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Opportunities for Liturgical Ministry at St. Paul's
Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly. At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist. He is high priest of the New Covenant; it is he himself who presides invisibly over every Eucharistic celebration. It is in representing him that the bishop or priest acting in the person of Christ the head (in persona Christi capitis) presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings, and says the Eucharistic Prayer. All have their own active parts to play in the celebration, each in his own way: readers, those who bring up the offerings, those who give communion, and the whole people whose "Amen" manifests their participation. |
| Catechism of the Catholic Church |
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There are at St. Paul's three active groups of liturgical ministers: eucharistic ministers, lectors, and altar servers; they are guided by the parish Liturgy Commission. Formal training through workshops and seminars, sponsored by the Liturgy Commission, is provided for all ministers. The commission actively seeks persons to participate in liturgical ministry, both those who have previously served at St. Paul's or other parishes and those interested in undertaking this service for the first time. Another important ministry in the celebration of the liturgy is that of greeter or usher. |
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| Eucharistic Ministers |
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Ministers at St. Paul assist with the distribution of communion under both species at the liturgy and also take the Eucharist to patients in the Stillman Infirmary and to homebound parishioners. Generally, eucharistic ministers serve at the hour most convenient for them by registering in the sacristy before Mass. Some ministers receive further training in coordinating the communion rite. In the Archdiocese of Boston, eucharistic ministers are appointed by the pastor for a term of service, and at St. Paul one may nominate oneself or another parishioners for this appointment. The parish requires large numbers of ministers to assist with the reverent distribution of the sacrament.
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| Lectors |
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As ministers of the Word, lectors proclaim the scriptures other than the Gospel, as well as the prayer of the faithful at Mass, and thus play an important role in building up faith among the people of God. Lectors choose the liturgy at which they would like to read and indicate which Sundays they are available. Schedules for lectors are arranged several months in advance several times a year. To assist our lectors with training formation, each reader is supplied with a workbook and asked to participate in workshops held throughout the year. To learn more about serving as a lector, contact Mary Alice Harrington at 617-876-4402.
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| Altar Servers |
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Altar servers function at Mass in a variety of ways. They carry the processional cross and candles, they assist with incense, and, most importantly, they prepare the altar and gifts for the Eucharistic offering. Servers are asked to function at least once each month and to participate in training sessions and special preparation meetings for major celebrations. For more information, contact Fr. Savage at 617-491-8400.
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| Greeters and Ushers |
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In the document Environment and Art in Catholic Worship the American bishops state that "liturgy flourishes in a climate of hospitality: a situation in which people are comfortable with one another, either knowing or being introduced to one another...." At. St. Paul's greeters and ushers drawn from parishioners and parents and friends of the Choir School serve at the Sunday liturgy to foster a sense of welcome and hospitality and to assure the good order of prayer by assisting with the collection and the presentation of the gifts.
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Music has been important at St. Paul Church since the earliest days of the modern liturgical movement, and it continues to be so today. In addition to the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School, which sings at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sundays between September and June as well as on weekdays, there are other opportunities for service to the parish in the ministry of music. |
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| Parish Adult Choir |
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The Parish Adult Choir, which has been singing at St. Paul's since 1982, is an integral part of the liturgy at the 9:30 Sunday Mass. It provides parishioners the opportunity to be involved with music, encourages the congregation to sing, and, in the words of one long-time member, brings to the Mass music that inspires devotion and cheers the soul. The music it sings is the choir's offering to the worship, while its effort to achieve musical excellence, by embracing the great musical tradition of the Catholic Church, is its heartfelt gift to the parish. The choir performed its first concert in 1990, and since then it has given two concerts a year as well as other performances.
Although the ability to read music is not a prerequisite, a good "ear" and pitch are essential. There is no formal audition; prospective members meet with the director for discussion and section placement. Contact Director Jennifer Lester at 617-868-8658 for more information.
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| Men's Schola |
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The Men's Schola is the oldest musical group at St. Paul Church. It was founded in the 1940s by Music Director Emeritus Dr. Theodore Marier to sing the Gregorian chant propers at the 11:00 Mass on Sunday. With the founding of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School in 1963, the Schola was recruited to sing the tenor and bass parts in a wide repertory of music composed for treble and men's voices. The Schola still occasionally sings by itself, either a piece of Gregorian chant or polyphony.
The Schola sings with the boys' choir at the 11:00 Mass on Sundays from September to June, participates in the Christmas and spring concerts, and sometimes joins with the boys' choir in special events.
Schola members come from all walks of life, drawn together by a love of the classical repertory of church music, which ranges from Gregorian chant to contemporary compositions. The choral music is diverse in style and both challenging and rewarding to sing. Admission to the Schola is by audition; for more information, contact Director of Music John Dunn at 617-868-8658.
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