Lectors

In the Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, we are reminded that God’s people should be “instructed by God’s Word, and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s Body”. The Mass is a unified act in which we are nourished by God’s life-giving Word and his life-giving Body.

The Extraordinary Ministers of the Word (Lectors) proclaim the Word of God at Mass. Their importance in thus helping to instruct, nourish and challenge God’s people through His Word was recognized by Pope Paul VI when he restored their role to the official status of a ministry in 1972.

“Let the reader be aware of the office he has undertaken and make every effort and employ suitable means to acquire that increasingly warm and living love and knowledge of Scripture that will make him a more perfect disciple of the Lord”, Pope Paul VI.

At St Mary’s there are 48 weekend lectors (8 lectors for each of the 6 weekend masses) and about 11 weekday lectors (1 lector for each of the 11 weekday masses). The weekend lectors make a commitment to meet every Monday at 8pm to prepare for the following weekend’s readings. Workshops are conducted on an ad-hoc basis and there are plans for retreats, days of recollection, bonding sessions and commissioning of lectors.

In addition to the organized activities, lectors are strongly encouraged to engage in on-going bible-study to deepen their own faith and understanding of God’s Word and help them to proclaim with confidence the readings they are assigned.

Lectors should have a clear and pleasant speaking voice, a high degree of self possession, confidence, maturity, poise and sensitivity to the congregation’s diversity.