SACRISTANS

“And I will come to the altar of God, the God of my joy.” Psalm 43:4

Luke Chapter 2:7-14  – Preparations for the Passover

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?”  “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.

General Purpose of the Role         

The purpose of the role of Sacristan is to provide a high level of support to the Parish Priest and members of the Parish Team in the general running of the parish.

Main Duties

Under the general direction of the clergy, the sacristan:

• Prepares the altar for daily masses and other liturgical services, overseeing and preparing the church for use during the day ensuring the correct lighting, heating, security.
• Serves Mass and other services as required.
• Opens the church for the early morning mass. Closing and securing the church and grounds at the agreed times.
• Undertakes the overall preparation of liturgical celebrations, including all that is needed for special days such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.
• Arranges the books needed for the celebration, marking all of the divisions.
• Lays out the vestments and anything else needed for the celebration, such as cruets, chalices, ciboria, linens, oils, processional crosses, candles and torches.
• Takes care of the ringing of bells that announce the celebrations. The sacristan should ensure the observance of silence in the sacristy.
• In harmony with the pastor, also makes sure that the vestments, church furnishings, liturgical vessels and decorative objects are kept in good condition and, if necessary, sent for gilding or repair.
• Ensures that the things necessary for worship are always available. There should be a ready supply of fresh hosts and of duly authorized wine, sufficient clean purificators, corporals, hand towels, incense and coals. In this context the sacristan is responsible for making sure that those who wash the altar linens do so according to the indications of the missal and that the water for the first wash is poured down the sacrarium or to the earth. The sacristan also takes care of burning old linens and other objects that are no longer suitable for liturgical use.
• Makes sure that the sanctuary lamp has sufficient oil, that the altar cloths are changed regularly, and that the holy water stoups are clean and replenished frequently.
• The pastor may also decide to entrust other responsibilities to the sacristan. This might include coordinating others who help with the general decor of the church, such as cleaners and flower arrangers. The sacristan might also maintain the practical dealings with external agents such as funeral directors and photographers so that proper decorum is maintained at all times.
• In order to carry out these duties, the sacristan needs to have a fairly good idea of the content and norms of the principal liturgical books and an understanding of the intricacies of the liturgical calendar.

 

Prayer

“Prepare the way for the Lord”… Mark 1:3

God of Glory, your beloved Son has shown us that true worship comes from humble hearts.

Bless our brothers and sisters, who have responded to the needs of our parish

and commit themselves to your service as sacristans.

Grant that their work may be fruitful, especially all the hidden attention to detail

and thoughtful preparations made in advance

so as to smooth the path to worship pleasing in your sight.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Sources

Archdiocese of Dublin website. http://litmus.dublindiocese.ie/?s=Sacristan.

Zenit.org website. https://zenit.org/articles/a-sacristan-s-duties/

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Eucharistic ministers have a variety of names: extraordinary or special ministers, auxiliary, or lay distributors.   Technically, the Eucharistic minister is the "acolyte” who gives communion to the faithful.

Eucharistic ministry is not given as a reward in recognition of one past contribution or because someone is better than another is, rather, Eucharistic ministers are called from the community as its representative.  He/she is to be what they are. All are called to be the presence of Christ.

Eucharistic ministers accept God's call to help this assembly, the Body of Christ made visible, and to be united with Christ their Lord in Holy Communion. Everything done and said by the Eucharistic minister should help others to receive the Lord Jesus more lovingly and reverently.   We are attempting to consecrate ourselves into His Body as He has consecrated Himself into Bread for us.

The Eucharistic minister is called to exemplify the life of service and charity to which the Christian community commits itself in the celebration of the Eucharist.   We will depend on God's grace to fulfill this call.

The positive interior qualities of the Eucharistic Minister (reverence for others, prayerfulness, faith, etc.) or their regrettable absence will likewise be evident to others in the worshipping community. There must be an essential unity between our life inside and outside the liturgy. Eucharistic ministers try to witness the faithfulness of God, to live in such a way that "one's life would not make sense if God did not exist.

