Ministry

There are many 'ministries' that people can offer their time and talents.

Please see some examples below - no one is expected to commit for a long period and before 3 years service are able to look for another ministry or re-join the congregation.

Altar Servers
Children’s Liturgy Leaders
Church cleaners
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Flower Arrangers
Ministers for Sick and Housebound
Musicians
Readers
Welcomers

Readers

Reading in church:

Reading in church is about proclaiming God’s holy word. In this, more is required than simply reading a text aloud. The reader is a channel for communication of the inspired word of God in the scriptures to the whole assembly.
This is a ministry of service which implies formation for the reader that is not only technical but also spiritual.
2 Readers can be of any age so long as they are able to communicate God’s word clearly and effectively, and give some evidence of living in accordance with the values inherent in what they are proclaiming. They should be baptised members of the Catholic Church.
Readers should prepare themselves as far in advance as possible, reading the text, studying it and reflecting on it and praying on it, as well as reading it aloud a number of times. Some readers will begin their preparation on Monday for the following weekend. In some communities all the readers for the weekend Masses meet together earlier in the week, sometimes with the homilist(s), to read and reflect upon the readings in common.
The ideal is for the reader to have read the text aloud a sufficient number of times to know sections of it virtually by heart and to have internalized it to some extent. This enables readers to raise their heads from the printed page to make eye-contact with members of the assembly from time to time, a practice which is highly recommended. All ministry is about relationships between people, and reading is no exception to this.

Parish Welcomers

Before the Service:

Arrive 30 minutes before the service/Mass starts.
Check with the celebrant/sacristan/MC for any special arrangements.
Welcome any visiting priests.
Be ready to greet people warmly as they arrive and supply them with whatever they need for that particular service eg hymn book, order of service, parish bulletin etc.
Make sure that people know where to sit, offer help to anyone with mobility or similar issues.
Be alert to the needs of those with hearing and visual problems. Let them know about the loop system and any available large print bulletins/hymn sheets etc.
Be alert to the needs of parishioners with young children and babies. Make sure that they know where the loos/changing facilities are and any supplies of toys and books. If appropriate, invite groups with children to take part in Children’s Liturgy of the Word.
Try to greet all members of groups who arrive together – including teenagers and older parishioners.
If appropriate, “check in” the Readers and Eucharistic ministers and find replacements for any who do not arrive.
Have a plan for welcoming newcomers and visitors to the parish and passing on contact details of new parishioners to the appropriate person (Parish priest/Parish secretary/ PPC members/ Parish Welcome Team).
Make sure that you know where first aid equipment is held and where fire exits are.
Be ready to assist the parishioners who take up the gifts. Be on the look out for new people to invite to carry out this role
Have a contingency plan in case of emergencies.

After the service:

If appropriate, help with any second or retiring collections.
Be available to help with any queries and direct them to the right person.
Chat to any newcomers you have noticed and introduce them to others.
Encourage people to join in any after-Mass socialising, coffee etc.

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