The word of God, proclaimed in the sacred Scriptures, enlightens our minds and hearts. When the Scriptures are read in the liturgical assembly, God speaks to us and calls us to respond in faith and love. The ministry of the reader, then is important to the life of the Church, for the reader proclaims God’s living word.
If you are serving, look to see who you are supposed to be serving with. If you need a sub please request one as soon as possible via Ministry Scheduler Pro. If you fill that position, please make sure that you accept the sub request within Ministry Scheduler Pro and show up. You will get an email notification two weeks prior to serving and you will get a text a couple of hours before you serve to remind you.
If you are practicing a reading and you have words that are tough or are not sure how to pronounce them, there are some great apps that you can download that will read the readings correctly for you. Laudate will get you to the usccb.org website that has the option (on the right) for audio, readings. This app is free and has a lot of other great stuff in it. IMissal is another great app that will read the readings for you, however it's not free.
Remember the dress code when thinking about getting ready for Mass. If you have any questions please click on the Liturgical Dress Code to the left.
If you are reading the first reading:
Be sure to go over the responsorial psalm as well as your reading.
Also, during some of the holiday Masses (Lent) we don't do the Gloria, so be ready and know the mass. We usually have a program for those special Masses, and even though they aren't perfect, they are a very good road map of how the mass is going to go.
Arrive for Mass at least 10 minutes before so that you can go up to the ambo to make sure that the Lectionary is in the correct spot. Also, if the ribbon is on your page, please move it to the next page. This will make turning the page for the second reader easier.
Please sit on Mary's side (North wall) in the first 5 rows. This will make getting up to the front easier. Also, it is helpful if you head to stand in front of the doors toward the end of the Gloria. This gives you time to pray and breath before you read. This will also ensure that you are ready to head to the ambo without hesitation when it's time.
At the time of your reading, enter from the North side to the front, please take a moment to bow to either the altar or the tabernacle in reverence either from the floor or the platform before heading up the steps to the ambo.
The mic will not bite you! Please do not be afraid to move the mic so that it is 6 to 9 inches away from your mouth. This will insure that you will be heard.
When you read, take a moment to find what you are reading. Take a deep breath and then it's better to memorize the first part "A reading from the ...." so that you can look at the parishioners. Then take a deep breath and take your time reading in a loud clear voice. We aren't in a race. When you read a little slower it gives you time to know what word is next and you have time to pronounce the words clearly. During the reading it is perfectly acceptable to not look up until you are finished. When you get to the end of the reading, take a deep breath and look at the parishioners to say, "The Word of the Lord".
When you are finished reading look at the doors, the cantor should be standing there ready to go, if not you will be reading the response.
After you have finished reading, please turn the page (if needed) for the second reader. For shorter readings this may not be necessary. This is also another reason to make sure of what the pages look like before mass.
Return to your seat WITHOUT bowing, by way of the North side, not the center isle.
If you are reading the second reading/prayers of the faithful:
Please read the first reading instructions, I won't repeat them as most of them are the same.
Again, getting there early will give you time to go over the prayers of the faithful. If it is helpful to you, you may take them to your seat to go over. This will also give you time to double check that the correct readings are ready to go and that the ribbon is where it makes it easy to turn the page. In case the first reader forgets to turn the page.
Make sure that you head to stand in front of the doors on the last verse of the responsorial psalm, and then again in the last stanza of the profession of faith. Again, this will give you time to breath and pray before going up. It will also let us be ready to go.
When you have finished reading the reading take a second and look at the altar, Gary being there doesn't insure that he will be reading from the Gospels book. If the red Gospel book is laying on the altar, then please put the Lectionary down below. If you have not moved the prayers of the faithful, please make sure you don't bury them under the Lectionary.
If you are reading the Prayers of the Faithful, make sure that you are up at the ambo and ready to go before Father finishes.
When you are finished reading, put the prayers back in the ambo and stay where you are until Father has completed the prayers.
Again, return to your seat WITHOUT bowing, by way of the North side, not the center isle.
For all:
During the holidays, we try to send you the readings you will be doing. We will "usually" not use the Lectionary. There will be a notebook up at the ambo for you to use.
Also, if you are practicing and you have an option for a shorter reading, Father 99.9% of the time will choose the long reading. 1. Make sure to practice the long reading and 2. Ask Father before Mass to make sure. Either way you will be ready to go.
If you aren't up to date with your Safe Environment this is a requirement so please get with Lisa at safety@saintpats.net if you aren't sure or need to update.
As a group, I believe that we are extremely GREAT Lectors.
If you have ANY COMPLAINTS, they are welcomed to be heard by ME. I cannot fix it if I do not know that it is broken.
Please:
Voice your opinions to ME
Provide your email addresses and cell phone numbers to me or update them within Ministry Scheduler Pro.
Provide your Mass time preferences to me or update them within Ministry Scheduler Pro.
Provide your unavailable dates to me or update them within Ministry Scheduler Pro.
If you don’t update your email address and phone number, or do not give them to me to update, you will not receive your notices. If you do not enter into the Ministry Scheduler or give me schedule preferences and unavailable dates, you might be scheduled when you can’t serve.
Thank you for your dedicated service, you are doing such a SUPER job!
Everlasting God, When he read in the synagogue at Nazareth, your Son proclaimed the good news of salvationfor which he would give up his life. Bless these Lectors. As they proclaim your words of life, strengthen their faith that they may read with conviction and boldness, and put into practice what they read.