General Purpose of the Role

The Eucharistic Minister assists the celebrant at Mass in sharing the sacred Body and Blood of Christ; offers communion to other members of the community at Mass, or brings communion to those who are unable to attend Mass and invites each communicant, to make an act of faith in the Lord, present under the sign of bread and wine.

Main duties

• Your reverence for the persons you serve and for the sacrament will show itself in all your actions.
• When you take your position at a Communion station stand with good posture, but relaxed, without stiffness. This is not a business transaction, but a family meal, an act of personal Communion.
• Hold the plate carefully with one hand while ministering with the other.
• Hold the cup with one hand, using the other to hold the purificator with which you wipe the rim after each communicant has received. Please remember to wipe the cup thoroughly after each person receives and rotate the cup as you hand it to the next person.
• When distributing Communion, place yourselves in a position that makes you easily accessible to the people.
• An important principle for a minister of communion is DO NOT RUSH. Allow this moment its full ritual beauty. With each person, you have the opportunity to invite them to affirm their faith, especially their faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is not a ministry for efficiency experts, or for those who are unable to look another in the eye with comfort or to touch another person with ease. Nothing is more important in this ministry than the ability to focus your attention and the person to whom you are ministering. The meeting of minister and communicant is only for a moment. If you are looking down the approaching line or scanning the congregation instead of giving full attention to the person before you, half the value of the encounter will be lost. You must be able to disregard everything and everyone else in that moment, to look at the person before you with undivided attention. The look should be one of warmth and friendliness. You are greeting a brother or sister in-Christ.
• Speak to that person -- not to the air or to the bread or to the cup.   Hold up the bread or the cup and, looking the person in the eye and say, “The Body of Christ” Wait for his or her response: 'Amen.'
• If you should drop a host or spill some to the Precious Blood. DO NOT PANIC. This can happen to anyone. This is your best opportunity to communicate to the congregation what you believe about the Eucharist.
• If a host should fall to the floor, then calmly stop distributing, place your dish on the altar and reverently pick up the host. You may either consume it immediately or place it on the corporal on the altar to be taken care of after Mass. DO NOT PUT IT BACK ON THE PLATE.
• If you should spill some of the Precious Blood, once again stop distributing and reverently place your purificator over the spill on the rug to mark the spot and prevent people from stepping on it. Take another purificator from the altar or sacristy and continue your ministry. When Mass is over, clean the rug with a damp purificator.

A Prayer of Dedication

Jesus, bless these hands you have chosen as your tools.

Jesus, always keep us aware and in awe of our sacred mission.

Jesus, make us worthy of this great ministry we have humbly accepted.

Jesus, send us out into the world to distribute your love.

 

Sources

Archdiocese of Dublin website. http://litmus.dublindiocese.ie/downloads/

Diocese of Kerry website.  http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/resources-2/parish-ministries/ministers-of-the-eucharist/

Perspectives for Eucharistic Ministers.  St. Joseph the Worker Parish. New York. http://www.mikejohnpat.org/index.cfm/perspectives-for-eucharistic-ministers/

COLLECTORS

When we place our offering in the collection plate we are placing our ‘first fruits’ before the altar to be offered to God. In ancient times the offering would have been actual first fruits  – the best offerings from our crops or herds. Nowadays it is generally in the form of money and we are expected to ‘give from our abundance’.  For some, money is scarce, but everyone has something to lay before God’s altar, such as our time and our talent in the service of the church, our suffering and our hardship. The collection is a special time when we reflect on what we have been given and place our gifts and burdens, not just money, before God as an offering to Him.

As the collectors and offertory processors carry these gifts forward they represent each of us. How appropriate it is then when we see our youngest members of our faith family take part in the procession.  Who among us is more worthy than these innocent children to perform this sacred task.

