St. Mary Altar Server Guidelines
St. John Altar Server Guidelines
Proper Care and Cleansing of Altar Linens and Sacred Vessels
ATTENTION: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Liturgical Ministers are scheduled in two-month increments. All are asked to complete an availability form approximately three weeks prior to the release of the upcoming schedule. If you currently serve, we thank you for your commitment to this sacred ministry. If you are interested in serving in one of these ministers, please contact the parish office and you will be directed to someone who can assist you.
In the readings, as explained by the homily, God speaks to his people, opening up to them the mystery of redemption and salvation and offering them spiritual nourishment, and Christ himself is present in the midst of the faithful through
his word. (Introduction to the Order of Mass, page 10)
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.
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.
As a leader of congregational song, the cantor should take part in singing with the entire gathered assembly. In order to promote the singing of the liturgical assembly, the cantor’s voice should not be heard above the congregation. (Sing To The Lord, no. 38.) Cantors should lead the assembly from a place where they can be seen by all. (no. 39). There are numerous others ways to be involved in Music Ministries.
Learn More About... St. Mary Music Ministry
Learn More About... St. John Music Ministry
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.
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:
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.
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.
Greeters are yet another extremely important part of our community. It is the friendly faces and welcoming demeanor that makes people feel welcome, so we count on you to help grow our family!