Liturgical Ministry: Thinking Beyond the Roster

When rosters start to fail it is a powerful sign that liturgical ministry, indeed the community's Sunday worship, is under pressure. Frantic searches for servers, readers or ministers of communion a few minutes before Mass, or a gradual or sudden loss of singers in the liturgy are causes for concern. These can indicate more than roster failure; they may be signs that the formation, renewal and recruitment of liturgical ministers have not been as prominent in parish life as they might be.

For the Sunday eucharistic community to pray well, there are many roles that need to be filled. Some, like readers, ministers of communion, musicians and servers, are visible. Others, such as sacristans, liturgy teams and ministers of the environment, often work behind the scenes but the fruits of their labour are visible and no less significant. Arising from their baptismal commitment to love and serve, all liturgical ministers work together on behalf of the community. They publicly use their gifts to serve the assembly's prayer, to give witness to the presence of the Spirit and ultimately to work to build the Kingdom of God.

For the Church, the quality of communal prayer is important because participation in the liturgy is the Church's outstanding means of expressing the mystery of Christ and manifesting this to others (SC 2). Simply put, liturgical ministry seeks to foster active and full participation which transforms the faithful to live out their mission in the world.

Authentic ministry displays a connection between the liturgical act and life as a faithful disciple of Christ. The ability of the reader to proclaim with conviction the text they read, the hospitality of those who offer the chalice, the depth of faith of the psalmist who sings from the heart, the gentle encouragement of the children's liturgy leader, the desire of the team to breathe the spirit of their prayerful reflection into their preparation of the liturgy, the warmth and welcoming smile of those who hand out newsletters, and the careful and methodical preparation by those who handle the vessels and vestments, all convey an attitude of love that emanates from Christ, our most gracious host and brother.

Liturgical ministry is more than a 'job'. The newsletter notice penned desperately by the parish secretary, for instance, requesting new names for the roster without any reference to the qualities needed or the training involved, robs liturgical ministry of its sacral character.

The quality of our ministry is not achieved automatically; it is through grace, prayer, reflection, understanding, self-discipline and practice that we proclaim God's vision by our service. Discerning suitability, providing formation and training, and team building are essential elements of any recruitment process.

Recruiting Ministers

The search for new ministers can be a challenging task Urban parishes have a larger pool from which to draw new ministers but obtaining a regular commitment from people to attend a specific Mass is not always easy. 'Shop-around' Mass-goers can display a limited connection to the community beyond the actual worship experience. A variety of Mass options within a parish also poses some difficulties, especially for the least attended celebration. Even the trend towards conducting one's life 'online' may be placing the attraction of real-time physical gatherings under further pressure. Recent surveys of Mass attendance highlight a growing number who do not celebrate with the parish every Sunday. Strong identification with a regular Mass community is a significant factor when recruiting liturgical ministers.

Smaller communities, while having stronger communal ties, have more limited options. When the same faithful liturgical ministers seem to appear every week, sometimes other community members assume that only this small group is responsible or eligible for ministry. Many also genuinely worry that they do not have the gifts or skills needed; others are concerned that once they become a liturgical minister they may have to undertake this role every Sunday for the rest of their lives!

Whatever the challenges, the quality of liturgical celebrations and the degree to which people feel welcome are crucial in parish life. The social outreach, the strength of relationships, the nature of the community and strong participation in vision-sharing and pastoral decision-making are hallmarks of a vibrant community. The parish's understanding of liturgical ministry is also significant. These broader aspects cannot be ignored for they provide an important context to the recruitment and ongoing commitment of liturgical ministers.

Prior to a new recruitment process, it is a good idea to have an informed discussion and review of aspects such as age, qualities, the discernment process, the need for safety checks, and how invitations are extended. A liturgy team, in collaboration with ministry leaders and the local pastor, is well-placed to make these deliberations.

An annual ministry drive can be helpful but there are other recruitment pathways to explore. Newsletters, noticeboards and websites offer permanent reminders of the variety of ministries in the community as well as details of how a parishioner might volunteer for service. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a personal invitation, accompanied by an explanation of the gift of time involved, why the need, and some details of the training that will be provided, is a sound approach when seeking new ministers. Many existing ministers can be encouraged to spot potential in others, a role that some assume very well.

