February 2015

St. Lucy Lector Training

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• The Liturgy of the Word

• The Role of the Lector in the Liturgy of the Word

• Expectations of the Lector– Training– Attendance and Substitutions– Spiritual Preparation– Technical Preparation

• Practicum– One Lector, no cantor– One Lector, with cantor– Two Lectors, no cantor– Two Lectors, with cantor

• A Spiritual Reflection on the Role of Reader/Lector

• Supplemental Materials and Q & A

Agenda

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The Liturgy of the Word• The Biblical Readings (First and Second Readings and the Gospel Reading)• The Responsorial Psalm• The Acclamation Before the Reading of the Gospel• The Homily• Silence• The Profession of Faith• The Prayers of the Faithful

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The Role of the Lector in the Liturgy of the Word

“It is necessary that those who exercise the ministry of reader, even if they have not received institution, be truly suited and carefully prepared, so that the faithful may develop a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the sacred readings. Their preparation must above all be spiritual, but what may be called a technical preparation is also needed. The spiritual preparation presupposes at least a biblical and liturgical formation. The purpose of their biblical formation is to give readers the ability to understand the readings in context and to perceive by the light of faith the central point of the revealed message. The liturgical formation ought to equip the readers to have some grasp of the meaning and structure of the liturgy of the word and of the significance of its connection with the liturgy of the Eucharist. The technical preparation should make the readers more skilled in the art of reading publicly, either with the power of their own voice or with the help of sound equipment.

General Introduction to the Lectionary (Second Edition)published on January 21, 1981, by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship

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Expectations of the LectorTraining• Attend either a one on one or group training for Lectors• Participate in retreats during the year as they come up• Solicit/accept constructive feedback regarding your readings on an ongoing basis• Provide constructive criticism to other readers as needed/requested

Attendance and Substitutions• Ensure the schedulers know which Mass(es) you are available for• If you will not be available on a particular weekend, ensure the schedulers know by

the scheduling deadline• Once the schedule is published, you are responsible for obtaining a substitute if you are not able to read as scheduled• Check in with the Mass Coordinators before Mass to see if you might be needed on

an emergency basis

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Expectations of the Lector

Spiritual PreparationDuring the Week before Lectoring:• Read the readings to yourself• Read the Workbook commentary (or other commentaries if you have them) to gain an understanding of the context and meaning of the readings• Reflect on the meaning of the readings to you

The Day of Lectoring:• Pray for the Spirit to be with you and guide your reading

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Expectations of the LectorTechnical PreparationDuring the Week before Lectoring:• Read the readings to yourself• Consult the Workbook or other resources for pronunciation/meaning of any words

you are unsure of• Determine how you are going to proclaim the Word

• Where to pause• Where to put emphasis• Mark up a copy of the reading if necessary• Practice proclaiming the reading aloud (read to someone else if someone is

available or record yourself if possible)• Ensure you can proclaim the reading clearly and accurately

NOTE: The readings must be proclaimed exactly as written! Do not add, change or omit any words or phrases.

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Expectations of the LectorTechnical Preparation (continued)The Day of Lectoring:• Dress appropriately• Arrive at church 10-15 minutes before Mass• If there will be two lectors, make sure you are on the same page regarding who is doing what• Review the readings one last time• Ensure the Lectionary has the readings bookmarked correctly• Ensure that the Lectionary is on the ambo (check with Mass Coordinator, if not)• Prepare to process with the Book of Gospels to the altar with the Presider

After Lectoring:• Solicit feedback regarding how the reading(s) went (e.g with a friend, family

members, the other lector) to see where improvements can be made

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PracticumOne Lector, No Cantor• The Lector will process to the altar with the Book of Gospels• The Lector will place the Book of Gospels in the book holder on the altar and

take his/her place on the ambo side of the altar• When the time comes to read the first reading, the Lector will approach the

altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo

• The Lector will proclaim the first reading• After a few moments of silence, the Lector will proclaim the refrain of the

Responsorial Psalm and invite the congregation to repeat it• The Lector will proclaim the verses of the Responsorial Psalm, inviting the congregation to join in the refrain• After a few moments of silence, the Lector will proclaim the second reading• After a few moments of silence, taking the Lectionary with them, the Lector

will return to his/her place, making a profound bow to the altar at the foot of the stairs

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PracticumOne Lector, With Cantor• The Lector will process to the altar with the Book of Gospels• The Lector will place the Book of Gospels in the book holder on the altar and take his/her place on the ambo side of the altar• When the time comes to read the first reading, the Lector will approach the altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo • The Lector will proclaim the first reading• After a few moments of silence, taking the Lectionary with them, the Lector

will return to his/her place (no need to bow)• When the cantor has returned to his/her place, the Lector will return to the

ambo (no need to bow)• The Lector will proclaim the second reading• After a few moments of silence, taking the Lectionary with them, the Lector

will return to his/her place, making a profound bow to the altar at the foot of the stairs

