Liturgical Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers
When you serve as a Eucharistic Minister, you increase your respect and reverence for the Eucharist under both species and participate in the full ritual beauty of ministering communion to your fellow parishioners.
To become a Eucharistic Minister at St. Paul’s NYC:
- Be a registered parishioner
- Attend a training session
- Are willing to receive the Eucharist in both species
- Are available at least once a month
- Arrive early and sign in before your assigned mass
- Arrange for a substitute from the Eucharist Minister list if you are unable to honor your scheduled commitment
From “The Communion Rite at Sunday Mass” by Gabe Huck:
“Christ’s body and blood are bound up in creation, in fruitfulness, in human work, in communal rejoicing, in redemption. Wine nourishes our thirsty spirits. It is spiritual drink. By taking the cup, we express the deepest fellowship with the Lord Jesus even in the sharing of his death. Such diverse things – the delight of fellowship, the communion in his death. The cup, shared among us beings these together.
Lectors
The Lector is the minister who proclaims the first two readings of the liturgy. God speaks through our lectors to bring the printed word to life for those assembled. In doing this a lector enters into a deeper relationship with the Word of God as revealed in sacred scripture.
A Lector at Saint Paul the Apostle is:
- An adult or teen registered parishioner
- A person with deep respect for the word of God
- A person able to proclaim the word of God with confidence, poise, and
clear articulation. - After completing a training session, Lectors are asked each month for their availability via e-mail and are generally assigned to one mass a month. There is an expectation that you will arrive a half hour early at your assigned mass to go over the particulars of the liturgy of the day. Additionally, we meet once a year as a group to review procedures and techniques.
Altar Servers
Mass servers are welcome members of the liturgy’s “team,” along with greeters, musicians, presider, lectors and Eucharistic ministers. All registered parishioners in 4th grade or older, including teens and adults are welcome to serve at St. Paul the Apostle.
Altar Servers must have received their first reconciliation and Holy Communion and attend Mass regularly.
Servers are:
- Trained once a year
- Expected to arrive 20 minutes before the liturgy
- Serve at least 6 times a quarter.
- Responsible for finding a replacement when not able to serve at their assigned liturgy
From “The Ministry of Servers” by Michael Kwatera O.S.B.
“Why does the priest need servers to help him at Mass? From the early days of the Church people have thought that the priest shouldn’t do every thing at Mass, and so different kinds of people have helped him: deacons, readers, and acolytes. Today, servers do some of the tasks that acolytes did in the past (such as preparing the altar and sanctuary before Mass, and saying the responses along with the assembly. Hundreds of years ago, an acolyte would carry the chalice, candles, and other items need for Mass in a sack slung over his back. He would prepare everything for the Mass and then help the priest at the altar. When Mass was over, the acolyte would pack everything up again and carry it out.”
Coordinator: Richard Day