Enhancing the spiritual life of our parish

Worship / Spiritual Life Commission (WSLC)

This Commission is a standing subcommittee of Parish Council.  Meeting roughly once per month, Commission members strive to enhance the overall worship experience at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish while constantly learning about the Catholic faith. To accomplish this goal, the WSLC incorporates guidelines presented by both the Diocese and the greater Catholic Church, as well as input received from the local community.

Specific Areas of WSLC Responsibility

Coordinate the overall worship experience at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish:

• Recruit, train and coordinate liturgical ministers for Masses, liturgical services, and various liturgical events
• Incorporate procedures, directions and suggestions provided by USCCB, Diocesan offices and clergy
• Discuss with Pastor ways to emphasize meaningfulness of various Solemnities, Feasts, and other liturgical celebrations
• Explore methods and guidelines for addressing spiritual needs and desires of parish community
• Encourage participation and sense of community within parish family at Parish liturgies

Plan spiritual enrichment events throughout year:

• Special liturgies – Mass of Remembrance (All Souls Day), Penance services, Diocesan Mass of Healing, et al.
• Catholic devotions – Stations of the Cross, Holy Rosary, etc.
• Parish Mission - Scheduled periodically based on availability of presenters

Oversee work of standing subcommittees:

• Art / Environment Committee (including Plant Care)
• Parish Mission Committee

Art / Environment Committee (AEC)

This group is a standing subcommittee of the Worship and Spiritual Life Commission (itself a standing subcommittee of the Pastoral Council).  Meeting irregularly throughout the year, AEC members strive to enhance the worship space and environment in which Mass and other events take place. To accomplish this goal, the AEC incorporates guidelines presented by both the Diocese and the greater Catholic Church, as well as input received from the clergy and local community.

Specific Areas of AEC Responsibility

Closely coordinate with the Worship and Spiritual Life Commission regarding seasonal and Holy Day décor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish:

• Plan and coordinate the decoration of the church, foyer, and surrounding spaces as needed for various liturgical seasons / events (particularly Advent / Christma and Lent / Easter)
• Maintain decorations, tools, and supplies required for decorating
• Coordinate any potential changes to decorating plans with WSL Commission and Pastor
• Review orders for poinsettias (Christmas), lilies (Easter), and other plants as needed

Oversee work of standing subcommittees:

• Plant Care Committee (handles weekly care schedule for live plants)
• Seasonal Cleaning and Decorating (volunteers assisting with larger events during Advent / Christmas and Lent / Easter)

Readers (R)

Readers are lay ministers who proclaim the Readings from Holy Scripture, the General Intercessions / Prayers of the Faithful, and certain other prayers from the ambo during Mass.  This ministry requires good speaking skills (diction, articulation, etc.), along with the ability to convey emotion and content without distracting the focus of the congregation.  Some preparation is required during the week, as the Reader should know the assigned Reading(s) well enough to avoid stumbling over unusual names, words, or syntax.  In addition, since certain Holy Days have separate Readings for different Mass times (e.g. Christmas Vigil, Midnight, Dawn, and Day) or several options for a given Mass (Easter Vigil), Readers must prepare for any potential changes and be ready to proclaim alternate sets of texts based on the circumstances.

Reader Training Outline

You can find the daily Readings for Mass on the USCCB website, including recordings which clarify the pronunciation as well.

IMPORTANT: On Solemnities, Feasts, and various other Holy Days, there may be a separate set of Readings for the daily Mass (e.g. 8:00 AM morning Mass vs. Holy Day Vigil Mass in the evening).  Be certain you are looking at the correct set of Readings for the Mass in question!

Additional resources for Readers:

USCCB Web Site - The Lector at Mass (link)
Aletia Web Site - Helpful "Rule" for Lectors (link)

Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLW)

Children’s Liturgists are the ministers who bring the light of Christ’s teachings to our youngest parishioners. Similar to Readers, this ministry requires organization, good presentation skills, and the ability to relate complex concepts to children on their level of understanding. Also similar to Readers, CLW requires preparation, as the readings must not only be reviewed but also understood well enough to convey the meaning and answer questions of all varieties. If you love working with children and have a passion for Christ’s message, then Children’s Liturgy would be a worthy ministry for you!

Children's Liturgy of the Word - Training Outline

You can find the daily Readings for Mass on the USCCB website, including recordings which clarify the pronunciation as well.

Hospitality Ministers (HM / Head HM)

Hospitality Ministers serve the congregation as greeters, ushers, and general “problem-solvers” as required. Far from just seating the congregation and distributing bulletins, they provide information to new parishioners, provide hearing assistance receivers to those in need, coordinate crowd control during special events and Masses, oversee the offertory collection, and serve those who require assistance during Mass (visitors, those with limited mobility, etc.). Those who can think on their feet, relate to many different types of people, and provide a helping hand are a perfect fit for this challenging ministry.

