Liturgy

Council Member - Sister Maggie Reynolds

Liturgy Planning Team

Liturgy is the worship offered to God by the assembled Church community.  It’s principle expression is the celebration of the Eucharist.

This is a team of committed parishioners who meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in Ordinary Time and every Wednesday during Lent and Advent at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre.

As it is the aim of the team to enhance our liturgical celebrations, the team endeavors to make the celebration of the Eucharist a meaningful community act of worship in an attractive and significant way by planning the celebrations, collaborating with Readers, Acolytes, Musicians and Eucharistic Ministers, and arranging the ascetical environment in which our celebrations are carried out.

Acolytes

The Acolytes ministry encompasses a combination of the roles of server and master of ceremonies.  Acolytes are under the direction of the Celebrant at the celebrations.  They can also be involved in distributing Communion to the sick, conducting Liturgy of the Word in a simple prayer service, lead Stations of the Cross during Lent, assist at Funerals and other liturgical celebrations.

Ministers of the Eucharist
Ministers of the Eucharist assist the Celebrant and Acolyte in distributing Communion to the community during the celebration of Eucharist.  They consist of lay men and women and we currently have 9 Eucharistic Ministers serving at weekend Masses and 2 serving at weekday Masses.

Ministers of Communion to the Housebound
A team of committed parishioners are commissioned at the Sunday Eucharist to take Communion to those who are sick and housebound.   This ministry connects those who are unable to be present with the assembled community at our worship.

Readers
Readers are rostered  at all the Masses to proclaim the Word of God to the community.  Readers prepare for this prior to the celebration and arrange a replacement for themselves if they are unable to attend for any reason.  Additional readers are usually contacted for special celebrations.

Musicians
The music groups are very active in encouraging active participation by the whole congregation and ensuring that the liturgy is celebrated with reverence and joy.  The use of overhead projector and transparencies are used to enable participation.  Musicians are available for most weekend Masses and if not, recorded music is used to enhance the liturgies.

Children’s Liturgy
Every Sunday in the school term, except the 4th Sunday of the month, Children’s Liturgy is held during the 9am Mass.  Two groups are held to cater for older and younger children.  Activity sheets based on the scriptures of the day are provided to enable children to enter into the liturgy at a level that is meaningful for them, and the sessions are prepared and conducted by parishioners.
On the 4th Sunday of the month, the Children’s Choir provide the music, do the readings and Offertory Procession.  Children are always welcomed and encouraged to participate in the Liturgies.

Liturgy of the Word with Communion
A Liturgy of the Word with Communion is held in the absence of the Parish Priest during the week.  These are prayerful services led by the Pastoral Associate or an Acolyte.

Prayers of the Faithful
These are the prayers of the community for the Sunday celebrations, and are written by various parishioners who are on a roster.  These parishioners reflect on the readings of the day and write the prayers accordingly, for which the assembled community prays.

Altar Society
Members of the Altar Society ensure that the Sanctuary, Sacristy, Vestments and Altar Linen are clean, tidy and suitably prepared for the celebration of the Mass and other services.

Funerals
These are arranged with the Parish Priest at the appropriate time.  In his absence the Pastoral Associate usually assists in helping a relieving Priest.  Funerals for people who have no connection with the parish are encouraged to obtain their own Celebrant but are welcome to use the Church facilities if available.