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ThankyouforacceptingtheinvitationfromyourChurchfamilytobecomeaMinister“AroundtheTable.”ServinginthisspecialwayhasaprofoundimpactonthewayourSt.PaulMissionStatement,“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist,”comestolife.
ThepurposeoftheEucharisticLiturgy,aswellasallSacraments,istomakeusholy,tobuilduptheBodyofChristandtoworshipGod.TheLiturgy“nourishes,strengthensandexpressesfaith.”(CCC1123)Bysaying,“Yes”tothiscalling,Iagreetothefollowing:
ü IcommittoserveinthisoneLiturgicalMinistryforatwo-yearperiod.ü IunderstandtheimportanceofmyministryintheoverallmissionofourParish“ToLiveAsTheBodyOfChrist.”
ü IwillapproachtheCelebrationoftheEucharistwithaspiritoftheJoyofChrist.ü IwillpreparemyselfduringtheweekbeingreflectiveoftheupcomingReadingssothatIwillbepreparedspiritually,physicallyandemotionally.
ü IwillarriveontimeanddressappropriatelywhenIamscheduledtoserve.ü IwillfindareplacementintheeventIcannotserveatmyscheduledtime.ü WhenIamnotscheduledtoserve,Iwillbeabetterparticipantinthepewbybeingattentive,listening,andrespondingenthusiastically.
Bysigningbelow,Iagreetoalloftheabovestatements:Ministry:___________________________________________________________________Masspreference:(circleone) 5:30 8:00 10:30PrintedName: ____________________________________________________________Signature: ____________________________________________________________Date: ____________________________________________________________
MINISTRYCOMMITMENT
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PURPOSE
ThisMinistryManualisbeingprovidedtoallMinisters"AroundtheTable"tocreateabetterunderstandingandzealforauthenticworshipatSt.PaulParish.Thisinformationisnotonlyinstructionofhowtocarryouttheministry,buttobetterunderstandwhyweworshipthewaywedo.Wewanttorejuvenatethedeep,spiritualmeaningofbeingaparticipantinMass.AsSt.Augustinesaid,"Beholdwhatyouare.Becomewhoyoureceive."EverytimewecelebratetheSacredBanquettogether,wearefulfillingJesus'commandto"DothisinmemoryofMe."WebelievethattheRisenChrististrulypresentintheLiturgyinthePresider;intheHolyEucharistasHisrealpresenceofBodyandBlood;intheWordproclaimedfromtheSacredScriptures;andintheCommunitygatheredinHisName.Wewanttorediscovertheimportanceofcelebratingwithjoy,reverence,andessenceofthePaschalMystery.Fromthetimeoftheapostles,Christianshavecontinuallycometogethertocelebrate,tolistentoScripture,andtoofferThanksgiving.TheLiturgyisacommunalencounterofChristthatbringsusalltogetherasaSt.PaulFamily.Ourmaingoalistofosterfull,activeandconsciousparticipationintheLiturgicalCelebrationinordertoencountertheLivingGodintheWordandEucharist,thenreturntotheworldfulfillingourbaptismalcalltodiscipleship.Astrained,prayerfulLiturgicalMinisters,wewillhelpplantthatwhichGodwillgrow.Wedonotneedtoreinventanything.WedonotneedtodecidewhatLiturgywillbe.TheChurchhasalreadyplannedtheLiturgy.Itisnotashoworperformancethatpeoplecometoobserve.TheLiturgyisaSacredCelebrationofthePaschalMysterythroughwhichtheMysteryofChristamonguscomesaliveinallthepeoplepresent.Therefore,wewanttomakeourpreparationandattainmentoftheexperienceofLiturgyatSt.Paulapriority,notalast-minuteexecutionofdutiesandtasks.CCC1070states,"…everyLiturgicalCelebrationisanactionofChristthepriestandofthisBodywhichistheChurch,isasacredactionsurpassingallothers."WewanttorecognizeeverypersonwhojoinsourCelebrationasequal,necessarymembersoftheBodyofChrist.WewanteachandeverypersontobereceivedwithJoy.We,asMinisters,willservethemwithJoy.WewanttoalwaysbeawarethatJesusChrist,ourRisenLord,isindeedpresidingateachMass,proclaimingHisWord,sharingHisBodyandBlood,andsittingnexttousextendingHisHandinthesignofpeace.First,weaskyoutopersonallyprayregularlyforthesuccess,graceandinsighttomoveintheDivineFlowofmeetingChristinareal,personalwayasaMinisterofourParish.PrayerwillalwaysbetheheartofMinistry.Prayerservestocontinuallyrenewandstrengthenustoserveourbrothersandsisters.
AnawarenessofthesacrednessofyourMinistrywillnaturallyfollow.Weareprivilegedtohavebeencalledandinvitedtoserveinthisspecialway.ThegreatresultwillbeacontinualrenewalofourlovefortheEucharistandtheSacraments,andafruitfulweeklyexperienceofLiturgy.
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THEMINISTRYOFUSHER
UshersareanintegralpartofcontinuingthespiritofHospitalitybegunbytheGreeters,andofhelpingassuretheLiturgicalCelebrationflowssmoothly.YouwillassistpeopleinfindingtheirseatsatthebeginningofMass,assistinCommunionlines,takeupthecollection,distributethebulletins,andofferpersonalassistanceasneededduringtheSundayEucharisticCelebrationsandHolyDays.
