: Liturgical Ministers Overview :
The following material has been adapted from an article written by Lucille Lang (St Bernadette Parish) that was published in the journal Celebrate! (2005, Vol 44, #2 & 3). It's purpose is to help with recruitment of liturgical ministers in the parish and you are invited to read it and use all or parts of it for enhancing and recruiting the liturgical ministry in your parish. It can be formatted for use as a bulletin insert, pamphlet or simply take parts of the material for your weekly bulletin.
Liturgy - Work of the People
Who celebrates liturgy? Everyone, all of us, each person in the assembly!
It is the gathered assembly, united with Christ the High Priest, who celebrates the liturgy. Through our baptism each of us is called to gather with our celebrating community to give God thanks and praise. We are all celebrants.
What is role of the priest?
The priest is our leader of prayer. He is ordained through the sacrament of Holy Orders to preside over our prayer, but he also a member of our community and so prays with us. He is known as the presider, or the main celebrant.
The Role of the Assembly
As a member of the gathered assembly each of us has a role to play. We are called to take part with our whole mind, body and soul. We are called to full, conscious, and active participation.
We arrive on time, prepared to praise and honour and give thanks to God. Aware that we are part of the body of Christ and not isolated individuals, we show hospitality to one another and are present to each other throughout the liturgy. We sing the songs with vigour, we listen attentively to the proclamation of the Word and the priest's homily, we observe the moments of prayerful silence, and we pray the prayers and responses of the liturgy with conviction. We perform the ritual gestures like the sign of the cross and the sign of peace, with care. During the Eucharistic prayer we unite ourselves to the words and actions of the priest. We join in the communion procession and song and receive communion reverently. We do not leave until we are dismissed and our recessional song is completed. Then we remain if possible to visit with other members of the community. We go forth, spiritually recharged to live our lives as followers of Christ.
The Role of Liturgical Ministers
Liturgy is made up of several elements: gathering, remembering, sharing a meal, going forth. Each of these elements requires the service of individuals, in addition to the full participation of the whole assembly, to help make them happen. Certain members of the community share their gifts by serving in specific ministries. They do so for the sake of the community and to give glory to God.
Each of us is called to contribute to our common prayer. We respond to that call by truly celebrating the mass as part of the assembly. We respond as well by discerning our gifts and offering to serve as a liturgical minister.
What are the general qualities of liturgical ministers?
First and foremost they are humble servants. They put their gifts at the disposal of others for the sake of the community and for the glory of God. They take their responsibility seriously. They know when they are scheduled and they arrive early on that day, or they find themselves a reliable replacement.
They learn how to perform their ministry, either by attending a training session or by careful study of their written instruction. They are open to positive feedback about how they perform their task, and they adapt easily when instructions change. They are eager to learn more about their ministry and willing to take part in ongoing training. They are careful in their ministry never to attract undue attention to themselves. All liturgical ministers understand their role as members of the gathered assembly. They are models of good participation and communicate an attitude of prayer throughout the liturgy.
Ministry of Preparation
Ministers of preparation are people who love liturgy and are concerned about how it unfolds. They are willing to serve from behind the scenes and may do so in two different ways.
Some serve as members of the liturgy committee. These people have an overall view of the community's prayer as well as an awareness of liturgy's fine points. Directed by the pastor, they meet with him to prepare and evaluate liturgy. They bring their own observations and the feedback from others to these meetings. They affirm what works well and make suggestions for positive change where needed. They become familiar with the resources that inform their ministry (ritual books, documents) and they read about liturgy to continue learning.
Other ministers of preparation are mass coordinators, those who coordinate each Lord's Day celebration or the weekday masses. They prepare all that is needed for the celebration of the eucharist. They perform their tasks unobtrusively and efficiently, before the assembly is gathered. They are flexible and agreeable people, who make certain all ministers for that liturgy are present, and they replace those who do not arrive on time. They clean up after liturgy, properly purifying and washing communion vessels. They attend to all the details, leaving the priest more energy to preside and preach.
Questions for each of us:
Do I have a special concern for the prayer of my community?
Do I like ritual and symbolic action?
Do I appreciate liturgy that goes smoothly?
