The Liturgical Ministries

10-15-2017Weekly ReflectionMatt Henry, Director of Music & Liturgy

A few weeks ago, I highlighted the roles that the congregation participate in as part of the liturgy (service of God and each other). I want to thank everyone who has accepted the challenge of increasing the efficacy of our Masses! I have felt the increased focus and participation. Your prayerful silence and your joyful exclamations have made an impact on my experience at the Mass…and I am grateful to you for that!

What if God is calling you to go beyond the expectations of “normal” participation in the liturgy? (I use the word normal in quotes, because there is nothing ordinary or normal about real participation in the Mass!) Today I would like to highlight the various liturgical ministries and offer you an invitation to participate even more deeply in the service of the Mass.

Option 1: The Priest – There are few greater callings in life than to be the pastor and shepherd of the flock. He offers the sacrifice of the Mass in the person of Christ and consecrates the bread and wine, and through transubstantiation changes it into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord. Lay persons may not serve in this capacity, but we can pray for our children to be open to this great calling and encourage our youth to be open to God’s vocations for them.

Option 2: The Deacon – Lay men may be called to serve the Church as a deacon. There is a lengthy process of discernment and education in preparation for this vocation (6 years). He proclaims the Gospel, sometimes preaches God’s word through homilies, announces the intentions in the Universal Prayer, ministers to the Priest, prepares the altar, distributes the Eucharist, and gives instructions regarding the people’s gestures and postures. The deacon oversees the Mass as the priest’s “right hand man.” Deacons sometimes preside at weddings, funerals, and often at baptisms.

Option 3: The Altar Server – When parents baptize their children, they promise to nurture and grow the Catholic faith of their children. Serving at the altar is a great way to deepen a child’s faith. They learn to actively participate in the Mass and witness the greatness of the liturgy from the sanctuary (elevated place where the altar and ambo are placed). Serving at the altar often encourages or supports vocations for young boys to the priesthood. Altar servers help light the candles, carry the torches and the crucifix, hold books for the priest, ring bells, and assist the deacon in preparing and clearing the altar. Altar servers report for Mass approximately 20-30 minutes prior to the service. Special training is required.

If interested, contact John Wold: johncwold@gmail.com

Option 4: The Lector – Lectors are responsible for the proclamation of God’s Word in the scripture. The presentation of the sacred scripture at Mass should be a powerful experience, as it is God speaking directly to us through the lector and the deacon (and the cantor or choir during the psalm, if sung). Lectors work diligently to practice proclaiming God’s word with confidence, with feeling, and correct pronunciation. Good lectors spend time in prayer and study of scripture to understand the context of the reading and communicate that to the congregation. Those drawn to poetry, literature, and the spoken word can be great lectors. Those with experience in public speaking, teaching, giving presentations, and theater can make great lectors. Lectors report to Mass at least 15 minutes prior to service. Lector training is required.

If interested, contact Chuck Wold: chuck@askwold.com

Option 5: The Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist – “EM’s” help distribute Christ to the faithful in Holy Communion. The priest and the deacon are the “ordinary ministers,” meaning they are primarily responsible for distributing communion whenever possible. Extra-ordinary ministers assist the deacon and priest when it is necessary (at Masses with too large a number of people to be taken care of by the priest and deacon alone). They carefully guard and protect the sanctity of the consecrated host and wine. During communion, if a host (or any part of a host) is dropped or falls, they retrieve it and consume it. Any Precious Blood that spills is carefully soaked up in the altar cloths and disposed of in the sacrarium (a special sink that goes directly into the ground, not the sewage system). Those with great reverence and appreciation of the sacrament of Holy Eucharist may be called to serve as extraordinary ministers. EM’s report to Mass at least 15 minutes prior to service.

If interested, contact John Rupp: john.r.rupp@boeing.com

Option 6: The Ministry of Hospitality (Ushers) – Ushers are the organizational force of the Mass. They welcome and keep count of those who attend each Mass. They guide them towards seats and gather and protect the offertory collections. They patrol the pews, looking for people in medical distress and those who need an EM to come to them. They provide bulletins as you leave, ensuring that all members of the parish have the valuable information and the announcements that the bulletin provides. (Thanks, Christi Deg!) The ushers are a huge reason that a Mass runs smoothly.

If interested, contact Gene Lutz: geneandpatti@gmail.com

Option 7: The Ambassadors – The ambassadors make themselves available in the narthex (entrance) of the Church before and after Mass. They are the welcoming committee. They are fonts of information for visitors and newcomers to the parish. They make connections with parishioners, have conversations, and even call to follow up with those they meet to express Christ’s invitation for all to come and worship here.

If interested, contact Karen Wilson: CorpusChristiAmbassador@gmail.com

Option 8: The Music Ministry – The music ministry strives to invite and lead the congregation in full worship through songs. The songs chosen are often directly related to reinforce the scriptural readings of the week, or to draw attention to the offertory, preparation of the altar, or Eucharist. The singers in the choir are not performers or rock stars, but representatives of the congregation in support of the singing of the whole congregation. Sometimes anthems or meditative hymns can feature a cantor or choir without the congregation, the purpose being to allow the congregation to meditate on the text and focus on personal prayer. Choirs consist of strong singers, strong readers, and regular folk. The best choirs are made up of a mix of all people, representative of the community.

If interested, contact Matt Henry: matthew.henry@corpuschristiphx.org

Additional ministries serve the liturgy, but do so in-between Masses. These ministries are vital to the liturgy in maintaining the sanctity of the sacred space and the items used during the Mass.

Option 9: Art & Environment – The Art and Environment ministry glorifies and praises God and enhances our spiritual experiences through design and decoration of the Church. They make it a place fitting for worship of God and communicate beauty, which can elevate the soul to Heaven. They are most active during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. The ministry also ensures that our Church has a liturgically correct, reverent, and prayerful environment throughout the year. Their goal is to create a space worthy of God and to help our community experience their connection with God and one another in a sacred space.

If interested, contact Debbie Lambert: debbielambert129@gmail.com

Option 10: The Altar Guild (Linens or Sanctuary) **this ministry is in great need of support**

Altar Linens – We hope to have 12 people who could each take 1 month on duty. They get the linens at the beginning of the week and take them home to launder, fold, and iron. The nice thing about this ministry is that you can do it at your convenience during the week from home. It is a blessing to help set the table for our Lord’s banquet!

Sanctuary Cleaning - There are 4 teams that each take a Saturday morning every month. They work from 9-10 am after the daily Mass. They tidy up the Church: vacuuming, dusting, re-setting books in the pews. This ministry helps maintain the Church as a sacred and reverent space. If cleaning is a joyful or therapeutic activity for you, imagine how great it would be in service to God and His Church!

If interested, contact Matt Henry at matthew.henry@corpuschristiphx.org.

It is truly a blessing to serve God, His Church, and Corpus Christi! Whether you serve Him through your “normal” participation in the Mass, or through one or more of the ministerial groups mentioned above, thank you for your efforts in praising God and serving God and neighbor in the liturgy!

A special thank you to the over 250 current liturgical ministers who have answered God’s calling to serve and worship Him through their ministries.

Thanks also to the ministerial leaders, Mass captains, schedulers, and sacristans who give extra time and effort to help coordinate the ministries! Thank you for being open to and answering God’s calling for you!