Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church  

  Liturgical Ministries

Live your Baptismal Call to Service by building up the Body of Christ

There are many activities you can be involved with in your church that do not take a lot of time.

Lectors
The Lector ministry is a highly visible ministry. Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord during the Liturgy and lead the Penitential Rite and the General Intercessions. A lector must have a passion for Scripture; an ability to interpret and understand Scripture; and, sufficient public speaking skills to proclaim the Word to the congregation. Lectors currently serve approximately every 4-6 weeks, but must be willing to serve as needed.

Intercessory Prayer
Writers

General Intercessions are produced by parishioners whose ministry is to regularly write the petitions for the liturgies at OLMC. These are written following specific guidelines with support from various publications, coordinators and most especially the Holy Spirit. This is an invisible, yet essential ministry. Writers tend to be those who enjoy prayer, Scripture reflection, and are comfortable putting their thoughts in writing. Because prayers are community oriented, writers also should be aware of parish interests and activities. An editing team checks for clarity, flow, length and scriptural theme. The writer remains anonymous to all but the editing team. Preparation is ongoing. The amount of time involved varies with the need for prayerful reflection on the readings allowing for a draft version(s) and a final copy which is submitted ten days before the assigned liturgy. Using a computer is helpful but not required. Writers can be expected to write once every four to six weeks.
Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic ministers serve at Liturgy by distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to the gathered community. Generally, Eucharistic ministers serve twice a month at their preferred time of Liturgy. A Eucharistic minister needs to arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to liturgy and will need to remain after liturgy an additional fifteen minutes.
Hospitality
These ministers invite fellowship to continue after each Sunday morning liturgy. They extend hospitality to the community by providing coffee, juice, donuts, and a smile. There are normally two ministers assisting in setup and clean up before and after each liturgy. Families are scheduled once a month and children are welcome to participate with their parents.
Art & Environment
This team works behind the scenes to transform our Worship environment for the different seasons. Help is always needed. Families are encouraged to volunteer together during the various seasons. We are always looking for artists of various medias to help envision new ideas and work on our various projects throughout the year.
Altar Servers

Altar Servers actively participate with the Priest in performing the various parts of the liturgy. They remain attentive to the Priest for any special needs. Altar Servers report to the Mass Coordinator 15 minutes before Mass to see if special items will be used, such as incense or holy water, and ask for special instructions if there is a Baptism or during Lent and Advent. They can expect to serve at least every other month. The current schedule is available in PDF form.

Greeters
The Greeter is a minister of hospitality, chosen to reflect the warmth and welcome of Christ himself, always conscious of Christ's words: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me". The ministry is open to all - women and men, young and old. Couples and families are encouraged to join this ministry. Ministers serve at a Mass of their choosing, two times a month. They should come 20 minutes early to prepare to greet others, hand out missalettes, and distribute cross pins during the welcoming of guests and visitors.
Hopes Team
Helping Other People Express Sorrow (HOPES) The Hopes Team assists with funerals before, during and after the liturgy. They prepare the worship center for the funeral, serve during the funeral in whatever capacity is needed (Eucharistic Minister, Usher, Lector, Altar Server, etc..) and arrange a reception in the Commons for those gathered after the funeral (baking, setting up, cleaning etc..).
Sacristans
Sacristans work behind the scenes. They prepare the worship spaces for the celebration of the sacraments each week by polishing, light cleaning, and watering plants. Sacristans can expect to work for 2-3 hours, two days a month. They are usually able to work one day that fits their schedule, daytime or evening, on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
Ushers
Much of ushers' work is done behind the scenes. They help with preparations for a liturgy, such as lighting candles, preparing bulletins for distribution, and taking care of food collected at the liturgy. They arrange for people to carry the gifts in procession during Mass and assist with emergencies. During Mass, ushers assist with "traffic flow" at Communion, take collections, carry the Cross in procession, and hand out bulletins. Ushers must report to church at least 20 minutes early. They work in teams of six at each Mass and can expect to serve at least twice each month, sometimes more.
Wedding Coordinators
Wedding Coordinators share in a festive day and function in a dynamic liturgical environment to coordinate many different facets of a wedding celebration. They help liturgies flow smoothly, checking that the church and Worship Center are accessible and properly prepared and assist the wedding party in feeling at home. They accommodate any special requirements from the Priest and help with the rehearsal the evening before the wedding.
Mass Coordinators
Mass Coordinators function in a dynamic liturgical environment and coordinate the efforts of several diverse ministries. They make sure that the physical needs of the parish are met prior to, during, and following liturgies e.g. temperature, lighting, access, restrooms, etc. They help liturgies flow smoothly, checking that the church and Worship Center are accessible and properly prepared. They accommodate any special requirements from the Priest. They also check that Altar Servers and Lectors are available before the liturgy, and secure the offertory, Worship Center, and church building after liturgy.
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For further information, call us at (757)595-0385, or contact one of our staff members via e-mail.
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