PROCEDURE FOR LECTORS

 

  1. Practice the readings at home during the week.  Read, reflect and pray over them and allow them to penetrate your heart.  Become familiar with them, their cadence and the words.  If unsure how to pronounce a name ask Father before Mass.  Take time for prayer prior to exercising your role so that your reading will not be a function but a ministry.
  2. Arrive approximately 10 - 15 minutes early for Mass properly dressed.
  3. Make sure the Lectionary is set up on the lectern to the right readings.  Double check the readings.
  4. Go over the Prayers of the Faithful to become familiar with them.  Make sure you know how to pronounce the name of the intention for your Mass.  If not sure, ask Father or a parishioner.
  5. Go over the announcements to familiarize yourself with them.  Make note of any that are now out-of-date such as an announcement for Saturday evening and it is now Sunday morning.
  6. Get the Book of the Gospels (it should be in the sacristy).  If a deacon is present, he will carry it during the procession; if no deacon is present, you will carry it during the entrance procession.  Carry it upright in front of you with both hands.
  7. Current order for the entrance procession is the altar servers, special ministers of Holy Communion, the lector, the deacon, and the priest.
  8. When you get to the step in front of the altar, take the Book of the Gospels around to the other side of the altar (you will be facing the congregation), place it face down in the center of the altar, and return to the processional group at the step in front of the altar.  Follow Father’s lead and bow together to the altar.  Take your seat.
  9. Read from the approved Liturgical Books and not missals or papers.  (There are a few exceptions, such as the Passion on Good Friday and Palm Sunday).  Because of the long readings, announce page numbers at the Easter Vigil and on Good Friday for the Passion.
  10. When it is time for the first reading, go to the center, bow to the altar, then go to the lectern.  If unsure if you should read the shorter or longer version, check with the priest.
  11. Announce the first reading.  “A reading from the Book of…..”  Do not say, “The first reading” or “The second reading.”  Simply announce it as listed in the Lectionary.  Do not read the little explanation that is written.  That is NOT part of the Scripture.
  12. Pause; then read the first reading slowly, clearly and with a strong voice to be heard.  At the end pause again, then conclude with “The Word of the Lord”.
  13. If there is no music be prepared to read the Responsorial Psalm.  Otherwise have a seat behind the lectern until time for the second reading.
  14. When it is time, announce, read, and conclude the second reading as you did the first.
  15. At Easter and Pentecost the Sequence will be sung, not read.  It is omitted at other times
  16. When finished, place the Lectionary on the shelf under the Lectern.
  17. Go in front of the altar, face it, bow, then return to your seat.
  18. If there is a deacon, he will do the Prayers of the Faithful.  If there is no deacon, then after the homily, when Father finishes the creed and is about to start the Prayers of the Faithful, go back to the lectern, bowing to the altar before entering the sanctuary, and be ready to do the Prayers of the Faithful when Father finishes the introduction.  At the end of the Prayers of the Faithful, turn and face Father for the conclusion.  When he is done and takes his seat, go in front of the altar, face it and bow, then return to your seat.
  19. After communion, return to the lectern and read the announcements after the closing prayer unless directed otherwise by the priest celebrant.  Return to your seat.
  20. At the end of Mass, join the processional group lined up in front of the altar.  Leave both books at the lectern.  Follow Father’s lead and bow together.  Follow the special ministers of Holy Communion down the main aisle
  21. Before you leave church, help the next lector by setting up the Lectionary for the following Mass and return the Book of the Gospels to the sacristy.  If you are doing the last Mass, bring both books back to the sacristy.
           

Thank you for volunteering to serve your Parish in this important Ministry of the Word.

 It is deeply appreciated by your fellow parishioners and parish priests.