St. Vincent de Paul Cathlic Church Daily Mass Lectr Guidelines As f July 20, 2013
Liturgical Minister Rle f Lectr at Daily Mass in Chapel Prclaim and cnvey Gd s hly Wrd as messengers sharing and serving in the wrk f the Lrd s Spirit s that the Wrd challenges, cnfrnts, and captures the hearts f His peple s all will understand. Prir t Mass Preparatin Prir t Mass (suggested tw days befre yur assigned schedule Mass), prepare t prclaim Gd s Wrd. Spiritual Preparatin Prepare yurself t receive Gd s graces and perhaps recite a Lectr prayer r read a scripture. Spiritual preparatin invlves understanding the text and reflectin n its message. The Lectr prayer is n the crkbard in the sacristy. This is a great link t help understand the scripture f the day: http://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/o1295r/ Review Readings Read and pray ver the text that yu will prclaim. Acquaint yurself with the scriptures. Let the wrds, images, and phrases sink in. Daily Readings can be fund at http://www.usccb.rg/nab/ Practical effrt f lectring invlves mastering difficult wrds, learning the right prnunciatins and practicing the delivery f the text alud. Delivery f the Text Vice Variety - A Well -Trained Tngue ; by: Aelred R. Rsser. Cpy available stred in the sacristy. Meldy - Mvement f the pitch frm ne level t anther. There is a meldy in every text. Yu must allw the sense and feeling f the passage guide yu. Try reading this example: 1 Crinthians 13:3-7 which has a petic feel. Rate - Maintain a varied rhythm t eliminate a steady beat. By ding this, it helps t keep yur audience attentive and allw them t remain fcused n the reading. Try this example: 1 Crinthians 13:11-13. Prclaim at a slwer rate, s the assembly has time t fcus n it.; If prclaimed t quickly, it will be ver befre the listeners have time t fcus n the reading. Pause - Use 1 t 3 secnds f silence this allws the Lectr t emphasize part f a text either that which has just been prclaimed r what is t cme next. D nt be afraid f the vid r silence. Try this example: Isaiah 55:1 3; withut pausing, the text n this reading culd sund like a jumble f thughts and difficult t fllw. Articulatin Clarity by prnuncing wrds clearly and crisply. Try this example: Example: 1 Crinthians 15:45-50; this reading has wrds that repeat themselves r wrds that sund similar within a sentence. It is especially imprtant t be very crisp when prclaiming a reading f this type. 2
Prnunciatin - Crrect way t sund ut a given wrd. Try using this web site: http://netministries.rg/bbasics/bbasics.html. Lectr Guide t Biblical Prnunciatins is lcated in the sacristy. Vlume - Prjectin and pitch - As a Lectr, yu are sending verbal signals when prclaiming the Wrd and yu need t be attentive t the assembly s bdy language and utside nises (A/C unit). The Chapel has n micrphne and yu must speak ludly thrughut yur entire reading. Public Speaking Anxiety If yu are at first afraid f speaking at the amb t prclaim the Wrd f ur Lrd, try practicing alud. Practice creates cnfidence. Arrival Time Arrive at Mass 15 minutes early, this allws yu time t review yur readings. This is nt an ptin, but a requirement. This will allw yu t get spiritually and mentally ready t serve in yur rle. Read ne f the Lectr prayers befre Mass starts. Upn arrival, please check ff yur name n the schedule lcated n the bulletin bard in the sacristy. If yu are substituting fr anther Lectr Minister, please place yur name next t their name. Be Prepared t Serve Always All Lectrs, we wuld like t ask each f yu t get in the habit f reading and preparing t prclaim the Wrd fr Mass, even if yu are nt the Lectr fr the day. On thse rare ccasins the Lectr is nt present, any Lectr at Mass shuld be prepared t prclaim the Wrd. Sme Daily Mass ministers wh serve as an EMHC and a lectr may have t d bth the Lectr and Cmmunin Minister Rles if there are n ther Lectr Ministers in the chapel. We recgnize that emergencies d happen, yet it is yur rle t find a sub. If yu cannt, please email r call the Daily Mass ministry lead. Lectr Reserved Seat Sign The Lectr reserved seat sign is lcated in the sacristy. G place the Lectr reserved seat sign and yur persnal belngings n the chair in the chapel that yu wuld like t sit n, s ther individuals will nt sit n the seat fr the Lectr rle. D nt expect the Daily Eucharist LS t d this fr yu. It is the Lectr s respnsibility. Lcatin t Sit in Assembly Sit in the assembly in a lcatin that gives yu an easy access t the amb, and cme frward frm there t prclaim the readings, preferably n the right side f the chapel. ORDO Prir t yur day t read the readings, review the ORDO (The Order f Prayer in the Liturgy f the Hurs and Celebratin f the Eucharist) bk t determine if there are any ther suggested readings identified fr yur day. 3
