Who Can Serve as a Lector at the Shrine?
Lectors are special liturgical ministers, whose principal duty is to serve the community by proclaiming the readings from Scripture during liturgies such as the Liturgy of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and on other special occasions when reading from Scripture are included.
The documents of the Second Vatican Council remind us that "in the readings, explained by the homily, God is speaking to his people, opening them up to the mystery of redemption and salvation, and nourishing their spirit. Christ is present to the faithful through his own word." God is, as it were, using the voices of ministers so that his people may hear Him. Therefore, a thoughtful and prayerful proclamation of the word opens the hearts of the community so that the Holy Spirit may speak to each one, enlightening, comforting or challenging them.
The documents of the Second Vatican Council remind us that "in the readings, explained by the homily, God is speaking to his people, opening them up to the mystery of redemption and salvation, and nourishing their spirit. Christ is present to the faithful through his own word." God is, as it were, using the voices of ministers so that his people may hear Him. Therefore, a thoughtful and prayerful proclamation of the word opens the hearts of the community so that the Holy Spirit may speak to each one, enlightening, comforting or challenging them.
Our children, teens, youth, young adults and adult members of the Shrine are invited to prayerfully consider joining the Lector's Ministry. Training will be provided.
Our Lector Ministry Leaders
|
Sunday 1st Mass
(8:00 am) Teckla Okenyi John Wanjohi Pauline Oburu |
Sunday 2nd Mass
(10:00 am) Loyce Mwaro (Others TBC) |
Sunday 3rd Mass
(5:00 pm) Alexandra Ogaye Hedwiq Ongera |
A Prayer Before Lectoring
Almighty God,
as I prepare myself to read, still my heart. Help me immerse myself in the scriptures to hear your message in them, that I may proclaim your message to others. I ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen |
About LectoringNot everyone has a gift to be a lector. But almost everyone can read clearly in public. There is no trick to this and not much skill. It simply takes practice. Reading over the Scripture ten minutes before Mass is not practice. Practice means reading aloud several times a day for several days at a minimum. If every lector put in this basic amount of practice, the quality of reading would improve dramatically.
But usually, this will still not be lectoring. That is, it would not be the kind of proclamation that can change hearts. To do that, lectors need to take a second step. They need to pray. They need to pray about the reading and with the reading. They need to discover, through prayer, the single most important point God is asking them to make through that particular reading. Then they need to shape their reading so that it focuses on that point. Not everyone can do this. To do it well is a talent and a gift of the Spirit. In the current Church canons, the office of Lector is officially an "instituted" office formally and canonically given to a person by the bishop. The reform of the Second Vatican Council extended to laypeople the opportunity to perform this liturgical role on a regular basis. Lectoring is not a right or a privilege. It is a ministry that helps bring people to faith. It is the power of God’s Spirit that calls us all to use our gifts for that mission. Some are called to lector, but most are not. The community is best served when those with a true gift for lectoring proclaim the Word. |
|
Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Karen, Nairobi
|
|