MINISTRY TRAINING 2009
It is important that you arrive early – 20 minutes for lectors, ushers and servers, 15 minutes for Eucharistic Ministers. That seems like a long time before mass, but by then people are coming to the sacristy to volunteer. The mass coordinator doesn’t know whether or not you are coming, (s)he just knows that you aren’t here yet, and might replace you. So please! – St. Mary’s needs you as a worship minister and wants you to participate! – but when you are scheduled part of your ministry is getting here on time!!
WEB TERMINAL – The web terminal makes communication very easy. Use this interface to:
sign up by specifying which mass times you attend and which weekends you do not want
to be scheduled
access your schedule
request subs
volunteer for more assignments
change your password
WEEKLY REMINDER – An email is sent out on Mondays to ministers who are assigned the following weekend. If you will be coming, or if you have found a sub, there is no need to reply.
BLESSING AND COMMISSIONING WORSHIP MINISTERS – One weekend soon at the masses we will bless and commission all the worship ministers. The priest will ask you to stand up at that time (probably at the end of the homily).
If you have any questions, contact Bobbi at 523-2153 or bkinne111@stmaryoxfordohio.org.
Please check-in in the sacristy by 15 minutes before Mass – earlier if possible. Let the Mass coordinator know you are here. If you are running late and don’t check-in, chances are you will be replaced. This causes confusion so please help out by checking in on time.
Eucharistic Ministers should come into the sanctuary at the Sign of Peace. Don’t wait for the music to start - ministers should be in their places before the Lamb of God is sung.
The presider will distribute the consecrated bread to all the Eucharistic Ministers, then wine. When you receive a cup, please take the purificator (small white cloth) before you drink. The first two ministers to receive cups give wine to one other EM (who will be the bread minister) and the servers. But be flexible. Once everyone has received the consecrated bread and wine, please take the lead to go directly to your stations. Don’t wait for the presider to lead!
We have changed the location of the two “center” wine stations. Instead of standing up against the pew, stand next to the wide wooden step. Face towards the center of the church. If you face towards the pews, people will stop directly in front of you and block traffic, which totally defeats the purpose of having two cups!
If a person in a wheelchair is in the aisle, both bread ministers should shift their positions a step or two away from the wheelchair. Our intent is to give the wheelchair-bound person more space.
If someone approaches you with their arms crossed over their chest they want a blessing. Hold your hand near their head or shoulder and say something appropriate such as “May God bless you all the days of your life.”
If a consecrated host is dropped someone must consume it. If you do not want to, that’s OK, but you must keep the host separate – maybe hold it under the plate with the fingers that are supporting the plate – and give it to the priest at the end of communion. Tell him it was dropped!
If wine is spilled you must keep people from walking through it. Ask someone to get the Mass Coordinator who will help you. The spilled wine should be blotted up with purificators – get more from the sacristy if needed. Those purificators should be rinsed out in a bowl and the rinse water is to be poured into the ground – NOT down the sink.
If there is wine left at the end of communion it must be consumed. No one is required to drink any wine, but please see that the wine is consumed. Consume the wine at the credence table. Help the other Eucharistic ministers consume the wine in their cups if necessary. Use your own judgment as to how much wine you should consume. Don’t cover the empty cups with the purificators. Ladies with a “baby-on-board”, or anyone underage, should offer their cup to another minister or the priest.
Fr. Jeff and Fr. John will both purify the vessels during mass. When visiting priests are here, watch to see whether or not they purify. If they do not, the Eucharistic Ministers must purify the vessels before washing them. Talk to the Mass Coordinator if you are uncertain as to what to do.
Because the priest will be at the credence table purifying the vessels, it becomes too crowded if the Eucharistic Ministers wait in the sanctuary. After placing your cup on the credence table, go to the foot of the stairs. When all the Eucharistic Ministers have gathered, bow and return to your seats.
On the schedule, two Eucharistic Ministers are designated as Clean-Up ministers. This means that they distribute communion AND help wash the vessels afterwards! Please take your turn when so designated and come to the sacristy after Mass to help.