Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative

Readers: Proclaimers of God's Word

Readers are called to serve the whole community by proclaiming God’s Word at Mass and other liturgical services so that all can hear and understand clearly; spoken in such a way that holds everyone's attention. To perform this sacred duty requires a desire to know God through scripture. A reader should be very familiar and comfortable with reading scripture and be  willing to practice all readings as assigned and attend formation workshops. 

• In proclaiming the Word of God, readers exercise their responsibility in the liturgical celebration. God speaks to the faithful through them, and the effectiveness of their proclamation depends on their conviction, preparation, and delivery.  (Introduction to the Order of the Mass, pg 10)
• The faithful, by hearing the readings from the sacred texts, may conceive in their hearts a sweet and living affection for Sacred Scripture. (Constitution of Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 24)
• The scriptural readings include a variety of literary forms to convey the message of salvation: ranging, for example, from narratives and the poetry of the psalms to prophetic oracles and parables, from theological expositions to apocalyptic visions.  An awareness of the literary form of a particular reading or psalm and a knowledge of the sacred author’s style enables the lector to proclaim more fully and with greater understanding the tone and content of the text. (Introduction to the Order of the Mass, pg 10)

Altar Servers

• What I tell My Altar Servers by Fr. Dwight Longnecker
• John Bechmans: Patron Saint of Altar Servers

Altar servers are a vital part of the liturgical ministry, because altar they not only perform a functional role, but more importantly, a symbolic one... and symbolism is the language of worship. Their actions in the Mass are symbolic of much more than you think and the way they serve can lead people closer to God. In short, the role of the Altar Server is to assist the Priest in the celebration of the liturgy during Mass. Some of the Altar Server responsibilities include:

• Caring for the altar candles
• Bearing the cross and candles in the entrance procession
• Assisting with holy water, water, wine and offertory gifts at Mass
• Assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary.

 All children grades 3 and up who have received their First Communion are eligible to become altar servers. If you are interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact the parish office.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

It is the responsibility of the EME's to assist the ordinary ministers (Bishop, Priest or Deacon) with the distribution of communion to the congregation during Masses and other Eucharistic celebrations. They also can be trained to bring the Eucharist to the homebound and those who reside in other healthcare facilities. To be an EME, one must be baptized and confirmed members of our faith community who have receive their First Eucharist, Confirmation, and are a person of prayer. Most importantly, you must have a love of the Eucharist. All EME's are appointed by the Pastor of the parish. 

• With large number of the faithful receiving Holy Communion, the priest celebrant may need assistance in distributing Holy Communion, so that the rite is not unduly long. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 281)
• All ministers of Holy Communion should show their greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine.
• Prayer and a love of the Eucharist are essential aspects for each minister.
• EHMC also serve the unity of the worshipping community by taking Holy Communion to those members who are prevented by sickness, old age or other cause from taking part in the congregation.
• “Since the Eucharistic Celebration is the Paschal Banquet, it is desirable that in keeping with the Lord’s command, his Body and Blood should be received as spiritual food by the faithful who are properly disposed. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 8)
• EMHC serve a parish terms of 3 years and can be renewed.

Adult Sacristans

The Sacristan is an important part of a successful Liturgy team. The Sacristan prepares the Sacred Vessels and the Altar before the Mass. Our Adult Altar servers, usually our Sacristan, serve primarily at our daily and funeral Masses.

Ushers/Sextons

Although St. John's uses the term usher, and St. Mary uses the term sextons, the responsibilities are the same. These individuals are an extremely important part of our community. They serve as the 'front line' of our liturgical celebrations, and provide the very important first impression to those entering our house of worship. It is the goal of our ushers and sextons to help maintain and improve the church-going experience for not only our regular parishioners, but those who are visitors among us.