Am I bothered when it doesn't?
Am I interested in learning more about liturgy?
Ministry of Environment
People in this ministry are creative and have a special concern about the look and feel of liturgy. In collaboration with the pastor, they make certain the worship space serves the needs of the assembly adequately. They make every effort to facilitate the people's participation, especially through inclusive seating, good lighting, and excellent sound systems. They make certain that ritual is well served with the necessary furnishings, which are in harmony with one another and with the architecture of the church. They ensure that any art in the church serves the liturgical action of the assembly, and that visual symbols, like the cross and images of saints, do not occur in multiples.
They keep clutter out of the worship space and church entrance. They attend to seasonal enhancement of the church to create an appropriate atmosphere, remembering always that “noble simplicity” has the greatest impact. They try to enhance the whole space because all of it is sacred. They are careful never to obscure the focal points of the liturgy. They make decisions with the pastor regarding any changes in the church interior. They read church documents and journals to be informed about their ministry.
Questions for each of us:
Do I feel our liturgical space serves our prayer well or do I see possibilities for improvement?
Do I have ideas about enhancing the space for the liturgical seasons?
Am I willing to learn more about liturgy and its environment?
Ministry of Hospitality
Ministers of hospitality really like people. They are outgoing and enjoy interacting with others. As greeters and ushers they know that good liturgy thrives in a climate of hospitality, and so they try to set that tone for every liturgy. They begin the work of gathering the assembly, predisposing the people to good worship by the warmth of their welcome. They are the first face of Christ people encounter when they enter the church.
Ministers of hospitality smile and greet people as soon as they walk in the door. They offer assistance when needed. They usher people directly to seats when the church is getting full. They treat everyone kindly, even those who are late. The ministers are on the look-out for strangers and ensure they are especially welcomed. Greeters remain at the door until all latecomers have been seated. Ushers seat latecomers when the liturgy of the Word will not be disturbed. They take up the collection efficiently, from front to back, and then store it in a secure place. Ushers facilitate, rather than marshal, the communion procession. They are familiar with emergency procedures and are prepared to take charge in an emergency. With the greeters, they say goodbye to people as they leave.
Questions for each of us:
Do I appreciate a warm welcome at church?
Do I enjoy meeting people?
Do I think our hospitality could be improved?
Am I willing to come early and stay late for the sake of my community?
Ministry of Proclamation of the Word
(sometimes referred to as Readers or Lectors)
Proclaimers of the Word are competent readers who love the Word of God and make it come alive in the liturgy. They know that the assembly come to the Eucharist to hear sacred scripture and to be inspired by it. They are aware that they must proclaim effectively if God's Word is to be heard and if people are to understand the homily. Above all they know it is God himself who speaks when they proclaim.
Ministers of proclamation take every opportunity to increase their knowledge of the Bible. They try to make the reading of scripture a part of their own lives. They continue learning about their ministry by attending workshops.
Proclaimers of the Word strive constantly for authenticity in their proclamation. They seek to become transparent so that we remember the Word and not the minister. They pray and prepare well so as to understand the meaning of the text for themselves. They then can proclaim it with conviction for the assembly.
They allow adequate time for people to settle before they begin reading. They read not too quickly, not too slowly, and they vary the tone of their voice to suit the text. They pace their reading, pausing at appropriate moments so that we who are listening have time to take the reading in. They emphasize the appropriate words. They make eye contact with the assembly so that the community knows this text is being proclaimed for them. Proclaimers remain at the ambo reverently and prayerfully at the end of the reading, inviting the assembly to pray with them in silence.
Questions for each of us:
Do I love the Word of God?
Do I feel elated when it is well proclaimed, and disappointed when the Word is poorly proclaimed?
Am I comfortable reading in public?
Do I have a good voice and can I read smoothly and with expression?
Would I be willing to spend at least an hour in preparation each time I proclaim?
Ministry of Reading the General Intercessions
Those who read the General Intercessions are capable readers who understand the importance of these prayers. They know the prayers are the climax of the Liturgy of the Word, flowing out of the readings, the homily, and current events.