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PracticumTwo Lectors, No Cantor• One Lector will process to the altar with the Book of Gospels• The Lector will place the Book of Gospels in the book holder on the altar and take his/her place on the ambo side of the altar• When the time comes to read the first reading, the first Lector will approach the altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo• The first Lector will proclaim the first reading• After a few moments of silence, the first Lector will proclaim the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm and invite the congregation to repeat it• The first Lector will proclaim the verses of the Responsorial Psalm, inviting the congregation to join in the refrain• After a few moments of silence, leaving the Lectionary on the ambo, the first Lector will return to his/her place, making a profound bow to the altar at the foot of the stairs (continued)

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PracticumTwo Lectors, No Cantor (continued)• The second Lector will approach the altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo• The second Lector will proclaim the second reading• After a few moments of silence, taking the Lectionary with them, the second Lector will return to his/her place, making a profound bow to the altar at the foot of the stairs

PracticumTwo Lectors, With Cantor• One Lector will process to the altar with the Book of Gospels• The Lector will place the Book of Gospels in the book holder on the altar and take his/her place on the ambo side of the altar• When the time comes to read the first reading, the first Lector will approach the altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo• The first Lector will proclaim the first reading• After a few moments of silence, the first Lector will take the Lectionary and return to his/her seat, making a profound bow at the foot of the stairs then handing the Lectionary to the second Lector• After the cantor has returned to his/her place, the second Lector will approach the altar from the ambo side making a profound bow to the Lectionary before ascending the stairs and taking his/her place at the ambo• The second Lector will proclaim the second reading• After a few moments of silence, taking the Lectionary with them, the second Lector will return to his/her place, making a profound bow to the altar at the foot of the stairs

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The Lector Ministry - Something To Think AboutSpiritual reflections on the Ministry of Reader/Lector

December 11, 2007 by ordinary guy

Yours is a share in the work of the Lord’s Spirit who opens our hearts to God’s holy word.Yours is the task of telling our family story, the story of salvation.Yours is to proclaim the true and saving word of God.You are the messenger of God’s love for us.Your task is to proclaim that word, which challenges, confronts, and captures our hearts.You proclaim a word that heals and comforts and consoles.Yours is the ministry of the table of God’s word, which feeds the hungers and the longing of our hearts for the truth.Yours is to offer the story of the “great things the Lord has done for us,” that we might turn to the table of Eucharist with good cause to give thanks and praise.Yours is nothing less than the ministry of the Lord’s voice calling out in the midst of God’s people.Come to your work from your personal prayer, praying that the Spirit will open your heart to what you proclaim.Prepare the word which is yours to speak: study the scriptures, understand the passage, let it dwell deep within you.

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The Lector Ministry - Something To Think About

Prepare the word which is yours to speak: study the scriptures, understand the passage, let it dwell deep within you. Come to your work in awesome reverence of the word you proclaim: it is the Lord’s word.Come to your ministry as one judged and saved by the word you speak.Anyone can read the scriptures in public; only the believer can proclaim them.Approach the ambo, the table of the Lord as you would the Lord himself, with reverence and awe.Handle the book of the Lord’s word with great care; it is a tabernacle of the Lord’s presence.Let your eyes fall often on the faces of the assembly; they are the body of the Lord whose word you proclaim.Let the Lord’s peace settle in your heart, that your voice may be clear and steady,Let your voice echo the sound of the word, with conviction, with gentleness, with strength, and with wonder.Remember that the story you tell is filled with a drama you need not supply, but must always convey.

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The Lector Ministry - Something To Think About

Like the prophet, you will sometimes proclaim what no one wants to hear; remember always your own need to hear the hard saying, and never imagine that your ministry places you above what you proclaim.If you are the best of the parish lectors, be gentle in helping others to improve.If you are the least of the parish lectors, seek out that help which others can give.If you do not know how well you read, ask: be grateful to constructive criticism and humbled by any praise you receive.Every lector wants to read at the Easter Vigil but not all will be assigned: be patient in waiting your turn and nourish by the word that others proclaim.Let no minister of the word think that there is nothing left to learn; another commentary and another workshop cannot but help the open mind and heart.When your brothers and sisters praise and thank you for your work, take delight in the word that you have heard and rejoice in the work the Lord has accomplished through you.Be faithful in the work you do, for through it the Lord saves his people.

https://aquietmoment.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/spiritual-reflections-on-the-ministry-of-readerlector/

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Resources & Q and AA great web site for lectors:http://www.lectorresources.com/index.html

Lector Training and Questions:Rita Grayritagray2@gmail.com(408)605-4083