St. Catharine of Siena Parish Information and Instructions for Lectors

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1 St. Catharine of Siena Parish Information and Instructions for Lectors November, 2013 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 Thank you for continuing or beginning the liturgical ministry of Lector! Although you may have been a Lector for many years, been recently trained or are interested in this ministry, it is asked that you read and become familiar with the following information, instructions or reminders. Once you have been trained, you will also receive the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word. If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to discuss the matter with the priest or deacon. Assignments ~ The schedule is prepared quarterly. If there are any dates you will be unavailable, notify the office as soon as possible (before the next schedule is prepared). Once you have been added to the list of active Lectors and the schedule is finalized, you will receive a list of your assignments from the Church office via . An effort will be made to place an announcement in the bulletin as well as have the announcement made at the end of masses when the next quarterly schedule is done. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have an address or access to a computer, printed copies are available in the Sacristy. The full ministry schedule is also available on the St. Catharine website: Once the schedule has been distributed, you are responsible for the Liturgies assigned to you. If you cannot make an assignment, please arrange for a substitute. Do not call the rectory to arrange a substitute for you or assume the other Lector scheduled with you will do both readings. Unfortunately, there have been masses when neither scheduled Lector shows up. Assignments for the next weekend are always listed in the Church bulletin as a reminder you are scheduled. Be sure to check the full ministry schedule if you listed a second preferred mass (or no preference at all) or signed up for a holiday or Holy Day of Obligation. Typically, a few weeks in advance, a sign-up sheet will be located in the Sacristy to volunteer for holiday and Holy Day masses.

2 Preparation ~ It is imperative that you prepare for the reading(s) before arriving at church. Use the Lector workbook (Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word), available each year shortly before the First Sunday in Advent. Go through the margin notes, which have pronunciations and delivery messages, as well as background notes for each reading at the bottom of each page. NOTE: It is good practice to review and prepare for both readings just in case the other reader is absent. For additional reference, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website ( has a section on the daily mass readings that includes both an audio and video version. This can be helpful when there are unusual names in the readings. Go to the website home page, click on the BIBLE tab, and you will be lead to the page with the readings. Attire ~ This is important! A sport coat or suit and tie for men; a dress or other church appropriate clothing for women. Remember, in ministry at the altar, you are representing not just yourself but every other person in the congregation as well. Day of Mass ~ Please arrive at the church in the Sacristy at least 15 minutes before Mass begins. Write your initials next to your name on the Liturgical Ministry Sign-In Sheet. If you are substituting for someone, cross that person s name off the list, enter your own, and write Sub next to your name. A Liturgical Minister may perform only one ministry per Holy Mass (e.g. if you are performing the function of Lector at Mass, you may not also perform the function of Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at the same Mass UNLESS there is no one else available). The Liturgical Coordinator will typically have the microphone and PA system on; confirm this has been done. Review your reading in the Lectionary. After both Lectors have reviewed their reading in the Lectionary, one should take the Lectionary, place it on the Ambo, open it to the day s reading then take your seat. FYI: The first pew on both sides of the north transept (side) is reserved for Lectors (these are the pews closest to the Ambo). Proclaiming the Word ~ The Liturgy of Word follows the Entrance, the Greeting, the Penitential Act, the Kyrie, the Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) and Collect (the Opening Prayer). Immediately after the Collect as the priest and congregation take their seats, remain standing then walk to the gate of the Sanctuary. Before going up the first step, bow to the altar then proceed to the

3 ambo. If needed, a step is available at the ambo (be sure to put the step back up when you are finished reading). Adjust the microphone as necessary. (Microphone use) The microphone system in the church is excellent if used properly. Do not be afraid of the microphone as its purpose is to amplify your voice. Do not hold papers or books between your mouth and microphone. Stand back a few inches from the microphone, positioning it so that you are speaking just over the top of it. This will usually pick up your voice without a popping of the mic. You should have practiced using the Lector Workbook to know what words to emphasize. Read slowly, clearly and distinctly; project your voice without shouting; imagine that you are speaking to the people in the last row. (Projection is louder and more forceful than ordinary conversational speaking.) Never read anything in red print in the Lectionary. When finished with your reading turn and face the altar, bow, then leave the sanctuary and take your seat. If doing both readings and a Cantor is present, rather than returning to your pew, you may sit in the seat located at the gate entrance. The Psalm is typically sung by the Cantor who will proceed to the ambo after you are finished. If there is no Cantor, you will read the Psalm. Begin by reading the Response; extend a hand gesturing the congregation to repeat after you; proceed with the Psalm extending your hand in gesture for the congregation to repeat the response after each stanza. *IMPORTANT: If you are the second lector, at the end of your reading (after saying The Word of the Lord ) and the congregation s response, close the Lectionary and put it on the shelf of the ambo. (The priest or deacon will be proclaiming the Gospel from the Book of Gospels.) PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL: When arriving in the Sacristy before mass, you will be told (or you can ask the Liturgical Minister or Priest, if needed) whether there is a Deacon. If he is there, he will pray the Prayers of the Faithful. If there is no Deacon, the 2 nd Lector (when there are two) will pray the Prayers of the Faithful. Please review these ahead of time. Check with the priest if there are any names that you are not sure how to pronounce. If (or when) you will be reading the Prayers of the Faithful begin to move to the ambo at the beginning of the last four lines of the Creed:

4 I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. The priest begins with a brief introduction. When he finishes, begin the Prayers of the Faithful; following each petition, pause purposefully before saying We pray, or We pray to the Lord (or however the petitions are written) and the people s response Lord, Hear our prayer (or whatever the response may be). After the last petition, wait for the Presider to offer and finish the concluding prayer, then take your seat. PRACTICAL HINTS for TECHNIQUE 1. Mark your practice copy (Lector Workbook); underline, use slash marks for pauses, arrows to indicate changes in volume and pitch, etc. Do not mark the Lectionary. 2. Practice aloud. Always read the readings out loud. It gives you a better feel for the readings. 3. Use the Pause. Pause before beginning. Pause before an important phrase. Pause after an important phrase. Pause between dialogues of characters. Again, there is typically guidance in the margin of the Workbook. 4. Make eye contact (or at least the illusion of eye contact by looking up). Avoid head bobbing but find points to look up at the congregation during the reading. Do not look up it if it causes you to lose your place in the readings. 5. Breathe deeply. Full lung breathing helps project the voice. Deepens the voice tone. Adds fullness and volume to the voice. Helps dispel nervousness. 6. Enunciate Clearly. Be aware of the enunciation process mouth, tongue, teeth, chin, etc. Practice with the microphone and how it responds to your voice and positioning. 7. Pronunciation. Look up correct pronunciations. Ask about names. Don t repeat minor mistakes. 8. Vary your Tone. Know the natural pitch of your voice. Practice raising/lowering to establish a good range. Raise or lower the pitch to emphasize phrases and passages. 9. Watch the tempo at which you read NOT TOO FAST! This is the most common mistake. Speed makes it difficult to understand the reader and increases the chance of vocal stumble. Do not read to slow, either you (and the congregation) will lose the thought. PRAY!!!!!! PREPARE!!!!!! PRACTICE!!!!!! PROCLAIM!!!!!

5 St. Catharine of Siena Parish Lector Information November 2013 Name: Address: City & Zip Code: Phone number(s): Mass Preference(s): Please mark all for which you are available. If selecting multiple weekend masses, please indicate your order of preference by using 1, 2, 3 etc... 5 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. Sunday 11 a.m. Sunday 5 p.m. Sunday Weekday (M-F) 8 a.m. Saturday 8 a.m. Holy Days 7 p.m.