General Purpose of the Role     

On Sundays and feast days the collectors ensure that the assembly is facilitated in making its monetary offering to the Lord. The collectors play their part in the liturgy by organising the collection of parishioners’ weekly gift to the parish and their gift to special collections throughout the year.  The collector’s efficiency helps prevent unnecessary delays at our Sunday Mass.

(Count and prepare the offering for lodgement)

Prayer

Loving God,

You have entrusted us with the good news of your gospel.

It is a privilege that we do not take lightly.

Thank you for equipping each one of these volunteers with gifts for ministry.

Thank you for their willingness to respond to your call to serve with gladness.

Sustain them on the days when they are tired,

give them the strength to serve your children with patience, mercy, and grace, particularly with those children who need extra patience, mercy, and grace.

And, as thy serve you, give them joy through glimpses of your Kingdom in the faces of those whom they serve.

Through Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit we pray,

Sources

Bob Knighton: The role of the collectors and offertory processors. Catholicism Pure & Simple. Posted on April 13, 2011. https://catholicismpure.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/the-role-of-the-collectors-and-offertory-processors/

Diocese of Kerry website. http://www.ballycastleparish.com/parish-organisations/church/38-collectors-at-the-sunday-mass

Rathgar Parish website. http://www.rathgarparish.ie/group_description/collectors-of-offerings/

MINISTERS OF THE WORD

DEI VERBUM #21

“The Church has always venerated the divine scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since, especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body. She has always maintained them and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing; they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and apostles.”

General purpose of the Role

A Minister of the Word proclaims the first or second reading from Sacred Scripture at Mass. This person may also lead the Prayer of the Faithful at mass.

Main duties

Pope Paul VI summarized the duties of the instituted lector in this way:

“The reader is appointed for a function proper to him, that of reading the word of God in the liturgical assembly. Accordingly, he is to proclaim the readings from sacred scripture, except for the gospel in the Mass and other sacred celebrations; he is to recite the psalm between the readings when there is no psalmist; he is to present the intentions for the general intercessions in the absence of a deacon or cantor; he is to direct the singing and the participation by the faithful; he is to instruct the faithful for the worthy reception of the sacraments. He may also, insofar as may be necessary, take care of preparing other faithful who are appointed on a temporary basis to read the scriptures in liturgical celebrations. That he may more fittingly and perfectly fulfill these functions, he is to meditate assiduously on sacred scripture. [Finally,] aware of the office he has undertaken, the reader is to make every effort and employ suitable means to acquire that increasingly warm and living love and knowledge of scripture that will make him a more perfect disciple of the Lord” (Ministeria quaedam, 5).

Proclamation of the word of God is truly a service to the Church. Readers bring the living word of God to the assembled faith community. When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people…[i]

The ministry of the word, therefore, should be treated with great dignity.

The word of God is not merely read, but proclaimed, within the liturgy. Effective proclamation involves the delivery of the message with clarity, conviction and appropriate pace. It demands the ability to evoke faith in others by demonstrating one’s own faith.

As a ministry which presupposes faith it should rouse faith in those who hear the word proclaimed.

In proclaiming the word of God, readers exercise their responsibility in mediating the presence of Christ. God speaks to the assembly through them, and, the impact of God’s message will depend significantly on their conviction, their preparation, and their delivery. The reader has responsibility for not simply reading the word, but assisting the assembly to hear the word. This will require the reader to be attentive to the assembly and careful to allow for times of pause and silence as the assembly prepares to listen and, once the reading has been proclaimed, as it takes the word of God to heart. It also requires that the diction of the reader is such that he or she can be readily understood by the assembly to whom they minister.

Preparation is the key to success and being a competent Minister of the Word is no different. By allowing ones self the time to read and reflect upon a given passage of Scripture, a minister of the Word is opening themselves and the congregation up to the message of God encapsulated within the texts.

It is essential that before proclaiming the text before a wider audience one must complete the following steps:

• Prepare it.
• Reflect over it.
• Understand it.
• Portray it.

To read and minister well, the reader should pray and reflect carefully on God’s word. He/she should do their best to develop a warm, loving and open relationship with the Scriptures.

