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Lectors

“Anyone can read Scripture in public; only a believer can proclaim them”
~ Rule of St. Benedict

Procedures for Lectors

In Preparation for Mass

  • Use the Ministry Scheduler to maintain your availability. If you become unavailable to serve at a Mass on your schedule, you are responsible for finding a substitute. Please use your ministry’s group text to ask for a substitute, then request a substitute in Ministry Scheduler.  If no one responds to the group text, please follow up with individuals to find someone to accept your role.  If you still cannot find anyone, please email Fr. Brett by Friday, so that the celebrant can be aware of the shortage.

  • Please do your best to respond to requests for substitutes – all of us will need a sub at some point!  If you do accept someone’s substitute request, please then go to Ministry Scheduler to add yourself to the schedule.

  • The Ministers of the Word will be responsible for

    • Opening Mass with a welcome (script provided)

    • Processing with the Book of the Gospels if there is no deacon

    • First and second readings

    • Prayers of the Faithful if there is no deacon

  • Please prepare to read both readings, in case there is only one Minister of the Word at Mass.

Arrival at Mass

  • Arrive 15 minutes before the start of Mass and sign in to the binder in the sacristy. Ask which priest will be the celebrant and if there is a deacon.

  • Check in with the Mass Coordinator for special instructions for today's Mass.

  • Coordinate with your fellow Minister of the Word to determine how you will split the responsibilities.  A baseline split is:

    • First person on the sign-in sheet will Process with the Book of the Gospels, read the first reading and the Prayers of the Faithful.

    • Second person on the sign-in sheet will read the Opening, and the second reading.

  • Take the notebook (with the opening welcome script, Prayers of the Faithful and announcements) to the lectern next to the altar (on the left as you face the altar) and adjust the microphone.

  • Take the book (lectionary) to the ambo, open to the correct page, and adjust the microphone.

  • The presider will pray with all those serving Mass in the sacristy approximately five minutes before Mass begins.

St. Josaphat Church is a very difficult environment in which to be heard clearly.  Please speak very slowly and enunciate so the congregation can understand you. 

Opening

  • Walk to the lectern to announce the Mass by reading the script that will include the following: a welcome, self introduction, theme, celebrant, and silence cell phone reminder. The script will conclude with an invitation to join in singing and the entrance hymn number.

 

Processing with the Book of the Gospels

  • Take the Book of the Gospels from the sacristy to the back of church to join the priest for the procession if no deacon is present. You process in immediately behind the Altar Servers. Carry the book in front of your face or just below so you can see in front of you as you walk down the aisle.

  • When you get to the step at the altar, stop and then walk around the altar to the handrail, step up to the altar, and place the book in the middle of the altar, face up. 

  • Return to your pew.

Readings

  • Before, between and following the readings, silence is desirable.

  • First reading: wait for the congregation to sit and then approach the altar, make a reverence to the altar with a simple bow of the head and then proceed to the ambo. Adjust the microphone. Make sure the book is open to the proper page.

  • If the reading is on the left page, you may move the book to the right, so the reading is under the microphone. Use your right hand to support the book.

  • When the congregation is silent, begin your proclamation of the Word.

  • When the first reading is finished, step back off the platform, wait in silence for five seconds and then return to your seat. Reverence the altar with a slight bow on your way back to your seat.

  • If you are the only Minister of the Word, after the five seconds of silence, you may sit in the pew directly behind the ambo.

Psalm -the cantor will sing the psalm. After she/he is finished and seated:

  • Second reading: stand and approach the altar, make a reverence to the altar with a simple bow of the head and then proceed to the ambo. Turn the page to the second reading, make any adjustment to the book you need, adjust the microphone, so it is directly in front of your mouth. Begin your proclamation of the Word.

  • When finished with your reading, close the lectionary and place it on the wooden railing to your left.

  • Step back off the platform and wait in silence for five seconds. Return to your pew, reverencing the altar with a slight bow.

Prayers of the Faithful 

  • If there is no deacon, read the Prayers of the Faithful.  If the deacon is present, he will read the Prayers of the Faithful, and you will skip this step.

  • When we get to the last paragraph of the creed, please stand, go to the lectern, and be ready to read the Prayers of the Faithful when the priest introduces them.

  • Read the Prayers of the Faithful, and when finished, wait. The priest will say a concluding prayer. When this is finished, return to your pew.

After Mass

  • Return the notebook from the lectern and lectionary and the Book of the Gospels from the ambo to the sacristy.