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THE LECTORS MINISTRY: Dedicated to Boldly Proclaiming the Word of God
Have you ever noticed how even the simplest of texts can be transformed when read aloud? We are all familiar with the stories in the Bible, but every Sunday we hear three different Scripture passages read aloud in the Liturgy of the Word. At Mass, lectors proclaim the Word of God to the rest of the congregation — and through their careful preparation, they can grow in their own prayer and faith lives as well.
“It is a very special privilege,” says ministry coordinator Casey Oliver. “Both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist make up the Holy Mass, and lectors have a very important part to play during the Liturgy of the Word. God speaks to us through His Word and proclaiming His Word as a lector is an important act of service for our parish community. It takes preparation, dedication, and courage to boldly proclaim the Word to the assembly of His people.”
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Men and women who have received all three sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation can serve as lectors.
“We are especially encouraging our parish youth who are in high school, grades nine through 12, to consider serving in this ministry,” Casey says. “If you have received the required sacraments, and you are at least in ninth grade, you are eligible to serve.”
The ministry is made up of about 60 registered lectors, but due to the pandemic, currently, only about 20 are able to serve. Although COVID-19 has changed the way the ministry operates, they have nonetheless adapted to continue to serve the faithful. Previously, two lectors were scheduled for each Mass — currently, only one is scheduled due to current diocesan guidelines. Training for lectors has also changed slightly — instead of formal group training, individual training sessions are scheduled on an as-needed basis and follow all diocesan and public health protocols.
“Another big change is that at this time, all of our weekend Masses are livestreamed,” Casey says. “We hope to continue to livestream Masses even beyond the pandemic. The lectors are now on camera, and while that can be a little intimidating at first, it is a wonderful evangelical opportunity to bring the Word to those who need to be at home for whatever reason. Plus, by having the Masses recorded, we get the opportunity to regularly evaluate ourselves. Did I read slowly and clearly? Did I read loudly enough? Was I easy to understand? Was I expressive? By taking the time to listen to ourselves, it helps us to grow and improve in our ministry.”
Molly Chambers serves as a lector at Mass.
It’s important for lectors to prepare before reading at Mass — not only to ensure that they read clearly and pronounce words correctly but also to help them understand the message they are transmitting. Each year, lectors receive a workbook with the year’s readings, special instructions, and commentary for each Sunday, as well as solemnities and other special liturgies. The workbook has been extremely helpful for high school senior Molly Chambers, who serves as a lector at the parish.
“It not only goes over the reading with keywords and phrases that the reader should emphasize while reading, but it also goes in-depth about the reading and why it is important,” she says. “I use it every time I read, as it is very informative and easy to use. Before and during the reading, I learn more about what it truly means and why it is so important that a reader has to comprehend what they will be speaking about. Once I am done with the reading, I can use what I have learned to reflect even more on its meaning. I gain a deeper understanding of what God is trying to say, as well as a unique and special connection with Him.”
The preparation process is spiritually fruitful for Casey, as well.
“As a cantor, I frequently have the opportunity to cantor the Responsorial Psalm, and I try to read the entire Psalm for each Sunday and meditate on it,” she says. “I am following along with The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz, and now that I am reading the entire Bible, discovering how the weekly Mass readings fit into the story of salvation has revolutionized how I read and sing the Word.
“One of my favorite Bible verses is Hebrews 4:12 — ’Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart,’” she adds. “Using the readings of the Mass to enter into the entire Bible has deepened my faith in a profound way.”
Lectors should feel comfortable reading the Word of God in front of the assembly using a microphone and should be able to project their voice well and read slowly and clearly. However, Casey encourages anyone who is interested — or who feels a call — to take a chance and try it out.
“If you can move beyond the worries about how you will sound or if you will mispronounce something, you open yourself up for spiritual growth,” Casey says. “I really want people to feel supported and not be afraid to make mistakes. We are all learning and growing, and I think it’s very important to have a variety of people and voices represented in our lector ministry. Don’t be afraid!
“As a speech pathologist, I have a passion for helping people speak and use their voices the best they can,” she adds. “I encourage people who desire to be a lector to discern it, even if they have concerns about how their speech or voice sounds. Lectoring may not be for everyone, but you don’t know unless you try. Being open to feedback and being willing to grow and improve is key. If you are willing to do that, then it is highly likely that you can be a successful lector.”
