These Ministers read the Scripture at Mass on Sundays and weekdays.   See below for Readers' Rosters. 

They are commissioned for a period of three years by the Parish Priest.  Members attend an annual day of reflection to assist and encourage them in their ministry. Contact the parish team through the Monastery.

Readers Roster from 3rd July until 30th Oct 2011

I again wish to thank you for giving your time and energy so unselfishly to proclaim Gods word to the many people who attend your Church.

May I continue to draw your attention to a couple of agreed details re the practice of your ministry?

• To contact the person you are rostered with
• To ask you - as far as possible - to find a replacement if you cannot make your rostered duty, and to contact the person with whom you are assigned to let them know of the change.
• To arrive early and make yourself known to the Presiding Priest
• Keep remembering to lift you voice and proclaim the reading so that every word is heard
• As far as possible, keep to the order on the sheet (i.e. the first reader to read the First Reading and if the Psalms are not to be sung to read them. The Second readed to read the Second Reading and then to read the Prayer of the Faithful).  It just leaves the Presiding Priest to know who is doing what.
• Feel free if you believe a reader is reading on their own, to approach them and ask would they like assistance.  It has been agreed and recommended that for all weekend masses that two readers will assist the presiding priest at all times as far as possible.
  

Guidelines for Readers

• As a minister of the Word you need to be present for the entire mass at which you are to read, because you are part of the worshipping community
• Make it a habit to prepare the Sunday readings whether or not you are assigned to proclaim on a given Sunday
• As a Minister of the Word you have a unique and special function to perform at every liturgy - the Ministry of the Word.  It is recommended, therefore, that you would not 'double up' by serving in any other ministry at the same liturgy
• Normally speaking, Ministers of the Word participate in the entry procession at the 6:15 pm mass (vigil) and at the 11:00 am (family) mass on Sunday.  (At other masses, readers are asked to sit near the top on the left-hand-side in order to avoid having to walk a long way, and to allow the other reader to know that you are present)
• At the end of the procession readers divide. When the celebrant reaches the bottom of the steps the readers bow and move to their seat
• Readers move forward together at the end of the Opening Prayer.  Walk with reverence into the sanctuary.  The first reader moves immediately to the Lectern, while the second reader sits in the pew to the left.  If the psalm is not to be sung the first reader will read it.  (The psalm is normally sung at the 6:15, 11:00 and 4:00 masses; it is not sung at 8:00 am mass.  The first reader then moves to the pew
• The second reader reads and then returns to the pew.  As with the psalm (in the previous point), the 'Alleluia' is normally sung (the same masses apply).  Please check with the organist.  It is at the reader's own discretion whether or not s/he moves before or after the alleluia when it is sung.  The second reader returns to the pew but returns to the lectern after the creed to read the Prayer of the Faithful
• The Prayer of the Faithful will either be printed on a separate sheet or in the Book.  Please give yourself enough time before the beginning of mass to check this out and prepare the prayer
• Both readers leave the sanctuary together when the collection is announced.  They bow at the foot of the steps and return to their seat
• As the closing procession makes its way down the aisle at the end of mass, the two readers join.  This only happens at the 6:15 pm (vigil) and the 11:00 am (family) masses
• If you are unable to read when scheduled, please find a replacement.  To facilitate replacements, please notify the person in good time.  If you are unable to get a replacement for the mass, can you kindly notify the person with whom you are on.

• If you are reading at the 11am mass, remember to collect the Book of the Gospels from the sacristy.  A reader is to carry the Book of the Gospels in the procession from the back of the church and place it on the Altar.  The second reader is to remove the Lectionary when they have finished their reading and place it on the table beside the chairs.  The Priest will bring the Book of the Gospels from the altar and place on the ambo. 

Preparation - some questions to ask yourself

• Is my preparation a prayerful meditation time with the Lord, or is it merely an attempt to provide a good reading with no mispronunciations?
• The last time I was scheduled to proclaim, how much time did I spend preparing?
• During my preparation, do I try to understand and deepen my belief in the message contained in the Gospel, Jewish scripture and New Testament readings, and the psalm?
• Do I sense an urgency to share the Word with the assembly?

Proclamation

• Do I proclaim the message enthusiastically and prayerfully, or do I merely speak passionless and unconvincing words?
• Can everyone (young and old) hear me?  Can they follow the proclamation easily so that few find it necessary to read along?
• When I finish the proclamation and declare, 'This is the Word of the Lord', am I convinced God has spoken through me?  Or am I just relieved that 'my little part' is over?
• Do I proclaim the Word in my everyday life?  How?

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