Lectors Ministry: Bringing Alive the Word and Treasures of the Bible

As Catholics, we are called to celebrate the Holy Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. The Holy Mass has many important parts, and one of those is the readings — for as stated in the second chapter of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, “In the readings, the table of God’s Word is spread before the faithful, and the treasures of the Bible are opened to them” (57).

Since the readings are an important part of the Mass, the person proclaiming them has an essential task. Bob Reis is the previous coordinator of the Lectors Ministry at All Saints. He recently handed the coordinator position over to Jan Storey. Both Bob and Jan have been lectors for many years.

“This ministry is an absolute joy and a wonderful way to serve God’s people,” Bob says.

“I love public speaking, and I love my Catholic faith,” Jan says. “Lectoring affords me an opportunity to share my faith with an attentive audience. It allows me to speak God’s truth with passion and compassion.”

Jan would love to see more people step forward as lectors. This is a ministry for those who enjoy public speaking and have a passion for the Word of God. There are quite a few lectors on the rotation, which means this isn’t a huge commitment.

For Bob, this ministry has been enriching. When he’s serving as a lector, he sees himself joined with all those who have shared the Bible since the beginning.

“You are proclaiming the words that have been with the church since the beginning, proclaiming them to your community like they were proclaimed to an early church community,” Bob says. Jan has found that proclaiming God’s Word as a lector has strengthened her faith. “Everyone, both young and old, loves a good story,” she says. “What better way to be a disciple of God than by telling the biblical stories found in the Old and New Testament? In doing so, we learn as well.”

Bob agrees — he is now better able to recognize the flow of the liturgical year and how the readings work together.

“God has a message for everyone at Mass,” he says. “I’m just a tool delivering that message.”

Bob and Jan both feel blessed to be lectors. It’s truly been a way for them to give back while sharing their gift of public speaking.

If you would like to sign up to serve as a lector, please contact Jan Storey at storeyjan@gmail.com. New lectors will receive training.

Jan Storey coordinates our Lectors Ministry.