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Liturgical Ministries
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“And their charge shall be the Arc and the table and candlestick and the altars and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister and the hanging and all the service thereof.” - Numbers 3:31
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The St. Augustine Liturgical Ministries support the spiritual life of the church through their direct service to and during the celebration of the Mass.
Adult Altar Servers, EMHC, Lectors, and Altar Guild members support the celebration of more than 225 Masses at St. Augustine each year! Their roles are as follows:
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Adult Altar Servers
Adult Altar Servers support the celebration of the Mass by providing altar support to the priest celebrant in the absence of a deacon.
When a deacon is not present, the Adult Server works with the Youth Altar Server(s) to assist the priest in executing the rituals of the Mass.
When a deacon is present, the Adult Server supports the Deacon and/or the Youth Altar Server(s) in supporting the celebrant during the Mass.
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Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are laypeople who assist the priest and/or deacon (the ordinary ministers) with distribution of the Blessed Sacrament at Communion.
EMHC's must be trained and commissioned for this role.
Their service is considered "extraordinary" because the priest and deacon are the primary, or "ordinary" ministers of Communion.
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Lectors
Lectors primary role within the Liturgy of the Word is to read the assigned passages from Sacred Scripture, typically the First Reading (often from the Old Testament) and the Second Reading (from the New Testament epistles) during the Liturgy of the Word portion of Mass.
They also read the welcome message at the beginning of Mass and the Intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful, also known as the Universal Prayer or general intercessions.
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Altar Guild
The Altar Guild is responsible for the care and maintenance of our sacred worship spaces. They ensure the correct liturgical colors are selected for the altar and sanctuary dressing. In addition, the Altar Guild decorates the church for all seasons, individual feast days and solemnity celebrations.
The Altar Guild works closely with the parish sacristan.
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Adult Altar Servers do not have regular meetings outside of Mass. They are required to attend a training workshop at least once every 12 months to remain active in the ministry.
Adult Altar Server training sessions are held once every three months and are listed in the parish bulletin and announced at the end Mass.
There is no limit to the total number of years one can remain active in the ministry as long as the parishioner continues to attend annual training sessions and meet all other requirements.
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EMHC do not have regular meetings outside of Mass. They are required to attend a training workshop at least once every 12 months to remain active in the ministry.
EMHC are scheduled to serve different numbers of times depending on the needs of the parish. Most EMHC serve at least two or three Sundays per month.
Training sessions are held once every three months and are listed in the parish bulletin and announced at the end Mass.
There is no limit to the total number of years one can remain active in the ministry as long as the parishioner continues to attend annual training sessions and meet all other requirements.
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Lectors do not have regular meetings, outside of Mass. They are required to attend a training workshop at least once every 12 months to remain active in the ministry.
Lectors are scheduled to serve different numbers of times depending on the needs of the parish. Lectors who attend the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil generally read once or twice a month. On Sundays, Lectors who attend 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Masses generally read once per month. Lectors who attend 12:30 p.m. Mass generally read once every 8 weeks.
Training sessions are held once every three months and are listed in the parish bulletin and announced at the end Mass.
There is no limit to the total number of years one can remain active in the ministry as long as the parishioner continues to attend annual training sessions and meet all other requirements.
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Altar Guild members are scheduled to serve different numbers of times depending on the needs of the parish.
Holy Week/Easter and Christmas are the busiest times.
Parishioners can support the Altar Guild by donating flowers, plants, Christmas trees, chalices, candles, or other liturgical ritual or decorative items to the church.
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Join Our Ministry!Joining a liturgical ministry is a wonderful way to deepen your personal connection to the Mass and grow in your faith. By actively participating as an Adult Altar Server, EMHC, Lector, or serving in the Altar Guild, you move beyond simply attending worship to actively contributing to its beauty, reverence, and smooth flow.
It's a tangible way to offer your unique gifts and talents in service to God and your parish community, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and enriching the liturgical experience for everyone present. Consider sharing your gifts and becoming a more integral part of your church's central act of worship.
Take the next step! Submit the form and one of our liturgical ministry leaders will be in touch!
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Contact UsMonica Gray, Chair
Liturgy Planning
Tracey Tanner, Chair
Altar Guild
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