spirit to speak through him or her to the assembled community. Lectors ought to cultivate a profound love and reverence for Sacred Scripture. 

Diocesan Guidelines for Lectors Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation,  Dei Verbum 

Ushers

Ushers assist with ensuring smooth and dignified movements in the liturgy. They welcome parishioners as they enter the church, help worshipers to find seating, take up the collection, find people to bring the gifts to the altar during the offertory, and give out the bulletins at the end of Mass. Ushers ought to have a clear understanding of what Christian hospitality means and be able to perform their duties with reverence and devotion. 
Diocesan Guidelines for Ushers / Ministers of Hospitality 

Altar Guild 

The Altar Guild assists with maintaining and beautifying the physical aspects of the church for the liturgy.  Members change the altar cloths to reflect the liturgical color for each celebration, wash the linens used during the Mass, and arrange flowers and adornments for liturgical seasons.  Their ministry is important for providing a reverent atmosphere in which to more faithfully offer ourselves to God in the liturgy.