History ThisMinistrycanbetracedbacktotheveryfirstgatheringofpeople.Hospitalitydatesbacktothebeginning–helpinganotherfeelwelcomeandfindingtheirplaceattheevent.Jesus,Himself,mostcertainlyescortedHisdisciplestotheirseatsattheLastSupper.WeknowHewashedtheirfeetandmadethemfeelwelcome,lovedandblessedbytheirpresenceandparticipation.
WhyUshersarevitaltohelpingpeoplefeelcomfortableandwelcomeatourCelebration.WhateverbaggagetheycarryintotheChurchcanbecheckedatthedoorwhentheyseeafriendlyfaceoftheGreeterwelcomethem.But,itdoesn’tendthere.Theyarerelievedofanypotentialstressorworryofthingslike;“WherecanIfindaseat?”“WhenandhowwilltheCommunionlinework?”“HowcanIfindtherestroomifIneedit?”etc.Youaretheretoofferassistance.Theycaneasilyseebyyournametag,yourpostureandyourattentiontothosegatheringtoworshipthatyouaretheretohelpthem.Howcomforting,especiallytovisitorsandnewcomers!HowBeforeMass1. Duringthecourseoftheweek,readtheSundayReadingssoyouarefamiliarwiththeWordtobeproclaimedandthethemeoftheLiturgy.
2. DressappropriatelysinceyouareservingattheTableoftheLord.Pleasedonotwearbluejeans,shorts,orcasualfootwear.
3. Disposeofanygumorcandy.4. Arrive15minutesbeforeMasstime,putacheckmarkbyyournameontheschedule,putonyournametag,andtakeamomenttopraytobethewelcomingpresenceofChrist.
5. Checkfornotificationsofsecondcollectionsandspecialinstructionsfortheday.6. CheckthetemperatureintheSanctuary.7. PlacetheChildren'sCollectionjarontheAltarsteps.8. Makesureallentrancedoorsareunlocked.9. BeawareofthelocationoftheAEDandanymedicalpersonnelinattendanceshouldtherebeamedicalemergency.
10. ConfirmthosesigneduptobringthegiftstotheAltar.Ifnooneisontheschedule,chooseafamilyorgrouptopresentthegiftsattheOffertory.Asknewanddifferentpeopleeachweek.
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11. IdentifyanyoneneedingcommunionbroughttothemandalerttheSacristan,aEucharisticMinister,orFather.
12. DirectnewcomersandvisitorstotheSanctuary,andencouragenewparishionerstosignourbookandregisterwiththeParish.
13. AssistinfindingseatingforthosearrivingclosetoMasstimeandduringthebeginningofMass.DonotseatduringthePrayersorduringtheReadings.AskpeopletokindlywaituntilaftertheWordofGodisproclaimedtobeseated.Movementisdistracting.Offerassistancetoanyonestandingencouragingthemtoalsotakeaseat.UshersshouldremainstandingduringtheentireMass.Beattentive,reverent,andresponsivethroughouttheLiturgy.Donotengageincasualconversation.
DuringMass1. OnceFatherandtheMinistersprocessdowntheaisle,closethetwowoodendoorssoanylatecomerswillbeawareMasshasbegun.
2. JustbeforetheOffertoryCollectiontime,fourushersneedtohavethebaskets,proceedtothefront,andbowattheAltar.Beginningwiththefirstpew,handthebaskettoparishionersandallowthemtopassitacrossthepew.
3. OneUshershouldmoveintotheCryRoomforcollectionoftheoffertory.4. AllmoneyneedstobeputintoonebasketfortheOffertory.5. AtOffertorytime,assisttheGiftBearersinholdingtheBreadandWinetobeoffered.OneUsherneedstocarrytheCollectionBasketafewstepsbehindtheGiftBearers.BeginwalkingupthecenteraisleassoonasFatherstandstodescendtheAltar.AllbowafterhandingFatherthegifts.TheUsherplacestheCollectionatthesideoftheAltar.Allreturntogetherupthecenteraisletothebackofthechurch.
6. AtCommuniontime,twoUshersshouldmoveupthecenteraisleaftertheMinistershavereceivedHolyCommunionontheAltar.BeginwiththefrontpewontheoutsideaislesandstandattheendofthepewguidingthoseseatedtowalkdownthesideaisleandbackupthecenteraisletoreceivetheBodyandBloodofChrist.Whenallpewshavelinedupfromthesideaisles,beginwiththelastpewoneachsideofthecenteraisleandworkyourwayuptothefront.Usherswillbethelastserved.PleaseremindFatherofanyoneneedingtobebroughtHolyCommuniontotheirpews.
7. DuringtheClosingHymn,UsherspostattheSanctuaryexitstohandoutbulletins.8. AfterallhavelefttheSanctuary,walkthroughandclearallpewsofitemsleftbehind.Collectandstackbulletinsforfutureuseiftheyarenottornormarkedon.Placepersonalitemsonthebackcounter.Disposeoftrashaccordingly.
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Sacramentary-theBookthePriestusesduringMass
Chalicewithpatenandhost
Paten-platefortheHost
LargeHost-Tobeplaced
onFather'spaten
Ciborium–holdsthe
BodyofChrist
Cup–holdstheBloodofChrist
WineDecanter
Cruetforwater
Corporal–PlacedontheAltar
Purificators–usedtowipetheCupwhen
servingtheBloodofChrist
TabernacleandRedSacristyLight
Monstrance–HoldstheBlessedSacramentfor
ExpositionoftheEucharist