Altar Servers are close to the altar as they serve the priest. Our young altar servers wear the robe of baptism (the alb),which is a sign of their position in the community as baptized people.  They hold the book of the prayers (the Roman Missal), and they help the priest at the altar as it is prepared for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

“It is important to realize that being close to Jesus and knowing him in the Eucharist through your service at the altar, enables you to open yourselves to others, to journey together, to set demanding goals and to find the strength to achieve them. It is a source of real joy to recognize that we are small and weak, all the while knowing that, with Jesus’ help, we can be strengthened and take up the challenge of life’s great journey in his company.” ~Pope Francis

Eucharistic Ministers prayerfully serve the people of Blessed Sacrament by distributing the Body and Blood of Christ during Eucharistic celebrations.

“Human beings all over the world today need nourishment. And this nourishment is not just to satisfy physical hunger. There are other hungers – for love, for immortality of life, for affection, for being cared for, for forgiveness, for mercy. This hunger can be satiated only by the bread that comes from above. Jesus himself is the living bread that gives life to the world. His body offered for our sake on the cross, his blood shed for the pardon of the sins of humanity is made available to us in the bread and wine to the Eucharist transformed in the consecration.

But the Eucharist does not end with the partaking of the bread and blood of the Lord. It leads us to solidarity with others. The communion with the Lord is necessarily a communion with our fellow brothers and sisters. And therefore the one who is fed and nourished by the very body and blood of Christ cannot remain unaffected when he sees his brothers suffering want and hunger. Those nourished by the Eucharist are called to bring the joy of the gospel to those who have not received it. Strengthened by the living Bread we are called to bring hope to those who live in darkness and in despair.” ~Pope Francis

Ministers of hospitality are hosts and hostesses, welcoming people as they gather to celebrate in the Mass. They are usually the first formal representatives of the parish encountered by worshippers as they enter the Church.

“May the church be the place of God’s mercy and love, where everyone can feel themselves welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the good life of the Gospel. And in order to make others feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged, the church must have open doors so that all might enter. And we must go out of those doors and proclaim the Gospel.” ~Pope Francis

A lector is the person who proclaims the first or second reading at Mass. The lector must believe that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God and have deep respect for God’s presence in that Word.

“The mission of the servants of the Word – bishops, priests, men and women religious and laypeople – is that of promoting and favoring this encounter, which inspires faith and transforms life; therefore I pray, in the name of all the Church, that you may fulfill your mandate: ensuring ‘that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored’, until the day of Jesus Christ.” ~Pope Francis

The starting point for all sacristans is a deep love for the Eucharist.  Under the general direction of the clergy, the sacristan undertakes the overall preparation for liturgical celebrations.  Specific duties include:

• Preparing the Holy Eucharist for the celebration of the Mass.  This includes readying the wine, water and bread and putting them in place before the start of Mass.

• Setting up the altar.  Sacristans may also arrange the Lectionary and lector notebooks.

• Assisting the altar servers and other liturgical ministers with directions or questions.  Sacristans ensure that all liturgical positions are filled for the Mass.

• Cleaning the holy materials after Mass. The holy containers for the water, body and blood are cleaned and stored in the sacristy.  Everything is set back in place before sacristans leave the church.

“The parish is the presence of the Church in any given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.” ~Pope Francis