PROCLAIMERS OF THE WORD MINISTRY
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life. And this life was the light of the human race; The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”. John 1:1-5
Lectors or readers of the word are called to proclaim the Word of God at Mass. A lector is a storyteller, called to speak the words of salvation. This ministry requires above all a strong belief in and devotion to the truth proclaimed in the Scripture. Lectors need a loud, clear voice and should be comfortable speaking to large groups. New lectors attend a training/information session, held at various times throughout the year. Lectors must be commissioned accordingly by either the Bishop or his delegate atleast once a year.
When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, the readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of the greatest importance in the Liturgy. Although in the readings from Sacred Scripture the Word of God is addressed to all people of whatever era and is understandable to them, a fuller understanding and a greater efficaciousness of the word is nevertheless fostered by a living commentary on the word, that is, by the Homily, as part of the liturgical action.