These ministers arrive early enough to read the intercessions several times before the liturgy begins. They keep the flow of the liturgy going by moving to the ambo at the end of the Creed so they are ready to read once the priest has concluded the introduction. They help the community pray well by reading the intercessions slowly.
They state the petitions clearly, with energy and intent, so that all can hear and understand them. They make eye contact at the end of each intercession. Readers of prayers repeat the response with the people each time, especially when the response is different from the usual. They remain at the ambo reverently until the priest concludes the prayers.
Questions for each of us:
Do I appreciate the prayers of our community?
Am I disappointed when they are poorly read?
Am I comfortable reading in public?
Do I have a good voice and read smoothly?
Ministry of Altar Server
Altar servers assist in the liturgical action. They take part in the entrance procession and reverence the altar prayerfully. At times they carry objects in procession and at times they assist in the sprinkling rite or the use of incense. They walk slowly and with dignity. Altar servers honour the symbols of liturgy and carry them with care. Lovingly, they set the table for the Eucharist and clear it afterwards. They contribute to the smooth flow of the liturgy by performing their tasks efficiently, unobtrusively, and with graceful movement. They participate fully with the rest of the assembly during the liturgy, responding with the assembly in word, song, and prayer.
Questions for each of us:
Do I appreciate the efficient assistance that altar servers provide?
Do I have a special reverence for what takes place at the altar?
Am I comfortable in my body and do I move with dignity?
Ministry of Serving Communion
Ministers of communion love the eucharist. They know they are helping to distribute the most precious gift of all, the body and blood of Christ.
They approach the altar reverently during the singing of the Lamb of God. The presider or his assistant serve communion to these ministers first so that they may then distribute what they in turn have received.
Ministers of communion smile and look at the person they are serving, striving to make each individual's communion a genuine encounter with the Lord. They present the body of Christ and the cup of salvation to each person by holding it up slightly and saying: The body of Christ or The blood of Christ. They use these words and no others when they serve communion. They place the host firmly in the person's hand (or on the person's tongue) or carefully give them the cup. They wipe the rim of the cup, inside and out, and turn the cup slightly before they give it to the next person. They open the purificator to its full size, gradually using its whole surface.
Those serving the bread take time to bless children too young to receive communion and others who, although not receiving holy communion, approach for a blessing (hands crossed over their chest). When the ministers have served all in their communion line and still have bread or wine, they remain in position, ready to give their plate or cup to another minister who might need it. At the credence table they help one another to consume the wine if necessary. They return to their places unobtrusively.
Questions for each of us:
Do I love the eucharist?
Do I appreciate the way communion is served?
Am I willing to put aside my own shyness to serve my community?
The Ministry of Music
Ministers of music are competent singers and musicians. They unite us with music and song and lead us into the mystery being celebrated. Their music provides us with a dimension of prayer that goes beyond mere speech. It elevates our hearts so that we can truly worship God.
Musicians and singers know that their ministry is to facilitate the song of the assembly. Although they must perform their ministry well, they are not about performance. They are situated for effective exercise of their ministry, but their seating makes them clearly part of the assembly. Their timing is impeccable, in tune with the presider, though never upstaging his role as leader of prayer.
They unite us with music we know well. They keep our liturgy fresh by teaching us new music regularly. They choose their music carefully to reflect the readings of the day. They understand the liturgical year and know the music requirements for each season. They sing Advent songs during Advent, Christmas songs during the Christmas season, lenten music during Lent and Easter songs throughout the fifty days of Easter.
They observe the moments of silence after each reading, praying themselves about the Word that has just been proclaimed. Their cantors go to the ambo to lead the assembly in the responsorial psalm because the psalm is the Word of God just as are the readings.
They practise and prepare ahead of time, so they can participate fully in the liturgy themselves, and so that they will not be a distraction to the assembly during the liturgy.
They humbly ask for feedback on how their ministry is serving the people. They read journals about their ministry and attend workshops and conferences to continue learning about liturgy and music.
Questions for each of us:
Do I love liturgy and the music that enlivens it?
Do I have a recognized musical talent?
Do I have the time to commit to music ministry: mass every weekend, except for July and August, and a weekly rehearsal?
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