Serving the priest at the altar during Holy Mass is a privilege that helps build mental and physical discipline, and the virtues of piety towards God and reverence for the sacred. Serving at the altar teaches the mental discipline necessary to remain attentive and focused at Mass, and the need to anticipate the priest’s actions during the sacred liturgy; serving also develops the physical discipline necessary to maintain the proper reverent postures and gestures, and coordinated action with other servers. Good serving is more than simply following rules; it is a sacred duty, done for the worship of God and in service to His priests and the people of God. Servers prepare the credence table before Mass, light the altar candles, and prepare the thurible (censer) if incense is to be used. During the sacred liturgy of the Mass, servers bear the cross and processional candles, carry the incense and thurible, present the altar bread, wine, and water to the priest at the offertory during the preparation of the gifts, wash the hands of the priest, and assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. After Mass, servers extinguish the altar candles, and clear the credence table.Candidates should be fully initiated Christians, baptised and confirmed.
Readers
Lectors have the privilege of proclaiming the divinely-inspired Word of God during Holy Mass. They do not simply read -- they proclaim Sacred Scripture for the glory of God with reverence and clarity to the people of God assembled for the sacred liturgy. At Mass, lectors proclaim the First Reading, the Responsorial Psalm when the psalm is not sung by the choir, and the Second Reading when there is one. To proclaim the sacred Word of God well requires practice, and prayerful meditation on the sacred texts beforehand. In addition, in the absence of a deacon, the lector will read the general intercessions at the appointed time.
Choir
From time immemorial, sacred music has been an important and integral part of the worship of Almighty God. Sacred music, “being a complementary part of the solemn liturgy, participates in the general scope of the liturgy, which is the glory of God and the sanctification and edification of the faithful.” (Pope St. Pius X) Singing in the choir provides an opportunity to develop and place one’s God-given musical gifts at the service of the sacred liturgy by leading the congregation in singing the parts of the Mass and the responses of the faithful that are proper to their participation in the Mass. The choir leads the congregation in singing the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, the Responsorial Psalm, the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei, and other responses that form part of the faithful’s participation in the sacred liturgy. Through their singing of sacred music, the choir helps to give glory to God in the sacred liturgy.
If you wish to consider any of these ministries, please contact the Good Shepherd and Holy Family Parish Office 603-752-2880.