The ORDO is the cmpliance with the general nrms fr the liturgical year and the calendar. It includes all the liturgical calendar infrmatin including clrs, seasns, feasts, slemnities, memrials, and ptinal memrials. All readings and alternative readings listed fr every day f the week. The ORDO bk is lcated in the sacristy. This date will vary each year because f Advent. Review the Lectinary bk t identify if they are the same readings frm the ORDO bk. Ninety eight percent (98%) f the time, they will be the same. Hwever n ccasin, the ORDO bk will identify alternate readings. If n yur scheduled date the ORDO bk lists an alternate reading, please cntact the priest serving that Mass t determine which reading t prclaim. G t the sacristy & review yur readings with the Lectinary bk t make sure it is what yu prepared. The Weekday Lectinary bk differs fr Cycle 1 and cycle 2: Fr an dd year, cycle 1 Lectinary bk is used. Fr an even year, cycle 2 the Lectinary bk is used. Fr Liturgical year 2010-2011, it will be cycle 1 and will begin n Nvember 28, 2010 and cntinues till Nvember 25, 2011. Fr Liturgical year 2011-2012, Cycle 2 it will begin n Nvember 28,2011 and cntinue till December 1, 2012. The new liturgical year fr the church begins with the Advent weekend. Example: 2011 cycle 1, 2012 cycle 2 Mass Preparatin Each Day Assigned Lectr n Schedule Yu will always need t place the Lectinary bk n the amb in the chapel. Turn the Lectinary bk t the apprpriate page readings fr the day s yu will be prepared fr yur reading when yu apprach the amb The Lectinary bk is stred in the sacristy in the cabinet abve the sinks r n the cuntertp. D nt expect the Daily Eucharist LS t d this fr yu. It is the Lectr s respnsibility. Yu will always need t place Mass intentin piece f paper n tp f the amb in the chapel. Place the paper t the left f the Lectinary s the priest can read the mass intentin name after the hmily. Mass Intentin paper usually pinned t crk bard in sacristy r the Mass Intentin Paper fr the week might be placed n the amb. It is usually fr Mnday mrning mass that yu may need t get a bulletin and cut ut this sectin frm it. It is recmmended t place the Mass Intentin Paper in a plastic sleeve (t keep it neat thrugh the week r nt blw away with the air flw in the Chapel). During the Mass 4
Appraching the amb t prclaim the Liturgy f the Wrd The amb is the symbl f the presence f the Wrd f Gd. Apprach the amb slwly and with reverence. Be sensitive f yur bdy language, as yu apprach the amb, while yu are standing prclaiming the Wrd at the amb, and as yu depart frm the amb. As yu cme frward and depart frm the amb, please bw t the altar. Smetimes, peple walk in while yu are abut t prclaim the Wrd. If yu have nt started yur reading, it is wise t pause very slightly allwing them an pprtunity t take a seat. Prclaiming the Wrd As a Lectr, yu becme the muthpiece f Gd. The Lectr s vice needs t carry Gd s vice and cmmunicate Gd s divine message t the assembly. Pause and d nt rush thrugh the reading It helps t take a deep breath and while lking at the cngregatin lk up frm the Lectinary Bk and then prclaim in a strng clear vice A reading frm the Bk f Pause As yu read, yu might want t fllw the text with yur fingers t help keep yur place as yu read especially since yu need t make eye cntact with the cngregatin. After cmpleting the reading, the Lectr pauses fr a mment and then says The Wrd f the Lrd. Pause Let the reading resnate in the listeners. The brief als brings a sense f slemnity and reverence t the reading befre prceeding t the respnsrial psalm. Respnsrial Psalm Recite alud, the psalm (Example Taste and see the gdness f the Lrd.) If there are tw respnsrial psalm phrases and ne is simply the wrd Alleluia, DO NOT us this chice as an ptin. Select instead the alternative psalm respnse, such as Taste and see the gdness f the Lrd. Then raise yur arm and repeat the psalm with the assembly. Please DO NOT say, Tday s respnsrial phrase is READ THE PHRASE ONLY. Read the phrase, at the end f each phrase, yu raise yur arm and repeat the psalm with the assembly. Remember the assembly des nt have the phrase in frnt f them, s they d nt knw the phrase unless yu repeat it lud and clear with them. Yu are their guide. 5
After reading the psalm, pause fr a mment and then Mve the clred ribbn t the Gspel reading nly if Gspel Acclamatin is n the same page as the Gspel reading. If the Gspel Acclamatin is the bttm right side f the page f the Lectinary bk and the Gspel reading is n the next page, as yu flip the page, please d nt turn the page; the priest will need t sing the Gspel Acclamatin, and then he will mve the clred ribbn t the next page, s he can prclaim the Gspel reading. Leaving the Amb Bw t the altar. G back t yur sit in the assembly. Be sensitive f yur bdy language, as yu depart frm the amb. After Mass Return Items t Sacristy Return Lectr Reserved Seat Sign t the flder in the sacristy. Remve the Lectinary bk frm the amb and take t the sacristy. Place Lectinary bk n the cabinet abve the sink. The Lectr may leave the Mass intentin paper frm the amb. Miscellaneus Items Dress Attire Dress apprpriately t each Mass - yu are the representative f the Church. Backup Cverage If scheduled t serve n a particular day and realize yu are unavailable t d s, it is yur respnsibility t find yur substitute. D nt rely n the Ministry Lead t find ne fr yu. If yu cannt find smene tw days befre the scheduled mass, call the Ministry Lead n cell r hme phne. If pssible, please update the Daily Mass Schedule psted in the sacristy with yur replacement. This helps ur priest and ther ministers knw wh is suppsed t be serving fr the Mass. Minister wh are backing up, please check ff yur name n the schedule lcated n the bulletin bard at the sacristy when yu arrive befre Mass starts. 6