Lector Manual
Thank you for your service as a lector at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church! This manual will help you understand the responsibilities and duties of a lector. Whether you are a seasoned lector or just beginning, it is important to familiarize yourself with this manual. Dress Men - Suit or sport jacket and tie is preferred. Avoid casual dress: shorts, short sleeved shirts, jeans, sandals or tennis shoes. Women - Appropriate dress or skirt (length no more than 1-2 inches above the knee) or pantsuit is preferred. Avoid casual dress: shorts, jeans, sandals, clogs or tennis shoes. Conduct As a lector, you are performing a public ministry. Always maintain a warm, friendly and welcoming demeanor. Basic Lector Instructions Lectors must invest time to prepare for their ministry; how much time is needed is entirely up to the lector. While some have years of experience, others are new to the ministry and require more preparation. Regardless, practice the reading multiple times to get the flow of the passage and master the difficult to pronounce words/names. Employ your family to listen and give constructive feedback. If you are struggling to be sufficiently prepared or you are lacking confidence please reach out to the Lector coordinator for assistance. It is important to convey the message of the reading and not just read the words on the page. This is done by using your voice as well as your body; studies show that 70% of the message you send is from your body language. By using good eye contact, speaking slowly, stressing nouns and verbs rather than prepositions, squarely planting your feet, enunciating and finishing each word rather than slurring them together, you can speak to the congregation rather than read to them. Pause a moment to gather yourself before you begin. If reading at 10:30 mass and the Children s Word group is filing out, wait until they have left before beginning. Stand with your weight balanced on both feet to avoid swaying and dancing which is very distracting. Put your hands where they are comfortable but lower on the Ambo is better than higher. It can t be stressed enough that you should read slower than what seems normal. It may feel strained, but to the congregation, it is much easier to receive. You want the congregation to hear the message. Finally, pause after you finish the reading and before you say, the Word of the Lord and avoid the tendency to rush these words. This lets the congregation know you have finished the reading. Page 2 of 9
Before Mass Begins Please arrive at least 15 minutes before mass starts and initial next to your name on the ministry list located in the gathering area of the church to signify that you are present. Ideally, sit on the same side of the church as the Ambo and within the first few pews which allows you to be close to both the Ambo and cross stand and avoid a long walk when it is your turn to read. Familiarize yourself with the reading from the Lectionary [Red Book] since the print layout is different than what is found in your lector workbook. Lector 1 should also review the petitions since people s names can sometimes prove difficult to pronounce. If unsure, please ask Father for clarification. If you find yourself solo before mass, please make every attempt to find a lector sitting in the congregation to fill the open slot. The goal is to have two lectors at mass. Always try to attend mass prepared for possibility of being asked to lector by familiarizing yourself with the readings ahead of time. Responsibilities Lector 1 Lector 2 Before: Before: - Place Lectionary on Ambo prior to mass - N/A and open to the 1 st reading During: - Ensure petitions are in Ambo slot - Carry Gospel Book (Gold Book) in - Retrieve cross procession During: - 2 nd reading - Carry cross in procession After: - 1 st reading - Return Gospel Book and Lectionary to - Reading petitions table at back of church - Carry cross in recession After: - Return cross to stand after mass Although Lector 1 (L1) normally carries the cross and Lector 2 (L2) carries the Gospel Book, the decision of who carries the cross and Gospel Book is left to the lectors. The cross is top heavy so be sure you are comfortable carrying it if that is your role. If neither lector is comfortable carrying the cross, they can recruit another parishioner (not required to be a lector) to carry the cross. In that case, the lector who is not carrying the book simply sits down and doesn t process with the presider. Five minutes before mass begins, the cross bearer should bring the Lectionary to the Ambo and open it to the 1 st reading, ensure a copy of the petitions is in the slot, position the microphone, and retrieve the cross. Processional When Father and servers move into the church, the cross bearer should position at the front of the procession, standing a couple feet before the last set of pews. The lector carrying the Gospel Book should be between the servers and Father (see Figure 1 next page). Typically the procession begins at the start of the second verse of the opening hymn; other presiders may do something else. Ask the presider if unsure. Page 3 of 9
Figure 1. Positions at beginning of mass Walk slowly! It is not a race so please don t create a big, awkward gap between you and the presider. After reaching the end of the pews, the cross bearer should move to the right side, about six feet to make room for one or two altar servers. The lector carrying the Gospel Book should move to the left (Figure 2 next page). Page 4 of 9
Figure 2. Positions after processing down the aisle Stay in this position until the presider moves to the Altar and kisses the Altar. At this point the cross bearer moves directly to the cross stand and inserts the cross while the lector carrying the Gospel Book moves to the Altar and sets the book on the Altar. Take the most direct route and do not bow in front of the Altar. It is not necessary to walk all the way around the Altar platform to get to the Ambo. Simply walk up the steps to the right of the Altar (between the Altar and Ambo). Place the Gospel Book on the Altar so the binding is to the left and the presider can simply lay it down and open it without having to turn it around. Once finished, both lectors should return to their pews. 1 st Reading Once the presider has finished the Opening Prayer, L1 should move immediately to the Ambo, again by the most direct route. If seated on the left side of the church, as you move up, bow while crossing in front of the Altar but otherwise, go straight to the Ambo. The Lectionary should already be open to the 1 st reading. Once you finish the reading, turn the page (if necessary) to the 2 nd reading and return to your pew. 2 nd Reading After the congregation has finished the Responsorial Psalm, L2 should move immediately to the Ambo. The Lectionary should already be open to the 2 nd reading. Page 5 of 9