Methods of keeping track of one's ministerial commitment are evolving. Paper rosters work well for many but, as our dependence on electronic media grows, easy access to rosters and calendars on portable electronic devices may need to be considered.

Formation and Renewal

Formation and training need to be seen as fundamental in the recruitment process, a view that was underlined by the Second Vatican Council (SC 29). When cultivating links with schools and youth groups, liturgical ministry formation can sometimes be overlooked. The invitation to the deeper calling of liturgical ministry is not granting an honour; its origin lies in our common baptism and is illuminated through faith, personal gifts and the individual's developed craft. Especially when forming young people for ministry, we need to realise that expecting 'instant perfection' inhibits growth and development.

There are many ways to offer formation and there are a variety of components. The expectation that a single session will be sufficient may be misguided. Practical elements, such as using microphones, movement, or handling vessels, are significant not only because they are skills; they form part of the symbolic dimension of the rites. It is often more helpful if these elements can be practised individually, rather than shown in a single demonstration. While most are keen to learn practical skills, it is vital to include some general discussion on ministry as well to deepen participants' understanding of the liturgy. These broader aspects provide the context and encourage ministers to look beyond the performance of a task and understand the meaning it signifies.

Engaging a liturgy specialist can provide more specific training and supportive feedback for individual ministers, especially in areas that require a greater variety and depth of skills and knowledge. An online seminar could be of assistance to a cluster of smaller isolated communities. An experienced outsider can more easily assist the local community to review and reflect on the quality of their liturgical celebrations. Bad habits can be discussed: Why, for example, does a minister exercise various roles within a single liturgy? Why is communion given from the tabernacle? What can we do with readers who cannot be heard? Why do some ministers not participate with the assembly and its singing and responding? Why do ministers avert their eyes when offering the bread or chalice? Opening up a constructive conversation about these and other matters, provides an opportunity for the community to work together towards understanding and responding to significant issues.

Sometimes, collaborating with neighbouring parishes is an easier way of providing ministry formation. By taking turns to host sessions, communities with fewer resources can support greater variety of ministries. Where the customs or procedures in a particular ministry differ from parish to parish, each community would make a note and follow up accordingly. A fine do-it-yourself resource for liturgical ministry formation is Poweiful Points. The 22 general and specific ministry sessions have resources for leaders (a script for each session) with accompanying slides and discussion questions. With a computer in hand, these files are particularly useful for remote or isolated communities.

Ongoing formation is important to renew and support existing ministers. Many communities have found holding sessions during Lent, Easter or Advent to be effective. The readings, prayers and music of the seasons enrich our understanding with differing lenses and can promote a deeper exploration of ministry and discipleship.

Inviting existing ministers to share their experiences and insights is a wonderful way of describing, among other things, the grace that emanates from faithful service and prayerful interaction with the faithful. The short term pairing of experienced ministers to mentor newly formed ministers can foster the development of ministers beyond a training session. Encouragement and support can be given and concerns can be attended to within a supportive relationship. Providing positive feedback, settling anxiety, helping to locate readings, highlighting music challenges, responding to questions or even offering a reassuring nod can make a difference, especially when self-confidence is in short supply. Personal contact might be valuable when difficulties arise such as an unexpected absence or something that hinders a new minister in facilitating the assembly's participation.

A Collaborative Spirit

Liturgical ministers place themselves and their gifts at the service of the Church. Their ministry is a sign that all the baptised participate in the liturgy, not the ministers alone. Ministry fosters a collaborative spirit in the community and ministers serve the prayer and mission of the Church by working purposefully together.

Rosters need not fail. Poor communication can be overcome - there need not be any confusion if there is required a change of text or date, adaptation for a visiting group or a parish event. Consultation can take place. Feedback can be given. Ministers need not operate in isolation.

Formed well, ministers carry out their roles with reverence, dignity, understanding and skill and become open vessels for the movement of the Spirit. The worship of the community is served well when the parts of the body of Christ work together for the coming of the kingdom and have a shared vision of ministry and service.

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This article was originally published in Liturgy News ​Vol 47(1) March 2017.  Reprinted with permission.