Sacred Worship Committee

Ministers of Hospitality

Ministers of Hospitality greet and assist parishioners and visitors as they arrive at the Cathedral to attend Mass or special parish and diocesan events. Tasks include distributing worship aids, helping with seating, collecting offerings and assisting individuals with special needs. By providing attentive service to others, hospitality ministers help create a pleasant environment for worship.

Lectors

Lectors (readers) fulfill an extremely important role in sacred worship at the Cathedral. The lector must “lift” the material from the lectionary and share that material with precision and clarity for those in attendance. This responsibility requires preparation prior to the assigned date. Lectors are provided a guide booklet which helps to achieve the desired result. Those wishing to become lectors need to contact the rectory or the liturgy coordinator and make known their desire to participate in this important ministry. There is an orientation/training session that helps to focus on the nonverbal and vocal aspects of effective reading. These sessions have, in the past, proven to make lectors much more comfortable and confident.

Mass Servers

Mass servers serve at the altar and assist the priest and deacon. Before Mass they light the candles and see that everything that is needed for the celebration of Mass is in its proper place. They may carry the cross and candles in processions. They hold the book, when necessary, for the priest or deacon. At the preparation of the altar they place the corporal, purificator, chalice(s), pall and missal on the altar. Servers assist the priest in receiving the gifts from the people, and bring the bread and wine to the priest or deacon at the altar during the preparation of the gifts. When incense is used, a server may act as thurifer, carrying the thurible and incense in procession, assisting the priest or deacon with incense, and incensing the people when there is no deacon present. Servers clear the altar after communion and present the water for the purification of the vessels. After Mass they extinguish the candles and bring back to the sacristy the sacred vessels and other items used during the liturgy. Mass servers undergo a training session with the Cathedral rector.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Communion ministers are commissioned with the approval of the bishop to assist priests and deacons with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist. They serve at weekday and Sunday Masses, and some also take holy communion to the sick and homebound. Members of the Cathedral can volunteer for this ministry by contacting the rectory. A training session is scheduled periodically. The liturgy coordinator schedules the communion ministers for all the Masses.

Sacred Music

Cathedral Gallery Singers

This group is a very fine mixed choir that is devoted to singing sacred choral music ranging from Gregorian chant through the best choral music of our time. The choir sings at the 10:30 Mass on Sundays from mid-September through mid-June, and for selected major feasts and special liturgical celebrations. The choir rehearses from 7:00 to 9:00 on Thursday evenings during these months. New members are welcome who have a voice that fits well into the sound of this particular choir, have the personality to work cooperatively in an ensemble, have the dedication to work toward the common goal, and possess a basic ability to read music notation. Membership is open to singers of high-school age and older. Interested persons should contact the music director to schedule a very simple audition.

Schola Cantorum

This small ensemble of men specializes in the singing of unaccompanied Gregorian chant. They sing at the Latin Mass (novus ordo) at 5:10 p.m. on the first Friday of the month outside of Lent. A simple audition is required.

Choir Section Leaders/Cantors

The principal choir of the Cathedral, the Cathedral Gallery Singers, has four paid section leaders among its members. These fine musicians are highly trained and provide assistance to other choir members. A substantial musical background is required, including degrees in music performance. Cantors lead congregational singing at Sunday liturgies and major feast days. Drawn exclusively from the membership of the Cathedral Gallery Singers, cantors must pass a highly selective audition in which they demonstrate exceptional musical and vocal skills.

Coordinator of Liturgy and Sacristan

The liturgy coordinator schedules weekend communion ministers and lectors for a two-month period, schedules them for weekday Masses, and schedules readers for leading the Stations of the Cross during Lent. When necessary the coordinator finds replacements. The duties of the sacristan include setting up for the three daily Masses and five weekend Masses. This person orders altar breads, altar wine, candles in various sizes that are used in the church (vigil size to Easter candle); and selects and cares for plants year round. The sacristan launders and mends all vestments as needed.