Description of Ministry:
Lectors have the very important responsibility of bringing the word of God alive at all Masses. Whether or not you enjoy public speaking, this ministry helps you engage the scriptures each week as you prepare to help the congregation experience God in His Divine Word!
Mission/Purpose Statement:
A lector’s mission is to prayerfully proclaim the Word of God, bringing Sacred Scripture to life for the assembly with clarity and reverence.
Key Contact Person:
MaryAnne Shaw
Meeting Frequency & Location:
Scheduled Mass Times
Membership Requirements:
Being a confirmed, practicing Catholic in good standing, registered in the parish, and willing to undergo training. They must possess the ability to read aloud clearly, with dignity, and possess a deep reverence for the Word of God.
Are You Being Called to Serve?
"When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to His people, and Christ, present in His word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, the readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of the greatest importance in the Liturgy." (General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], no. 29)
What does it mean to serve as lector?
Ministers of the Word are referred to as ‘proclaimers’ to emphasize that there is more to the ministry than simply reading the scriptures aloud to the liturgical congregation. We know that God’s Word is special, so we want to share our skills that this ministry requires.
When parishioners answer the call to be a Minister of the Word, they enter a deeper relationship with the Word of God. They take upon themselves the duty and privilege of bringing the printed Word to life – making it flesh, so to speak. The ministry as a lector (or proclaimer), gives voice to God’s healing and strengthening Word as it goes forth irrevocably to the ends of the earth, achieving the purpose for which God sent it.
The purpose of this ministry:
The Lector proclaims the Scripture readings for the congregation assembled. If a deacon is not present, the lector reads the Intercessions.
Requirements
- The lector should be a parishioner of St. Bridget Parish.
- The lector must be a baptized/confirmed Catholic, fully initiated into the Catholic Church, with a desire to assist at Holy Mass.
The duties for this position:
- Proclaim the first reading from the Old Testament.
- Proclaim the second reading from the New Testament of the Bible.
- Read the intercessions if a deacon is not present.
The skills, abilities, and gifts desired to serve in this position:
The lector must practice the readings during the week. A lector should visit the USCCB website for assistance in proclaiming the Word.
- One of the ways the Lord is present at Mass in in the proclamation of Sacred Scripture. Therefore, the lector must properly pronounce and articulate the Word reverently.
- The lector should strive to be reverent in movement while proclaiming Scared Scripture.
- The lector is expected to dress appropriately while serving at Mass.
- In order to be properly prepared, the lector is expected to be present at least 15 minutes before the beginning of Mass.
Proclaiming the Word of God is a beautiful and sacred ministry. When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to His people. The proclaimer’s role is to help the assembly listen reverently to these Sacred Scriptures.
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