"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
-- Luke 2:14

What is a lector? A lector is someone (other than the Priest or Deacon) who proclaims God's word in the liturgy. In some churches, they are known as Ministers of the Word.

Usually, a lector's responsibilities include proclaiming one or both of the readings that precede the Gospel, and the Petitions or Prayers of the Faithful for the Mass. Lectors may also make general announcements after Mass.

Who can become a lector? Members of this ministry include men and women of various ages, backgrounds, and marital status.

What are the qualifications necessary to be a lector? The ability to stand before the congregation and proclaim the message of the Scripture in a clean, articulate, well-modulated voice with proper enunciation and pronunciation, so that the Word of God is heard and understood by the assembly.

It is that simple and that sublime. Although the ministry looks simple, that does not mean that it is easy to do well. Lectors should review the readings, and use their Bible to look at the passages immediately before and after the selections to better understand the context of the chosen selections.

Practice, practice, practice. Read the selections aloud. Often, that is the only way to identify difficult pronunciations or word flow.

Can I choose which Mass time I would most like to have? When you decide you would like to participate in this ministry, you will be asked about your preferences. A quarterly lector schedule is published on Holy Name's web site and a few copies will be available in the church.

If you have any questions or would like to become a lector at Holy Name, please contact Kathy Ferrari at 672-6116

Lector Schedule and Instructions