Liturgical Ministries

Perhaps the most vital part of our life as a worshiping community is our Liturgies. From the absolute pinnacle of the Easter Triduum – Holy Thursday – Last Supper, Good Friday – Passion and death, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday – to the regal celebration of Christ’s birth in Christmas, we have interspersed thirty-three Sundays and weeks of “Ordinary Time.” Ordinary, not because they are common uneventful and routine, but rather ordinary because they are an orderly progression of every beautiful facet of our complex and mysterious Salvation history. The Liturgy Committee is composed of representatives from various other Ministries which exist in service to our Liturgical celebration including Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Music, and church decoration.

Great care is taken to ensure that all of our liturgies are beautiful, moving, and cohesive expressions of the love between God and his people. Through careful planning, the celebrant and the Director of Music ensure that the flow of each liturgy remains reverent and prayerful at all times. In choice of music, prayer, and decoration of the worship space, we strive to tie all elements of liturgy together (in keeping with the liturgical season and/or feast day) in order to enhance the worship experience of our parish community.

The youth of the parish are the future of God’s church, and so we are committed to ensuring that the children and youth of our parish feel that they can contribute to, and be enriched by our various liturgies. To that end, we instituted a Sunday Youth Mass which the children attend prior to catechism, our children also participate in occasional mass activities, liturgies and processions throughout the year.

The Altar Server Ministry is open to all boys and girls from the fourth grade and above. This ministry assists the priest at the celebration of Mass. The Altar Server or in the proper name, Acolyte, has an important part in the celebration of the Mass. It is the Altar Server who leads the procession into the church for the beginning of the Mass, makes sure the book of prayers is available for the priest and leads the faithful from the back of the church to the altar for the Offertory Procession. The Altar Server is also responsible for getting the Chalice to the altar, presenting the priest or Deacon with the water and the wine, taking part in the priest’s washing of hands and leading the recessional after Mass.

Another liturgical ministry that has grown as a result of the reforms of the Vatican Council II, is the Ministry of Lector. Lay men and women are blessed to be enabled to use their voice to proclaim the Word of God to the glory and praise of His kingdom of life. Assumption is blessed to have many parishioners who volunteer to lector at the regularly scheduled weekend Masses and at selected services on Holy Days. With the exception of the Sunday 7:30 AM Mass, which has one lector, two lectors are scheduled for each Mass. To the extent possible, lectors rotate through each of the regularly scheduled Masses and alternate between the first and second readings.

Lectors are selected/invited by the Pastor and are trained on an “as needed” basis and scheduled quarterly by a volunteer coordinator.

This ministry provides an opportunity to actively participate in the Liturgy of the Word. Lectoring offers an opportunity to increase one’s knowledge of the Scriptures

One of the liturgical ministries that arose as a result of the Liturgical renewal of Vatican Council II, is the sacred ministry of Eucharist Minister. It is an extreme honor to be able to become the hands and feet enabling Christ to offer His body and blood to all His dear people.

There are selected members of Assumption parish who serve as Eucharistic Ministers. They are most visible at our weekday and Sunday Liturgies where they help with the distribution of Holy Communion. Without their help, we would not be able to offer the precious blood on a regular basis. Many of these ministers also take the Eucharist to the homebound and elderly who are unable to come to church. 

The schedule is prepared quarterly by a volunteer coordinator. Ministers are selected/invited by the pastor, who also participates in their training. 

At each Mass, ushers are responsible for directing parishioners to available seating, taking up the weekly collection and other special collections, distributing bulletins and other materials, and straightening the church after the Mass. The ushers keep things organized and secure the Sunday collection.

Assumption Church’s Music Ministry is a group of dedicated professionals and volunteers who seek to honor God through musical expression. It endeavors to offer music of all styles to enhance and uplift our worship experience and encourage the musical participation of Assumption congregants.

People of all ages are invited to come and “Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord”. Our Adult Choirs rehearse weekly. Our Cantors or Psalmists, Leaders of Song, Organists, Choir Members, Instrumentalists, and the Director of Music Ministries join the worshiping assembly at special and weekend liturgies throughout the liturgical year.

Dr. John Valeri is the Parish Liturgical Ministry Coordinator; contact Liz Myers at 520-705-8908 with questions about our Music Ministry.