About Liturgical Ministry
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- Hospitality Ministers
- Sacristans
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Musicians & Cantors
- Altar Servers
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Ministers of Hospitality ensure every person - baptized, Catholic, parishioner, stranger, friend, visitor, or otherwise - is welcome and has a place at the Lord's Table. They are often the first person seen when entering the church for communal prayer, they assist visitors in finding seats, and they respond to any emergency or need during worship.
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In theater, stagehands often make sure the set is prepared, all transitions are smooth, actors and actresses are positioned for success, and the production occurs as planned. But they are rarely ever seen! Sacristans are very similar. They make sure all the needed items are prepared for worship (i.e. cloths, vessels, unconsecrated bread and wine for Mass, a monstrance for adoration, incense). During worship, they are attentive to the needs of the other ministers and assist them as needed. When the liturgy is finished, they are usually the last to leave the church as they clean and store everything used. The true backbone to larger liturgies, sacristans are the behind-the-scenes, do-it-all liturgical ministers!
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Lectors are the proclaimers of God's Word, or Scripture. At Mass on Sundays, weekdays, and holy days, during Liturgy of the Hours, and at other prayer services, lectors do more than read words from fancy books. They proclaim the Word of God as it has been told for generations. Their preparation and study of a passage's origin, intention, and author pave the way for the Holy Spirit to speak to and move in us today.
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Ministers of Holy Communion serve, distribute, and protect the most imporant Sacrament: the most holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Church defines both Ordinary and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are referred to as such because of the office they hold in the Catholic Church. Bishops, priests, deacons, and those who have received the office of acolyte (mainly seminiarians preparing for ordination) are the most proper ministers of the Eucharist because they are specifically designated, formed, and trained for this ministry. Also, their authority is universal; they are able to minister in any Catholic Church throughout the world.
On occasion, there are not enough Ordinary Ministers to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ. So, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are commissioned by a parish's pastor to assist in giving Communion to the faithful, even those who are homebound. Extraordinary Ministers never replace Ordinary Ministers. This ministry requires a deep reverence and respect for the Blessed Sacrament, and Extraordinary Ministers are to encourage the same attitude among the faithful. Also unlike Ordinary Ministers, Extraordinary Ministers are only able to serve in the parish in which they are commissioned.
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Liturgical musicians are by no means the least important of ministers during Catholic liturgy. Since its beginning, the Church has used music throughout its prayer and worship. Music often sets words of sacred scripture into sung prayer, and some hymns used today have their roots in the prayer lives of saints who lived centuries ago. Unlike most other liturgical ministries, musicians must prepare their music, sometimes weeks in advance. Liturgical musicians do not perform per se; they lead the congregation in a form of prayer. As St. Augustine put it, when you sing, you pray twice!
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Altar servers are perhaps the busiest of liturgical ministers. Normally young members of our parishes, they assist the bishop, priest, and deacon when celebrating Mass. They carry the crucifix and incense during processions, help prepare the altar before the Eucharist, and hold the Roman Missal as the priest or deacon prays from it. The role of the altar server is also flexible, adapting to the needs of the specific liturgy and celebrants. Along with sacristans, altar servers help ensure the liturgy is celebrated smoothly.