We’ve all participated in Mass celebrations that are upbeat. As a result of taking part in quality liturgies, we are energized to extend into the world the love that we’ve celebrated.
Uplifting liturgies don’t just happen. They come about with the Lord’s help in and through persons like ourselves who put our whole selves into what we do. All of us are called to put ourselves wholeheartedly into each liturgy that we attend.
Mass ministers each have a distinctive role to exercise to enhance the liturgies that we celebrate. Every Mass ministry calls for preparation and work that often are not evident to the majority of worshipers. For example, our greeters and ushers come well before Mass and remain after Mass to extend the hospitality of the parish to all who come. First impressions are significant. Visitors are left with a favorable impression of our parish as a result of the proactive efforts of greeters and ushers to express a welcoming atmosphere.
Parents of altar servers work behind the scenes as they manage to have their children present in the sacristy at least 15 minutes before the Masses at which their children are scheduled to serve. I marvel at and thank parents who make this kind of sacrifice. A hidden sacrifice that many make is that of doing all that they can to try to get a substitute when their child(ren) cannot be present at a Mass at which they are scheduled to serve. I don’t mind lighting the candles and putting the Roman Missal on the credence table before Mass when scheduled servers or their substitutes don’t show up, but I’m concerned about the impression that this makes upon persons who come to worship.
Our parish musicians put significant behind-the-scenes work into the exercise of their ministry. Hours of preparation go into their distinctive role of inviting all of us to participate as fully as we can in our liturgical celebrations.
What a blessing it is that our lectors prepare ahead of time to proclaim the Word of God in a powerful and convincing manner! Lectors don’t just “read” aloud the Scriptures. Their mission is to “proclaim” the Word of God in the spirit in which the Readings call for this. Because the proclamation of God’s Word is one of the vital ways in which the Lord is present in our celebrations of Mass, it is essential that this ministry be exercised well. For this reason, when for a given Mass a scheduled lector or his/her substitute does not show up, my preference is to proclaim the Readings myself rather than to draft someone at the last minute for this important task. A draftee simply hasn’t had the time needed to prayerfully reflect upon the Reading(s) that need to be proclaimed worthily and well.
Our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHCs) also work behind the scenes. At least every two years, they need to participate in on-going enrichment. Many of our EMHCs bring the Eucharist to homebound persons and to individuals in hospitals and in other institutions on a regular basis.
I pray that the spirit of those who exercise distinctive ministries at our Eucharistic celebrations will be contagious. A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into the effective exercise of each of these ministries. On behalf of our parish communities, I want to extend a note of deep gratitude to those who serve in distinctive Mass ministries. May their spirit and example inspire each of us to live the faith that we gather to celebrate both in ways that are public as well as in ways that are behind-the-scenes.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Nelson Beaver – Pastor