Once finished, L2 must close the Lectionary and place it below in the shelf, so the presider can place the Gold Gospel Book on the Ambo, and return to your pew. Intercessions When the congregation reaches the last paragraph of either the Nicene or Apostle s Creed, L1 should immediately move up the steps to the Ambo (don t stop at the bottom), place the petitions on the Gospel Book and face the presider. Father begins the Prayer of the Faithful with a brief introduction and then L1 reads the petitions. When finished, remain at the Ambo but turn towards Father while he concludes the Prayers of the Faithful. When all have said AMEN, return to your place in the congregation. Recessional When the closing hymn begins, the cross bearer should move immediately to the cross stand. Don t wait for the presider to move before you move to the cross; at that point it s too late. Pick up the cross from the stand and wait until the presider moves to the Altar. After he kisses the Altar, move to the center of the aisle (Figure 3). Do not move to the aisle before the presider kisses the Altar because you will be standing there by yourself. The servers will join you in the center of the aisle. When the presider bows to the Altar, the cross bearer should turn and slowly lead the procession to the rear of church. Figure 3. Positions for the recession. Page 6 of 9
After Mass At the recessional song s conclusion, L1 should return the cross to the stand and L2 should return the Gospel Book and Lectionary to the table at the back of church. Scheduling for liturgical ministers All scheduling for the various liturgical ministries is conducted in a website which St Nicholas has a license to use. Ministry Scheduler Pro contains your personal profile including mass preferences and allows you to opt out of specific masses or time periods. Karen Sherrer, the Liturgy Committee Chairperson, manages the website and periodically prompts it to send out reminders to update your mass preferences. Once the schedule is complete, Ministry Scheduler Pro sends each lector a tailored email with their upcoming scheduled masses. If you discover that cannot perform your lector duties for a particular, the website allows you to request a substitute and it then sends an email to the lectors with that request. It is each lector s responsibility to find a replacement if unable to read at your scheduled mass. Please don t leave your lector partner with the responsibility to search for a lector just prior to mass. Links for additional information Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/index.cfm St Nicholas Ministry Schedules: http://www.stnicholasofallon.org/ministry-schedules Link to this document: http://www.stnicholasofallon.org/liturgical-opportunities-- ministries-information, in the Proclaimers (Lectors) section. Ministry Scheduler Pro: https://secure.rotundasoftware.com/l/webterminal/login/st_nicholas Page 7 of 9
Appendix Special Occasions & Mass Settings During the liturgical year, some masses require modifications to what each Lector does. Here is a list for Masses where this will occur: Lenten Sundays: During Lent the normal cross is eliminated and replaced by a wooden cross which always stays near the Altar. As such, the cross is not part of the procession, but the Gospel Book is still carried by L2. Palm Sunday: The Lectors are not in the processional. Please follow the guidance above in choosing a place to sit. Readings for L1 & L2 are at the same time as a usual mass. The additional Passion readers come from their seats during the sung Gospel acclamation. Passion Reader 1 stands at the Ambo while the Passion Reader 2 stands at the Cantor lectern. Bear in mind that the Cantor may return during the Passion so be mindful of the book you are using. At the conclusion of the Passion, L1 must move immediately to the Ambo for the petitions. The Lector s are not in the recessional. Holy Thursday: The Lectors are not in the processional. Please follow the guidance above in choosing a place to sit. Readings for L1 & L2 are at the same time as a usual mass. After the Washing of Feet, Father will introduce the petitions. L1 should immediately move to the Ambo. The Lector s are not in the recessional. Good Friday: The Lectors are not in the processional. Please follow the guidance above in choosing a place to sit. Father will say an introductory prayer before the first reading. Readings for L1 & L2 are at the same time as a usual mass. Page 8 of 9
Passion readers take turns reading the passion at the Ambo. All Passion readers need to sit together in the same pew in order of their particular readings (i.e., Passion Reader 1 sits closest to the aisle; Passion Reader 2 is next to them, etc.). During the song before the Passion, Passion Reader 1 moves from the pew and to the Ambo. After finishing, there will be music and Passion Reader 2 moves to the Ambo while Passion Reader 1 leaves the Ambo. At this point, Passion Reader 1 has the option to sit with their family or return to the pew with the other Passion readers. When Passion Reader 2 finishes, Passion Reader 3 comes up and the process continues until the Passion is completed. L1 does not do the intercessions. Lector s are not part of the recessional. Easter Vigil: The Lector s are not in the processional. Please follow the guidance above in choosing a place to sit. All Lectors need to sit together in the same pew in order of their particular readings (i.e., Lector 1 sits closest to the aisle, Lector 2 is next to them, etc. Follow along in the worship aide.). During the song before the first reading, Lector 1 comes out of the pew and moves to the Ambo. After they have finished there will be music and Lector 2 moves to the Ambo while Lector 1 leaves the Ambo. At this point, Lector 1 has the option to sit with their family or return to the pew with the other readers. When Passion Lector 2 finishes the next reader comes up and the process continues until all readings and the Passion are completed. L1 does not read the intercessions. The Lector s are not in the recessional. Easter Sunday: The intercessions are after the congregation completes the blessing of water rite. Page 9 of 9