Facial expression and eye contact are also intrinsic to the successful deliverance of a scripture passage. It is a well known fact that good, animated facial expressions along with eye contact can have a powerful effect on those present.

Projecting the Voice

• Speak Slowly – Approximately half the rate of normal speech.
• Speak Loudly – Ensure that your sound is reaching all areas within the Church.
• Speak Clearly – Avoid muttering.
• Speak directly – To all the members within the congregation.
• Breath Control – Breathing deeply can help to calm ones nerves and also to regulate their rate of speech.
• Avoid coughing – Coughing into a microphone can also be very off-putting to listeners.
• Read from the Book rather than to the Book – One should try to keep their head elevated.

 

Prayer of Blessing

 

God of love and compassion,

your Word of light, Jesus Christ,

is good news for all peoples.

 

Bless these ministers of the Word,

chosen for service in our parish

May they be faithful servants of your Word,

strong in proclaiming your wonders,

bold in announcing your peace,

and holy in their lives.

Sources

Archdiocese of Dublin website. http://litmus.dublindiocese.ie/2011/12/guidelines-for-ministers-of-the-word/

Liturgy Office of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Ministers of the Word Guidelines

Minister of the Word. Saint Joseph Parish Guidelines

Guidelines for Lectors. Archdiocese of New York

Liturgy Group Volunteer

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully”. Romans 12, 4-8 Introduction The parish Liturgy Groups takes responsibility for the organisation of all liturgical events in the parish through the year. Liturgy groups in general assist the celebrants and the liturgical assistant in the preparation of the 6pm Saturday Vigil Mass, the Family Mass (1^st Sunday monthly) and the Gospel Mass (7.30pm Sunday). The Vigil Mass Group also prepares special liturgies at Christmas and Easter such as Services of Reconciliation, Holy Week ceremonies and other spiritual activities like the Stations of the Cross, Prayer around the Cross etc. Liturgies at Gardiner Street benefit from the rich input of volunteers with training and experience in the theological, educational and spiritual fields.  Liturgy Teams consult the various liturgical resources such as the Liturgical Calendar, the Missal, Lectionaries and other helpful material.  Team members contribute to all the creative efforts of the parish for Sunday liturgy, having input to the Sunday Newsletter in the choice of music and art material. Teams also benefit from training from time to time using the resources of the Diocese (Courses with the Liturgical Commission of the Diocese) and the Jesuit Province. A key element of the liturgies at Gardiner Street is the effort to promote “full and active” participation in the liturgies.  For this reason, the “gesture” has developed great importance and the liturgical team members contribute important creative ideas for this by relating it to life and language as we experience it today. Liturgy teams liaise with the musicians, suggesting music appropriate to the themes and gestures chosen by the group.  Decoration of the Church is also important as it can contribute significantly to the liturgical impact with images, flowers, candles and texts placed around the Church on any given Sunday or occasion. Main duties

• Prepare liturgies
• Contribute with creative ideas to enrich liturgical celebrations, such as decorations and gestures related to the readings
• Liaison with music ministry
• Recruit families and children for the liturgical roles (readers etc)
• Coach children in reading and making prayers
• Welcome and host the families and children at the masses

Family Mass Group The Family Mass Liturgy Team works specially with children in the parish. They recruit families and their children for the Mass, prepare the children, coach them, support, resource and encourage them to participate especially in the reading of the Word of God and the Prayers of the Faithful.  The team also assists the priest at the Mass by accompanying the children around the altar when the Gospel is read and an interactive Homily delivered. The Family Mass Liturgy Team also welcomes and liaises with the families at the back of the Church both before and after the Family Mass.  Team members look out for the children and ensure their safety and comfort at all times when they are not being directly cared for by their parents. Prayer God teach me to steward well the talents entrusted to me. Let me not be like the one who buried his talents; show me instead how to multiply them and bless others. My whole life, may I use my creativity to glorify you and lift up your name.