Music Ministry
It is the vision of St. Dominic Music Ministry to serve St. Dominic Catholic Church, its parishioners, and the surrounding community by enhancing liturgies with prayer and reverence in worship.
“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.”
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve our parish as they assist the Ordinary Ministers of Communion (priests, deacons, bishops, and installed acolytes) in the distribution of the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at the Mass. The Second Vatican Council stated that Catholics could receive Christ under both species. Obviously, priests needed help in accomplishing this; thus Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion came to be.
“The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’ … For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch.”
CCC 1324
Prayer for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Heavenly Father, I thank you for calling me to serve you and your people in this community as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. You know that I could never be worthy of such an exalted honor. Help me to be less unworthy by remaining free from sin. Let me nourish your people with the witness of my life as I feed them with the Body of Christ.
Grant your strength and holiness to all your extraordinary ministers and make us worthy to bring Christ to others.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Lectors
The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Universal Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings.
In the celebration of the Eucharist, the lector has his own proper function (cf. nos. 194-198), which he himself must carry out. (GIRM, no. 99)
“God is the author of Sacred Scripture. The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
CCC 105
“Servers should be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. They should have already received holy communion for the first time and normally receive the eucharist whenever they participate in the liturgy.”
USCCB, Guidelines for Altar Servers
Sacristans
Many of the Sacristan’s duties are related to taking care of the Sacristy and the sacred items in the Sacristy. This is the secure area of the church which serves as a holding room for the sacred items used in the Holy Mass. It is usually a small room off to the side of the altar. In the sacristy, there is a standing observation of silence.
“Now, the first duty of a Sacristan is, to weigh the importance of his duties; and it is hoped that even so trifling an effort as the present may lead to this result, by pointing out the necessity of care and cleanliness in all that relates to the Church, and that hence, by the blessing of God, it may indirectly further the ends of personal sanctification.”
The Sacristan’s Manual
Hospitality Ministry
Ushers and Greeters are called to be Ministers of Hospitality. They are entrusted with promoting a sense of welcoming and belonging to all the faithful assembled for worship. They are the first point of contact for the communal celebration of the Liturgy and because of this, should take special steps in being living representatives of the Parish Mission Statement.
“Let the church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved, and forgiven.”
Pope Francis
Ministers of Hospitality minister to the entire community in a very active way. By freeing each person of their own personal impediments to the Mass through a welcoming atmosphere, ministers of hospitality take an active role in enabling each person to come to a freer expression of God in the Liturgy.
