Mass Coordinator

Each Mass has a Mass coordinator, who arrives early to set up, stays late to clean up, makes sure all the assigned ministers have arrived (and finds volunteers to fill in any open slots), and makes sure everyone knows their job. Coordinators usually have some experience in other liturgical ministries before they become coordinators.​

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Greeters and Ushers

Greeters and Ushers are some of the most important of our ministries because these are the first people that newcomers and visitors to our parish meet. They offer a warm welcome to all those who enter our church. As with all our ministries, they are scheduled at the Mass of their choosing approximately once a month.
Greeters: Greeters arrive approximately 15 minutes before Mass begins, and stand at one of the church doors, saying hello and welcoming everyone who enters. Once Mass begins, the job is done! This ministry is open to all ages; entire families can greet together (it’s a great way to introduce children to service).
Ushers: Ushers also greet parishioners as they arrive; they also find a family to bring up the gifts, take up the collection, and direct the communion procession. Ushers are the people who answer questions, assist visitors looking for a restroom, and help people to find seats. This ministry is open to all adults, and young people middle school and up.

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Altar Servers

One of the vital ministries at Mass is that of the Altar Server.  We are very appreciative of our young people who participate in this ministry.  It is an area where we are in great need of more participants.  We will be sending home an invitation with all our Faith Formation students in grades three-eight in the coming weeks.  For everyone’s knowledge, the following guidelines were prepared by the Committee on the Liturgy and presented to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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1. Although institution into the ministry of acolyte is reserved to lay men (usually in seminary formation), the diocesan bishop may permit the liturgical functions of the instituted acolyte to be carried out by altar servers, men and women, boys and girls. 

2. No distinction should be made between the functions carried out in the sanctuary by men and boys and those carried out by women and girls. The term "altar boys" should be replaced by "servers". The term "server" should be used for those who carry out this function.

3. Servers should be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. They should have already received holy communion for the first time and normally receive the eucharist whenever they participate in the liturgy. 

4. Servers should receive proper formation before they begin to function. The formation should include instruction on the Mass and its parts and their meaning, the various objects used in the liturgy (their names and use), and the various functions of the server during the Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Servers should also receive appropriate guidance on maintaining proper decorum and attire when serving Mass and other functions.

5. Since the role of server is integral to the normal celebration of the Mass, at least one server should assist the priest. On Sundays and other more important occasions, two or more servers should be employed to carry out the various functions normally entrusted to these ministers.

6. Altar servers wear the alb. All servers should wear the same liturgical vesture.

7. Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary.

8. Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. They also join in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy.

9. Servers should be seated in a place from which they can easily assist the priest celebrant and deacon. The place next to the priest is normally reserved for the deacon.

10. Servers may not distribute holy communion unless they have been mandated for this function by the bishop.

 

Lectors (Readers)

In the readings, the table of God’s Word is spread before the faithful, and the treasures of the Bible are opened to them. Thus, it is preferable that the arrangement of the biblical readings be maintained, for by them the unity of both Testaments and of salvation history is brought out. Nor is it lawful to replace the readings and Responsorial Psalm, which contain the Word of God, with other, non-biblical texts.

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In the celebration of the Mass with the people, the readings are always read from the ambo.

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The function of proclaiming the readings is by tradition not presidential but ministerial. Therefore, the readings are to be read by a reader, but the Gospel by the Deacon or, in his absence, by another Priest. If, however, a Deacon or another Priest is not present, the Priest Celebrant himself should read the Gospel, and moreover, if no other suitable reader is present, the Priest Celebrant should also proclaim the other readings as well.

 

After each reading, whoever reads it pronounces the acclamation, and by means of the reply the assembled people give honor to the Word of God that they have received in faith and with gratitude. 

 

The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Universal Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings.  

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The reader reads from the ambo the readings that precede the Gospel. In the absence of a psalmist (organist and cantor), the reader may also proclaim the Responsorial Psalm after the First Reading.

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In the absence of a Deacon, the reader, after the introduction by the Priest, may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer from the ambo.

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​Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.  When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., the faithful who have been duly commissioned for this purpose. In a rare case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162)."

 

As the Lamb of God is begun, the Bishop or priest alone, or with the assistance of the deacon, and if necessary of concelebrating priests, breaks the eucharistic bread. Other empty ciboria or patens are then brought to the altar if this is necessary. The deacon or priest places the consecrated bread in several ciboria or patens, if necessary, as required for the distribution of Holy Communion. If it is not possible to accomplish this distribution in a reasonable time, the celebrant may call upon the assistance of other deacons or concelebrating priests.

 

If extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are required by pastoral need, they should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion. They should have made their way into the sanctuary, but not at the altar with the priest.  After the priest has concluded his own Communion, he distributes Communion to the extraordinary ministers, assisted by the deacon, and then hands the sacred vessels to them for distribution of Holy Communion to the people.  Only an Ordinary Minister removes the vessels from the altar.

 

All receive Holy Communion in the manner described by the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, whether priest concelebrants (cf. GIRM, nos. 159, 242, 243, 246), deacons (cf. GIRM, nos. 182, 244, 246), or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (cf. GIRM, no. 284). Neither deacons nor lay ministers may ever receive Holy Communion in the manner of a concelebrating priest. The practice of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion waiting to receive Holy Communion until after the distribution of Holy Communion is not in accord with liturgical law. 

(NDRHC, 39; GIRM, 160).

 

After all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have received the Eucharist, the bishop or priest celebrant reverently hands vessels containing the Body or the Blood of the Lord to the deacons or extraordinary ministers who will assist with the distribution of Holy Communion. The deacon may assist the priest in handing the vessels containing the Body and Blood of the Lord to the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. (NDRHC, 40).

 

The proper and only permissible form for distributing Holy Communion is to offer the consecrated bread by saying, "The Body of Christ" and to offer the consecrated wine by saying, "The Blood of Christ." No other words or names should be added; and the formula should not be edited in any way. (Cf. GIRM, 161; 284-287).  Additionally, there is no other acceptable or permissible response to receiving communion than “Amen”.  Other words or phrases that have been “taught” by various groups has never been the permitted response.

 

As for the removal from and reposing into the Tabernacle of the Eucharist, only an Ordinary Minister (bishop, priest, deacon) is permitted to do so.  On rare occasions, a lay minister may be deputized to perform this function.

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Ministers to the Homebound

We have reinstated the Homebound Eucharist Ministry and are in need of a few more volunteers.  If you are a Eucharistic Minister and are interested in taking communion to the homebound, please contact Kay McCarthy at 330-533-4982.  Please note: Anyone who takes communion into people’s homes or into nursing homes/assisted living facilities must be in compliance with the Diocesan Safe Environment Policy before beginning your ministry.  You will need to read the Diocesan policy and sign an acknowledgement, complete an online VIRTUS training, and submit your fingerprints for a background check. For more information on this policy, please call the parish office.

 

If you think you are being called to any of these ministries, please contact the parish office.

Phone: 330-533-6839, or Maxine Gordon  mgordon@saintmichaelparish.net