In addition, Head HMs assist the clergy with specific tasks before, during, and after the Mass. This can include setting up for Baptisms, securing the offertory collection, and assisting visitors on Holy Days. These ministers also coordinate with other scheduled ministries so that any gaps in coverage can be filled before Mass begins. Experienced HMs who wish to help as Head ministers can contact the Director of Music / Liturgy regarding training.

Offertory Ministers (OM)

These ministers primarily coordinate the distribution and collection of the offertory baskets during the preparation of the altar.  On special occasions, this process may include the collection of offerings from overflow seating and/or assisting the Hospitality Ministers (HMs) with their duties as required.

HM OM Training Outline

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC / Head EMHC)

An Extra-ordinary Minister of Holy Communion is a lay person who has been commissioned to distribute Holy Communion when there are not sufficient priests or deacons available and / or in the case of a serious necessity (e.g. taking Holy Communion to the sick and homebound).  The Extraordinary Minister is called extraordinary in order to distinguish him or her from the ordinary minister of Holy Communion, who is a bishop, priest, or deacon (Code of Canon Law, c. 910).  This privilege includes the preparation of sacred vessels on the credence tables prior to Mass, distribution of Holy Communion during the Mass, and clean-up / storage of the vessels after Mass is concluded.  EMHCs must be approved by the diocese and commissioned prior to beginning their ministry.  In addition, regular refresher trainings and re-commissioning are required according to guidelines provided by the Diocese and Parish.

A Head EMHC assists the clergy with preparation of the sanctuary prior to Mass.  This may include confirming the amount of Consecrated Hosts in the Tabernacle prior to Mass, requesting additional help from EMHCs if short on volunteers, and preparing any additional items / supplies.  Head EMHCs also typically assist with the refilling of patens from the ciboria during the distribution of Holy Communion.

EMHC Training Outline

You can learn more about the practice of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:

USCCB Web Site - EMHCs at Mass (link)

Altar Servers (ASB / ASX / ASA)

Altar Servers are the primary ministers who assist the clergy during the Mass and other important liturgies.  While Altar Servers (or Servers, for short) are often seen holding books, retrieving objects, and handling sacred vessels / objects, their ministry is greater than just these tasks.  Through their posture, their attitude, and their participation in the Mass, Altar Servers provide both an example of reverence as well as practical prompts for the participation for the congregation.

Training is normally provided in three sequential parts:

As Beginning Altar Servers (ASB), ministers will learn how to comport themselves during Mass, how to handle the Processional Cross (their primary function), and how to handle / set up / store the various vessels / items required for Mass.

Upon gaining experience and approval by the clergy, Beginning AS are invited to train as Experienced Altar Servers (ASX).  Training includes how to handle the Roman Missal, how to prepare / process with candles during any solemn processions, how to prepare the altar during the Offertory, and how to assist the clergy during the Consecration / Distribution of the Blessed Sacrament.

For those Servers who demonstrate exceptional mastery of the above skills, promotion to Advanced Altar Server (ASA) may be approved.  These Servers are often invited to assist during Holy Week, at funerals (as needed), and at Masses with the Bishop.  Training includes preparation and handling of the incense / thurible, the humeral veil and the Bishop's mitre and crozier.  These Servers may also have an opportunity to assist the Director of Liturgy with more involved tasks in the run-up to various Holy Days and events.

2022 AS Comprehensive Procedure Manual

2022 ASB Beginner Training Outline

2022 ASX Promotion Training Notes

2022 ASA Advanced Training Notes

Music Ministers (MM)

(Additional information about individual music ministries can be found on Sacred Music web page.)

Music Ministers provide the vocal and instrumental support proper to the actions of a given liturgy.  Followed closely by Readers and Children’s Liturgists, Music Ministers require the greatest amount of preparation prior to Mass, as music must be rehearsed and new music must be learned prior to use.

Vocalists may be organized into choirs, small Cantor Groups, or single Cantors, depending on minister availability and skill level. While fluency in reading music is not an absolute requirement, it is highly encouraged due to the wide repertoire associated with changing liturgical seasons and requirements.

Instrumentalists consist of Accompanists, one of whom normally coordinates at a given Mass, and any additional instruments available for the liturgy.

Current Choirs include:

• Our Lady of Lourdes Choir - 8:00 AM on Sunday (roughly Labor Day through Corpus Christi Sunday), as well as most Holy Days
• Contemporary Group - 9:45 AM on alternating Sundays, as well as some Holy Days / special Masses
• Teen Ensemble - 9:45 AM on most alternating Sundays
• Resurrection Choir - TBD, depending on funeral arrangements / special Masses