Lectors

Lectors help to  proclaim the Word of God during weekend masses. They read the first and second readings, and occasionally the Responsorial Psalms.

The ministry of Lector is one of the most visible roles of service at liturgy. We appreciate all of you who are willing to take that ministry seriously, prepare well for it, and help bring the living Word of God to our parish community.

Reading Scripture aloud is more than merely reading the words well; rather, we are called to proclaim fully all of the life within those words. The workshop video below introduces practical techniques, borrowed from the time-tested work of professional actors, to turn reading into vibrant proclamation—but not performance. In addition, techniques are offered for making supportive critiques to hone others’ skills. Trust us: it is well worth your time to watch this video all the way through! 
Sponsored by Boston College,  School of Theology and Ministry
Presenter: Douglas Leal, former parish director of ministries, Los Angeles, and author of Stop Reading and Start Proclaiming.

1. Practice each week’s readings even when not assigned. It is good to familiarize yourself with Scripture. 
 
Be careful with the end of sentences and phrases. It is very easy to both drop the voice and to speed up near the end of a sentence or phrase, thus making the words difficult for the people to understand. Keep the same pace and volume, even at the end of a sentence/phrase.
 
2. Do not hurry! Let people be seated and quiet down. As you rise and approach the ambo, pray, "Lord, be on my lips and in my heart, that I may worthily proclaim the Good News of salvation." Within the reading itself, do not rush through. Speak SLOWLY. Remember, you and your listeners are not sitting around a dining room table.  Pause two or three "beats" after the reading before saying “The Word of the Lord.”
 
3. Prepare! It is so much richer and expressive if we have prepared well, looked up pronunciation of words and names, and have taken time to really study the reading so that it makes some sense to us. Practice reading aloud.
 
4. Learn to read with a microphone. Microphones do not mean that we should speak softer or softly. Elevate your voice above normal in volume and let the microphones amplify your voice. Adjust the angle of the microphone as well. 
 
5. To minimize "popping" sounds caused when you pronounce words that create a small explosion of breath into the microphone, adjust the mic so that you speak ACROSS it rather than INTO it. Also, adjust the height so that the mic is lower than your mouth, if possible. You won't project as well if you have to tilt your head up.
 
6. Normally, a person serving as a Lector does not fill any other ministry during a particular Mass. Therefore, you should not serve as a Minister of the Eucharist at the same Mass at which you are serving as a Lector. Of course, situations will arise where, for the good order of the celebration, you may be called upon to fulfill two ministries.
 
7. Website with pronunciation guide.
https://www.netministries.org/resources/resource-pronunciation-guide
 
8. Website with daily readings.
http://www.usccb.org/
 

Thank you for your YES! To serve our Lord.