Welcome to an encounter with Christ, really present when we celebrate the Eucharist! We here at Saint Bridget are committed to helping one another encounter the Risen Christ through our worship. These pages are devoted to information and materials to help those who are called by God to liturgical ministry reveal Christ’s presence. I hope that you will visit them often and use their resources for discernment, prayer, learning and planning. If you have difficulty with any of the links on this site, please send your difficulty to communications@saintbridgetchurch.org and Michele Healy, Director of Communications, will look into it. Again, I welcome you to encounters with Christ, really present where two or three are gathered in His name.
The next Ministry Matters will be:
Spring Ministry Matters on
Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 8:30 - 12:00 pm
Are you looking for ways to become more involved in liturgy?
The Church calls us to full and active participation to help us celebrate liturgies that proclaim Christ’s Real Presence. Please prayerfully consider becoming a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Usher, or becoming involved with Music Ministry at St Bridget’s.
Many parishioners may be unaware that each weekend at St. Bridget’s nearly 100 Lay Ministers are needed for our five Masses. We are grateful for the service of all our Ministers who faithfully fulfill their Ministries and enhance the celebration of Liturgy, but we need more parishioners to join our lay ministry. We particularly need more Eucharistic Ministers and Ushers, and encourage those who are called to this service to join us at the Ministry Matters workshop.
Our next Ministry Matters workshop has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 16th. We invite all parishioners who are interested in liturgical ministry to attend this workshop for formation and training to serve these very important ministries. We are in need of additional ministers in all ministries. Please contact Joan Scarola at 525-7898 or jscarola@
saintbridgetchurch.org to reserve your participation.
A Theology of Lay Liturgical Ministry (Please click for full text)
“But you are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pt. 2:9).
All who serve in the orderly and faithful celebration of the Eucharist are baptized members of the Body of Christ, baptized priest, prophet and king. All of these Liturgy Ministers have both the right and the privilege to participate in the ministry of Christ. Participating in the ministry of Christ leads us to bring Him into our homes, neighborhoods and workplaces. It also leads the faithful, by virtue of their
Baptism, to bring His Real Presence to the liturgy. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal tells us that the most fundamental expression of our lay ministry is the “conscious, active and fruitful participation in the mystery of Christ” 1 Being in service to the greatest prayer of the Church is indeed a privilege.
Below is a brief description of each Minister:
Altar Servers assist priests during Masses and other liturgies. Girls & boys that are second semester fifth graders and older may be altar Servers.
Eucharistic Ministers assist in Communion distribution at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound. Eucharistic Ministers go through a brief training session.
Lectors proclaim the Word of God and Prayers of the Faithful, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak as Christ's Real Presence.
Music Ministry provides support for the community’s prayer by leading the sung worship as a cantor, singing as part of an ensemble or choir member, or providing instrumental support.
Sacristans work with the priest/presider to see to the orderly celebration of the Eucharist by setting up for Mass and by assisting other liturgy ministers in their work of mediating Christ’s Real Presence.
Ushers welcome all to the Mass as Christ himself welcomes us to His Table. Ushers provide for the comfort, safety and full, conscious and active participation of all who gather for worship.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word leaders invite children from 4 to 7 years of age to participate in our Children’s Liturgy program. During the school year, Children’s Liturgy is offered at both the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Masses.
1General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Introduction #5.
