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Alter Servers Mass Captains Lectors Extraordinary Ministers

Altar Servers:

Altar Servers offer service to God and the community by assisting the priest during mass.

This ministry of assistance at the Holy Altar of the Lord is open to young girls and boys in 4th grade or higher. Altar Servers are assigned to assist the priest at Sunday Mass, on a volunteer bases on Holy days and holidays. With experience and commitment, altar servers are trained to assist at wedding and funeral liturgies.

Responsibilities of Altar Servers include:

  • Lighting the altar candles/ Extinguishing the altar candles
  • Setting the Altar Server Credence Table before Mass.
  • Bringing out the Roman Missals and Presider's Notebook.
  • Bearing the cross in entrance procession
  • Bearing the candles in entrance procession
  • Assisting with holy water, water, wine and offertory gifts at Mass

 

Serving at the altar is a big responsibility. The Priests count on your showing up when scheduled. They count on your mature attitude while serving. They expect you to be dressed neatly and to arrive early. They appreciate a reverent attitude in all that you do.

Altar Servers are scheduled monthly and this schedule is posted on the website.

If your child is interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact Julie at the Parish Office, 626-914-3941 ext 107. New training sessions have begun.

 

Mass Captains: Mass Captains serve at the Mass to properly prepare all the elements needed for the liturgy and to assure that all the Ministry positions have been filled.

 

Ministry of Lectors: Archdiocese of Los Angeles:

According to the ancient tradition and the teaching of the Church, the readings other than the Gospel are proclaimed by lay ministers called lectors. The practice of ordained ministers proclaiming these readings is improper (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass #51). The use of two readers – one for each reading – is encouraged. The parish community should strive for enough trained lectors to fulfill this goal (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass #52).

The proclamation of the Word of God is truly a ministry in the Church. Lectors bring the living Word of God to the liturgical assembly. In and through them God speaks to the gathered faithful. The ministry of the Word, therefore, is treated seriously and with great dignity.

The Word of God is not merely read during the liturgy. It is proclaimed. Effective proclamation involves the delivery of the message with clarity, conviction and appropriate pace. Proclamation is a special ministry which presupposes faith and also rouses faith in those who hear the Word proclaimed.

Ideally, members of the assembly listen to the proclamation of the Scriptures and do not read along in missalettes. In the act of communal listening, the worshipers experience not only unity among themselves but also the presence of Christ speaking to them through the Word (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass #45).

Listening is not an isolated moment. It is a way of life. It means openness to the Lord's voice not only in the Scriptures but in the events of our daily lives and in the experience of our brothers and sisters. It is not just my listening but our listening together for the Lord's word to the community (Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Homily in the Sunday Assembly #20 National Conference of Catholic Bishops).

All liturgical ministers, especially the ministers of the Word, must be properly trained for their ministry. The ministry of the Word requires skill in public reading, knowledge of the principles of liturgy, and an understanding and love of the scriptures. Normally, only properly trained and commissioned lectors are scheduled for liturgy (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass #55).

At St. Dorothy, lector training course is offered through a certified Archdiocesan trainer.

Lectors are fully initiated, practicing Catholics whose lives witness to the Word which they proclaim. On special occasions and for pastoral reasons, a young person who is not yet fully initiated (i.e., not yet confirmed) may serve as lector during a liturgy. Proper training for this ministry is expected.

Those who are presently lectors should periodically participate in enrichment programs, such as lector enrichment classes offered by the Office for Worship, bible study courses, Bible Institute and other workshops on Scripture and/or proclamation techniques.

Lectors are scheduled according to rotation AND request for a particular Mass or vacation schedule.

Please send requests to the Liturgy Director at [email protected]

 

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist: From the USCCB:

In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. (1) When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162)."

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. In all matters they should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop ( Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America, NDRHC, no. 28). When recourse is had to Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, especially in the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds, their number should not be increased beyond what is required for the orderly and reverent distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord. In all matters such Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (IBID).

All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine. Should there be any mishap--as when, for example, the consecrated wine is spilled from the chalice--then the affected "area . . . should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium [ GIRM, 280]." (NDRHC, 29).

Eucharistic Ministers are scheduled quarterly by a volunteer and added to the Ministry Schedule.

Changes or requests may be sent to the Liturgy Director at [email protected].

 
 

All adults over the age of 18 who volunteer in the Church, School or Religious Education Ministries must be Virtus certified and fingerprinted. Please follow the link to the "Virtus" page.