A Christian community must be above all else a welcoming community.  Hospitality Ministers are the Welcoming Committee/Ambassadors of the church before, during and after Mass as they are often the first and last person that a parishioner or guest sees as they enter or leave the church.
 
General Duties/Responsibilities
 

• Greet and welcome parishioners and guests as they enter the church; assist them in finding seating based on their needs
• Coordinate the presentation of the gifts during the Offertory; find individuals to bring up the gifts of bread and wine
• Take up the collection
• Coordinate the communion procession.  Make sure that those who cannot go up for Holy Communion receive communion
• Attend to emergencies as they arise
• After Mass, pass out the weekly bulletins
• Assist anyone who has special needs in leaving the church
• Ensure that the church is neat and orderly after Mass ends

 
Hospitality ministers generally commit to serving at a specific Mass each weekend on a regular basis.  There may be some who assist only with large Masses or special events in the church.
 
Qualifications
 
Any Catholic man or woman who is an active, registered member of the parish is eligible as long as they are available to fulfill their ministry as assigned.  The key ingredient is a welcoming, friendly attitude.  Hospitality Ministers can range in age from teens to seniors and anywhere in between.
 
Training sessions are held periodically as needed.  Individual training sessions are also available.  For more information, please contact the parish office at 860-747-6825.
 

Ministry of Reader, also called Proclaimer of the Word or Lector
 
“The reader proclaims the word to the assembled faith community.  It is that simple and that sublime.  It is a simple ministry, but not in the sense that it is easy to do well or can be done with little energy or effort.  Simplicity refers to mode of this ministry, the reader’s ability to proclaim the Word transparently so that the Word itself – not the proclaimer – is placed in the foreground.  Simplicity does not refer to the reader’s task, either, for the task itself is quite challenging.  Not everyone is equal to it.

Men and women who take on the ministry of reader are presumed to be of good faith, eager to serve their fellow Christians and willing to engage in ongoing formation into effective service.  But it is not presumed that they are particularly holy, exceptionally gifted or highly skilled in communication techniques.  Basic abilities are required . . . .  Highly developed communication skills related to certain professions (public speaking, broadcasting, acting, for example) must be developed by the reader, but they do not in themselves render a person capable of effective liturgical proclamation.  The purpose of liturgical worship is very different from the purposes we find in the work of professional communicators to convey information, entertain, persuade to action and so forth.  The liturgy may do all of these things, of course, but they are not its purpose; its purpose is to celebrate the faith shared by the worshipers.
 
Finally, the mere wish or willingness to serve as reader does not qualify one for the ministry.  This statement sounds harsh; no one wants to discourage a volunteer.  But the fact remains that the ministry of reader is a charism for the building up of the community.  It requires certain native abilities that some do not have, such as an adequate vocal instrument, for example.  It also requires self-possession, confidence, maturity, poise and sensitivity to the diversity of one’s audience.  Such qualities can be enhanced in a formation program but should be present to a significant degree already in the potential reader.”
 
(Taken from A Well-Trained Tongue by Aelred R. Rosser, Liturgy Training Publications, 1996)

Duties
 

• Proclaim the Word of God (first and second readings) at weekend Mass
• Lead the Prayer of the Faithful in absence of Deacon
• Prepare during the week using Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers (distributed annually)
• Responsible for reading as assigned in monthly schedule or, if unable to do so, obtain substitute 
• A familiarity and love for Sacred Scripture and willingness to prepare well to proclaim the Word to the worshipping community
• Person of prayer
• Genuine desire to share the Word of God with others

Training will be provided.  The determination of who can serve as a Lector is the responsibility of the individual seeking to enter into this ministry, those involved in the formation and training of Lectors, and the Pastor.  It is understood that discernment is an essential and necessary part of entering into any ministry.
 
Qualifications

•  Confirmed Roman Catholic of high school age or older
• Active involvement in the life of the parish

Those considering this ministry should give their name and phone number to the Parish Office (860-747-6825).  The Lector Coordinator will then call with information.