Preparation
You are ready to exercise your ministry as lector if
you have done the required preparation for it before coming to the church.
Practise reading at home so that you can proclaim The Word of God
clearly conveying the meaning of the passages to the congregation. Use speech
techniques such as pace, pause and pitch to give vitality and variety to the
reading. Project your voice.
Before Mass
Arrive at least 10 minutes early and gather with other ministers in the Sacristy
- Sign in. There is a register chart in the Sacristy for you to either tick that you are present for the date & Mass of ministry, or write your name in (should your name be missing on the chart)
- The Lectionary will be on the bench in the Sacristy.
- Review the readings. Please make sure the ribbon is set to the relevant page/readings of the day
- A copy of the intercessions of the day will be on the same bench in the sacristy.
If you are the second reader, please familiarise yourself with these. - Personally, place your copy of the Prayers of Intercession upon the shelf of the Lectern.
- Ascertain with musician whether the Responsorial Psalm is being sung. For liturgies without music, review the Psalm response. (First Lector should read the Psalm and second Lector should read the Prayer of the Faithful.)
- In the absence of ‘the second reader’, be prepared to read the first and second readings plus the Prayers of Intercession.
Procession
- The first reader usually carries the Lectionary (slightly elevated at a comfortable height) (Either reader may carry the Lectionary under various circumstances)
- Once the priest has reverenced the Altar, proceed to the Lectern and place the Book on the Lectern, opened at the relevant page for the readings of the day.
In deference to the reverence of the process, it is preferential if possible, to approach the Lectern from the far eastern (left) side rather than to walk between the Altar and the Lectern - Re-join the ministers gathered. Together, bow before the Altar and proceed to your place in the congregation, preferably close to the Lectern.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
- Readers, approach the Altar , meeting together in the centre. Make a profound bow before entering the Sanctuary, as a recognition of the centrality of the altar.
First Reading:
- While looking out to the assembly, proclaim– “A reading from ………”
Proclaim the first reading of the day – Read slowly and clearly, and project. Read with enthusiasm and interpret the reading for the listeners. Don’t be afraid to read with all the meaning the Word of God deserves. After a slight pause, looking at the congregation, say ‘’The Word of the Lord’’ - As a courtesy to the second lector, please be sure the Lectionary is open to the correct page for the second reading.
The RESPONSORIAL PSALM
After the first reading, comes the Responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God. It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people’s response is concerned. Hence, the psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm.
The entire congregation remains seated and listens but, as a rule, takes part by singing the response.
If the Psalm cannot be sung, then it should be recited in such a way that it is particularly suited to fostering meditation on the word of God.
PSALM RESPONSE:
At liturgies without music the 1st Reader remains at the lectern following the 1st Reading.. After a brief silence:
- Proclaim the Response to the Psalm; the congregation will repeat.
- Briefly pause after each verse of the Psalm and allow the assembly to respond before moving on to the next verse.
When the Responsorial Psalm is completed, be seated beside the Sanctuary whilst the
second reading is proclaimed by the 2nd Reader
SECOND READING:
- While looking out to the assembly, proclaim– “A reading from ………”
Proclaim the first reading of the day – Read slowly and clearly, and project. Read with enthusiasm and interpret the reading for the listeners. Don’t be afraid to read with all the meaning the Word of God deserves. After a slight pause, looking at the congregation, say ‘’The Word of the Lord’’
Both readers, upon stepping from the sanctuary,
- meet at the centre aisle,
- reverence the Altar by means of a bow,
- return to your seats amongst the congregation.
GOSPEL
HOMILY
THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
- The 2nd Reader proceeds to the Lectern as the last section of the Creed commences so as to be present at the lectern when the Priest begins the brief introduction, by which he invites the people to pray.
- Proclaim the Prayers of intercession – do not leave the Sanctuary until the priest has concluded with his brief prayer.
This constitutes the prayers of intercession.