The Lectors Ministry: Blessed to Proclaim the Word of God

For a while, parishioner Lee Crutchfield contemplated the idea of becoming a lector. He was already serving the parish as an usher, and the lectors who proclaimed the Scripture readings had caught his attention. One day, he attended a Mass and the lector was a young man with some speech difficulty.

“I was inspired by the young man,” Lee says. “He was very slow and deliberate in how he delivered the Scripture reading. I was so impressed by how he did it and how I could focus on what he was saying. I wanted to try that.”

Lee has now been a lector for about a year and he has coordinated the ministry for about six months. Being a lector has impacted how Lee experiences Mass. To prepare, the lectors use a workbook that reviews all three readings at Mass so that they understand how the readings are connected, even though they will only proclaim one or two of them at Mass. The workbook walks the lector through the pronunciation of difficult words so that he or she is prepared to read them aloud for the congregation.

“My Mass experience has been changed because I’m preparing for it,” Lee says. “I don’t always have time to spend reading the Bible during the week, but using the workbook helps me understand the meaning of the readings. I feel like I’m more a part of the Mass than just sitting out in the congregation. Usually, I’ll prepare for the readings even if I know I’m not scheduled, in case someone needs a sub.”

When Lee prepares to read, he practices the reading aloud at home and then reads it to his wife.

“The strange thing is, I feel totally different when I get up before the congregation,” Lee says. “I think I really feel the Spirit.”

You don’t have to have any experience in public speaking to learn to be a lector. Lee meets with new lectors one-on-one or in small groups after Mass to show them how to use the microphone and how to read the Prayers of the Faithful. The workbook they use gives tips on how to effectively read the Scripture and helps with pronunciation.

“It’s not as hard as you might think it is,” Lee says. “It’s something when you stand up there and look out at all those people, but you get used to it.”

Lee currently coordinates a rotating schedule of about 15 lectors. He tries to schedule two for each Mass and he is always looking to train new lectors.

“If you’ve thought about it, you should try it,” Lee says. “It’s an experience that is very, very rewarding. You’re getting more back than you give.”

If you have thought about becoming a lector and would like to learn more or be trained, please contact Lee Crutchfield at 913-492-5697 or 913-244-5545 (cell).

Lector Annie Barney proclaims the Word of God at Mass.