This page provides a brief summary of some of the key ministries and roles in our parishes. Further information is available as part of training for some of these roles, as well as from the parish operations manager.
LINEN
Summary
On a monthly basis, pick up the used church linen (for example towels and purifiers), wash it, starch it and iron it as required. The used linen can be collected on Sunday after church or on Monday during office hours.
Details
- Monthly – pick up on Sunday after Mass or Monday morning during office hours – and bring back before the Vigil Mass on the following Saturday
- Collect the purifiers from the jug on the sacristy bench
- Towels from bag on sacristy door
- Wash towels
- Purifiers – starch and iron and fold according to instructions provided
GREETERS
Greeters come to church 15 min before the start of Mass, welcome parishioners by the church entrance and hand out newsletters. Children greeters hand out children’s sheet.
COMMENTATOR
Summary
Commentators read a scripted welcome greeting at the beginning of the Mass, and invite people to great one another. They also lead Prayers of the Faithful (prayers are provided each week).
Details
- Begins at the start of Mass with reading a scripted welcome greeting from the microphone at the front of the church (right hand side at St Ignatius)
- Invites people to prepare themselves by greeting one another
- Leads the Prayers of the Faithful (at St Ignatius; these are read by the Minister of the Word at Mother of Perpetual Help)
MINISTERS OF THE WORD/READERS (*needs training)
The (ideally two) Readers at each Mass read the First and the Second Reading. When the Responsorial Psalm isn’t sung or read by the people, they also read the Psalm prompting for response from the congregation.
At St Ignatius, the readers bring in the Lectionary (book containing the readings of the day) in procession at the beginning of Mass, and then carry the lectionary at the end of Mass. This ministry is one that requires training.
COLLECTORS
Collectors place baskets by pews before Mass, then collect baskets during the Offertory and then return them to the back of the church. Occasionally they organise children to bring up the collection.
COUNTERS
Counters count and record the money donated via the collections after the Mass in the office (at St Ignatius) or sacristy (at Mother of Perpetual Help).
ALTAR SERVERS (*needs training)
This is a role for boys or girls who have received their Sacraments of Initiation (i.e., First Communion) to serve at Mass at the altar. Training will be provided.
MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST/COMMUNION (*needs training)
Summary
Eucharistic Ministers process in with the Priest at the beginning of the Mass and are responsible for assisting the priest in distributing Holy Communion and/or giving blessings during the Mass at communion time. Training will be provided.
Details
- Process in with the priest at the start of Mass
- At communion time, come to the sanctuary/altar and sanitise your hands
- One person respectfully takes the ciborium from the tabernacle and places it on the altar
- Stand on either side of the priest
- Go to station and distribute communion or give blessing
- After communion, bring the vessels back to the altar for purification by the priest
DATA PROJECTION (*needs training)
This role projects the words for the hymns and responses during Mass at the appropriate time. Training will be provided.
MORNING TEA HELPERS
Morning tea helpers come to church 30 min before the Sunday morning Masses to set-up morning tea. This includes setting up tables, glasses, preparing coffee/tea pots. After the Mass, helpers serve hot tea/coffee and clean up used cups. Morning tea is usually completed 30 min after the end of the Mass.