LITURGY COMMITTEE

Purpose: 

Our ministry is to provide the community of St. Mary of the Presentation with good, true and beautiful worship that invites each member to enter into the Paschal Mystery in their own lives, appealing to the senses and to the imagination so to know more deeply what it means to live, die and rise with Jesus Christ. We do this through the liturgies of the church including the sacramental rites, devotions, related ceremonies, and events. We encourage full and active participation in these celebrations, especially public prayer. 

Why a Liturgy Committee:

The revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal notes that since liturgy is the “primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian Spirit … the entire celebration is planned in such a way that it leads to a conscious, active and full participation of the faithful both in body and mind” (No. 17). Since the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist is the “source and summit” (SC 11) of Christian life, the Liturgy Committee is actively and directly connected and concerned with all the aspects of the liturgical and sacramental life of St. Mary of the Presentation.

The Liturgy Committee collaborates with the Pastor, Parish Council, and the Office of Worship of the Diocese of Richmond. It develops and establishes objectives to accomplish for the parish, with attention to the specific needs of our faith community and with fidelity to Roman Catholic norms.

Responsibilities:

• To discern the parish’s worship/liturgical/prayer needs

• To coordinate planning and scheduling of the liturgical celebrations for seasonal and special celebrations

• To coordinate, support and evaluate all liturgical ministries in the parish, i.e., readers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, lectors, cantors, musicians, etc.

Membership - If interested in assisting on any of the Liturgical Ministries, please see the pastor or the Liturgy Committee Chair.

Meeting Schedule - The Liturgy Committee meets on the fourth Thursday of the month in the parish office building.

Liturgical Ministries:

Altar Linen Guild – These volunteers care for altar linens and priestly vestments.

Altar Servers - Youth from third grade through high school are encouraged to volunteer for this very important ministry of assisting the priest at the altar. Training is provided.

Art/Environment– Volunteers help to create a beautiful environment with flowers, candles, and other reverent decorations that appeal to the senses and promote the understanding of the liturgy. The environment changes with each liturgical season and on specific feast and holy days. 

Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers - Eucharistic ministers assist in the distribution of the Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days and bring Communion to the sick and shut-in of the community. Eucharistic ministers must be actively participating in the sacramental life of the Church. Training is provided; initiation is at the discretion of the pastor.

Sacristans - Sacristans are responsible for setting up the church for all liturgies. They are to ensure that the sacred vessels are placed on the credence table, and for coordinating and cleaning those vessels used in the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ for liturgies on weekdays, weekends, and for special occasions. The sacristan also coordinates with the director of Liturgy to make sure the sacristy is adequately supplied. Training is provided.

Music – The purpose of the choir is to provide sacred music for the sacred Liturgy. The objective is not to entertain but to provide music for "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful." Always encouraging the participation of the assembly and adhering to liturgical guidelines, the choir strives to learn good music – and sing it well - so to enhance the beauty of the liturgy. Choir rehearsal day/time to be determined.