To learn about the areas of liturgical ministry click on the following links or contact your parish.
Ministry of the Assembly
Every Catholic is called and challenged to be an active member of the worshipping assembly at Mass. As a result of the Second Vatican Council, active participation at Mass was determined to be the responsibility of every person who is present. This was a departure from the Mass being considered as “Father’s Mass.” Fifty years later, Catholics are becoming increasingly active in singing, responding, acclaiming, listening, and even keeping silence, at designated times during the celebration of the Eucharist. Full, active and conscious participation is the communal celebration of Mass.
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are entrusted with helping give the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, with taking communion to the sick, and with giving it as viaticum to the dying.
They are called "extraordinary" because priests and deacons are considered the "ordinary" ministers of Holy Communion. However, the assistance of lay ministers is needed at Mass so the Precious Blood can be offered to the assembly, and so the communion rite is not unduly long.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must have received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. They promise to administer the Holy Eucharist with the utmost care and reverence, and to be examples of Christian living in faith and conduct.
If you feel Christ is calling you to help serve his Body and Blood, contact your local parish. You will receive special training and be commissioned by the pastor.
Lector
The Lector’s role is to proclaim the Word of God during Sunday and also daily liturgy. When the Word is proclaimed in Church by the Lector, it is God who speaks through this person. One of the four presences of Christ, during the Eucharistic celebration, is in the proclamation of scripture at the ambo (the “table of the Word”). This ministry is open to all those who have celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation. Training is necessary, and updates are available and necessary to insure the quality of the proclamation by the Lector.
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Liturgy of the Word for Children
This is a “celebration within a celebration” in which children are led from the worship space to a place nearby, where they hear the Sunday scripture proclaimed in language that they can easily understand. The day’s readings are proclaimed by a lay presider, who is trained to lead the children through Liturgy of the Word, “in their own words.” Assistants are always needed to support this gathering. Different from catechesis or “Sunday school,” this is authentic liturgy, with the Word of God as the focus. The children are returned to the Sunday assembly during the recitation of the Creed, to take their place as members of the assembly for the remainder of Mass. The Church provides a special Lectionary for Children for this special purpose.
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Ministers of Hospitality
Those who volunteer for this ministry can serve as ushers, who direct processions, take up the collection, and find seating for those attending the liturgy. Other can claim a ministry in the role of greeters. These volunteers welcome those who come to Mass, making them feel comfortable and attending to any needs that they may have. Welcome and hospitality are important whenever people come together to do something in common. Training is available through the parish or the diocese. These ministries are usually separate from each other.
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Altar Servers
Altar Servers assist the celebrant of the Mass, in a ministry that is most conspicuous. Servers bear the processional cross, the candles, and generally serve the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist. Most pastors determine the entry-age for altar servers; the server may be male or female. Adults and children may serve together. Training for servers is usually accomplished within the parish, so the altar server becomes familiar with the worship space and the sanctuary. The altar server should be trained in reverence, ritual movement, and in understanding of the Mass, All servers should have received their first Communion to be considered. Besides Sunday Mass, altar servers can assist with parish funerals and weddings.
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Music Ministers
The role of CANTOR is that of “animator of the assembly at worship.” Today, the cantor is called to facilitate the assembly’s song during the celebration of the Eucharist, and at other liturgies where an assembly celebrates (i.e. parish reconciliation services, parish funerals and weddings). The first role of the cantor is that of psalmist—as required by the rite, although another (more skilled) cantor may serve as psalmist if the music director determines. The role of the cantor as song leader is one of leading the assembly where needed, while the role of cantor as psalmist requires more musical skill and training. Training for both types of ministry can occur at the parish, diocesan, and also national (NPM) level.
ACCOMPANISTS and INSTRUMENTALISTS are always welcomed to the music ministry. The parish music director can determine which instruments play when, and add more or less instrumentation depending on the liturgical season and its demands. Piano and organ accompaniment is indispensible, and guitar, percussion, brass and wind instruments are also welcomed. One goal of music ministry is to provide culturally appropriate musical support for worship.
CHOIR MEMBERS are integral to a parish music ministry. Many parishes have opportunities to serve in choir ministry for adults, teens, and youth.
MUSIC ENSEMBLES are groupings of similar instruments. See if your parish has a specialized choir, i.e. flute choir, brass choir, string choir. Many parishes welcome instrumentalists who can play together as an ensemble, too (ex. guitar groups w/percussion instruments and several vocalists).
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Ministers of the Environment
Members of Art and Environment Committees are dedicated to their craft of adorning the church so that those who enter are drawn to the Sacred. Their ministry is to prepare the environment for liturgy, and this becomes a labor of love to reflect God’s mysteries. Their task includes creating and maintaining the worship space and the “thresholds” that welcome and support the rituals that are enacted within the church. This ministry welcomes designers, artists, floral arrangers, those who sew and grow (plants, flowers) and those who clean, iron, polish, and order supplies.
The ministry of SACRISTAN is specialized for those willing to be responsible for the care and maintenance of the sacristy, and its contents. This ministry communicates many images of God to the people in the parish or community. Training can come from within the parish, and the diocese can provide support and resources.
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The Book of Blessings provides special blessing and commissioning for those who assume these special ministries that serve the liturgy.