The Church of
the Good Thief

Liturgical Ministries

Participation in the Holy Eucharist by all Catholics is a wonderful privilege, only available to us because we are made in the image of God and have been incorporated into His Body by His Son. It is a special privilege to be able to assist in the Eucharistic celebration as server, minister of communion, reader, presenter of gifts or minister of hospitality. Acceptance of these tasks brings graces which we should reflect in the way we live. An important part of the duties is our prayerful preparation.

Becoming a Liturgical Minister

You may indicate your willingness to serve in any capacity in the following ways by:

discussion with Fr. Timmins
completing a form found at the rear of the church, or this form - and dropping it into the collection basket at Mass.

Training and being mandated for a particular ministry are prerequisites. A schedule of Ministers is drawn up on a periodic basis and published in the Weekly Bulletin to show when individuals are expected to serve in their chosen capacity. If you are unable to make a particular date, please make arrangements for a substitute. It is preferable that men replace men and women replace women.

Liturgical Procession

It is our practice that all who act as Ministers in the Mass form part of the entrance procession. The normal makeup of the procession is (Cross Bearer at front):


        Server           Collector   Hospitality
Cross           Junior                            Readers 1, 2  Minister of   Priest
Bearer          Liturgy                                         Communion 
        Server           Collector   Hospitality

You are invited to participate in the liturgical ministries of the Parish!

Altar Servers

Servers are needed for Sunday, Saturday and Funeral Masses. The duties depend on the type of Mass but include cross-bearer, holding the missal at the presider's chair, setting and clearing the altar during Mass, serving the presider with the breads, wine and water, and with water and towel for the ablutions. At some Masses there is also the Thurifer or incense-bearer.

Girls and women as well as boys and men are welcome.

Ministers of Communion

Ministers of Communion have perhaps the most awe-inspiring role of all - to deliver to communicants the Body or Blood of Christ. They are approved by the Pastor and the Archbishop and are formally mandated for their task.

At Mass after purifying their hands, they bring consecrated hosts from the Tabernacle to the presider at the altar, receive the Body and Blood with the presider, and then distribute the Body or Blood to the People. The host is taken to persons unable to come to the altar. Special care is taken to deliver non-allergenic hosts to persons requiring them. Following communion, unused hosts are replaced in the Tabernacle.

Ministers of Communion also distribute communion to the sick or house-bound. This follows a liturgical format which is outlined on a leaflet which is available from Fr. Timmins or from the coordinator of household visits.

Readers

In general two readers participate in the Mass, although one may carry out the complete duties. Each reading needs to be carefully prepared beforehand, and some information should be sought about the organization of the Mass before the procession takes place.

The first carries in the Book of God's Word and places it on the ambo (lectern) open to the page for the Mass and returns to his/her seat. After the opening prayer, He/she moves to the stand and proclaims the first reading. This reader needs to check before Mass whether or not the choir will sing the Psalm. If they do, the reader leaves the ambo after a period of silence. If they do not, after a period of silence, the response to the Psalm is first read and the People respond, then each verse of the psalm is read allowing the People to make the response. The reader then leaves the ambo.

The second reader goes to the ambo and proclaims the second reading. He/she leaves after a period of silence. Near the end of the creed, the second reader proceeds to the ambo and waits for the presider to introduce the Prayers of the Faithful. Before Mass, this reader needs to check the location of these prayers and whether any special intentions (particularly for those who are sick or who have died) should be included. He/she leaves the stand after the presider's concluding prayer.

At the end of Mass, the readers process from the Church leaving the Book of God's Word on the bookstand at the back of the Church.

Collectors

Two persons take up the collection during the Offertory. Following the procession, they will sit on opposite sides of the central aisle. At the Offertory, the baskets will be picked up from the altar and passed along the pews from the central aisle. On completion, the baskets are placed together and both collectors present the offering to the presider.

Ministers of Hospitality

Ministers of Hospitality stand in the entrance hall to welcome people to the celebration of the Mass. At the end of Mass in a spirit of hospitality they offer each one the parish bulletin. The purpose of this ministry is to give all parishioners and visitors the feeling of belonging to the community of faith. In the absence of a Junior Liturgy or other arrangements, following the Offertory, the Ministers of Hospitality move to the back of the Church to bring the water and wine to the Altar in procession following the collectors.

Presentation of the Gifts

For Sunday Mass, the water and wine is normally brought from the rear of the church by members of the Junior Liturgy, or the Collectors, if there is no Junior Liturgy. At other Masses, the gifts are brought by the Ministers of Hospitality.

Junior Liturgy

A special feature of the 10.00 am Sunday Mass is the Junior Liturgy. Children join the entrance procession and after a blessing from Fr. Timmins, are escorted into the Chapel for their own liturgical activities. They return after the homily and bring both the Gifts of Water and Wine and their own gifts prepared during the liturgy to the altar. Parents are invited to send or bring their children to participate in this liturgy, and volunteers are always required to help develop activities. Pairs of high school students can satisfy community service requirements in this ministry. For information and offers to help, please contact the coordinator.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Good Thief Choir

The Choir sings regularly at the 10 am Sunday Mass from September to June. Practices are held on Tuesday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. We welcome all adults and older children who can contribute to the Mass in this way. To join the choir, please contact the Director.

Saturday Ensemble

The Ensemble provides the music for the 5.15 pm Saturday Mass. Practices are held in the hour prior to Mass. To join the ensemble, please contact the Director.

OTHER LITURGICAL SERVICES AT MASS

Church Art and Environment

Themes for liturgical Feasts and Seasons are illustrated through decorative symbols, tapestries and flowers.

Sacristans

The Sacristans are responsible for taking care of the vessels, vestments, altar linens and candles etc that are required for liturgical ceremonies.

A schedule of volunteers is drawn up to look after the preparations for the Saturday and Sunday Masses. They are responsible for opening and closing the Church and ensuring that the lights and microphones are turned on and off and that the candles are extinguished. They ensure that all that is needed for the ceremony is in place - e.g. the chalice and ciborium with altar breads (regular and non-allergenic), water and wine cruets, that the Sacramentary and Lectionary are ready at pages for the Mass of the Day and the Prayers of the Faithful are available.

The Church ofthe Good Thief