Readers

Ministry of the Word

Ministers of the Word are those people who serve the Liturgical gathering by proclaiming the scriptures. Proclaiming the Word is a two-way interaction which requires readers who proclaim the Word of God effectively, and attentive listeners.

Three ministers are required for each weekend liturgy – Reader 1, Reader 2 and Reader 3 who will read the introduction before Mass and the Prayers of the Faithful. Rosters for these readers are compiled in advance every six months in May and October

Requirements for effective Ministers of the Word

Readers must have:

• A love of scripture

• The ability to read the Scriptures in a manner that brings the Word alive for the Community

Ministers of the Word need to have the skills required for reading in public including

• a strong voice which can be projected clearly
• the ability to use pace, pausing, pitch and expression to give vitality and variety to their reading
  

Preparation

Readers must understand what they are reading to clearly convey the meaning of the passage. This can be done by:

• having access to the workbook Break Open the Word to assist in understanding and the pronunciation of difficult words
• reading passages several times
• practising reading aloud
  

Procedure

Readers must arrive at the church 15 minutes before Mass, report to the Mass Co-ordinator and mark off their names on the roster for that Mass. If unable to honour their commitments, they will arrange for their own replacements.

Reader 1 will enter the church in procession, behind the Cross-bearer and ahead of the priest, carrying the Lectionary aloft. On arrival at the altar, the reader will go to the rear of the altar, face the congregation, and place the Lectionary in the centre of the altar. He/she will rejoin the Priest and Altar Servers in front of the Sanctuary, bow in unison to the Altar, and then walk to his/her seat.

After the Opening Prayers, the Minister of the Word will return to the altar, raise the Lectionary towards the congregation, carry it aloft to the lectern and begin the reading with “A reading from the……” At the end of the Reading, pause for 5 seconds before concluding with the phrase “The Word of the Lord”. Wait for the congregation to respond “Thanks be to God” then return to his/her seat.

Reader 2 will wait until the end of the singing of the Psalm then walk to the lectern and begin reading. Conclude with the phrase, “The Word of the Lord”, wait for the response

“Thanks be to God” then return to his/her seat.

Reader 3 will take the black folder into the church and be at the lectern ready to begin the introduction at a signal from the Priest. Check that the microphone is on and adjust the height. At the end of the introduction, return to your seat.

Towards the end of The Profession of Faith (Creed), return to the lectern. After the Priest reads the introduction, Reader 3 will read the Intercessions, pausing for 5 seconds before the words such as “We pray to the Lord” and waiting for the response of the Congregation before reading the next Intercession. He/she will wait for the Priest to conclude with the final prayer of the Intercessions before returning to his/her seat.