For Liturgical Ministers Schedules, select the month below.

  November 2006     October 2006

The choir program at Christ the King provides the opportunity for young and old to sing and/or play an instrument in a group as a from of prayer during the Masses.

The Adult Choir is open to anyone ages 18 and older. This choir rehearses at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings in the Choir Room, Lower Level 8 of the Parish Center. 

For more information on this, or any of the other choirs except the Contemporary Ensemble, contact Edwin Day, Director of Music, 848-8397.

 
The choir program at Christ the King provides the opportunity for young and old to sing and/or play an instrument in a group as a from of prayer during the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.  Rehearsals are held on Sunday morning from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in the Choir Room, Lower Level 8 of the Parish Center, and resume in the church from 10:30-11:15 a.m.

While the Contemporary ensemble is open to anyone 14 or older who is able to sing or play an instrument, instrumentalists must audition in advance of coming to rehearsal by appointment.   Contact Patrick Cullen at 242-4512 to schedule audition appointments or for additional information.

 
The choir program at Christ the King provides the opportunity for young and old to sing and/or play an instrument in a group as a from of prayer during the Masses.

The Children's Choir is open to children from 2nd through 5th grade. This choir's rehearsals are sacked;ed as needed.  Check the bulletin for upcoming rehearsals, or contact Edwin Day. 


The choir program at Christ the King provides the opportunity for young and old to sing and/or play an instrument in a group as a from of prayer during the Masses.

The Handbell choir is open to anyone ages 14 and older. The ability to read music well is a must. This choir rehearses at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evenings in the church.  Contact Edwin Day.


Altar Servers assist the Sacristan in preparing for Mass and the celebrant during Mass. For training call the Parish Office, 842-1481.



Greeters welcome parishioners and visitors to all Masses, as well as, distribute music sheets to those who need it for the masses. 


Lectors participate in the liturgy of the Word during Mass, having prayerfully prepared to proclaim the Word of God. 


Individuals or families volunteer to bring the offertory gifts to the altar during Mass. 


Individuals volunteer to assist those who need transportation to and from Masses and other church related functions. 


Individuals volunteer to serve coffee and donuts to parishioners following the weekly Masses. 


Individuals volunteer to take care of children, ages six weeks to three years, for parishioners while they attend designated church functions and Masses. 


Volunteers conduct a children's liturgy by sharing the reading of the Word during all of the Masses. 


Special ministers of the Eucharist are members of the laity appointed by the Archbishop to serve in their own parishes. Appointments are for three years at a time and authorize the giving of the Eucharist both at Mass and to the sick and shut-ins.

Guidelines for Special Ministers of the Eucharist
1. Dress: Appropriate Sunday attire. When assisting at Sunday Mass there is a cross you may wear around your neck. It is available in the sacristy when you sign in.

2. The Special Minister of the Eucharist listed first on the schedule for any particular Mass is responsible for:
a) making certain that the KEY is in the tabernacle before Mass and that it is returned to the proper place in the sacristy after Communion;
b) making certain there are sufficient ministers for that Mass, or making adjustments if there are so many priests or deacons that one or more Eucharistic Ministers is not needed; and
c) making sure all the purifications are completed after Communion.

3. All special ministers scheduled for a particular Mass need to arrive at least ten minutes before Mass begins to sign in on the list in the sacristy. Ministers are asked to sit in front pews on the north side of the church.
4. Special Ministers of the Eucharist enter the sanctuary at the Lamb of God and stand at the bottom of the altar step either on the north or the south side of the first step up, facing the altar. (note changes: do not climb the steps to the altar level. Do not go to the tabernacle. Use the passageway behind the altar if necessary, rather than passing in front of the altar.) Those designated to be ministers of the Bread should choose a position near the west end of these two lines.

After the priest says "This is the Lamb of God..." and when he consumes consecrated bread and wine, special ministers ascend the steps to their customary positions, bread ministers in the center, and cup ministers to the sides.

The priest (or deacon) will give the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ to each minister, and then will give the sacred vessels to each. Each minister may proceed to a communion station as the vessel (whether ciborium or cup) is accepted. Remember to receive the sacred vessel with both hands. Ministers should remember to give communion to the servers (and perhaps the musicians) before proceeding to give communion to the congregation.

5. During communion, if a Minister of the Bread runs out of hosts, that minister may proceed to the tabernacle and obtain more hosts, in this way: Open the tabernacle. If there are two ciboria with hosts present, leave your empty ciborium on the small altar and take one of the ones with hosts. If only one ciborium with hosts is found, pour some into your own ciborium and proceed back to your station. Genuflect to the open tabernacle before closing it.

6. Ministers of the bread place their ciboria on the altar after Communion is distributed. Those taking Communion to the sick assemble immediately in a semi-circle behind the presiding priest along with the ministers of the bread. The priest will distribute the hosts for the sick and offer a brief prayer of blessing to the ministers to the sick, and they depart. After the remaining hosts are consolidated into one or two ciboria, one or two Ministers of the Bread take these to the tabernacle.

7. Ministers of the cup go directly to the sacristy after Communion and consume the remains of the chalice. (If taking Communion to the sick, then return immediately to the altar and receive the needed hosts for the sick, then return to the sacristy.) Ministers of the cup purify the cups by adding a little water, consuming the water, and then washing and drying the cups with the purificators. Leave the purified cups on the cabinet by the sink so that they can be put out for the next Mass. Never pour the consecrated wine down the sacrarium.

8. Ministers of the Bread, after hosts are distributed for the sick, take any empty bread vessels (ciboria), whether they are near the tabernacle, on the altar, or on the servers' table, to the sacristy for purification. The chalice and wine vessel are also to be purified. A server will bring those to the sacristy.

9. Returning to the Congregation: We want to do all we can to be motionless and quiet during the short period of silent prayer and meditation after the altar is cleared. The priest and congregation will sit for this period. Because both cup ministers and bread ministers are involved in purifying the sacred vessels, it is unlikely that any will be able to make their way back to their pews before this time begins, and we do not wish you to be moving during it. So, the most respectful time to return to your place is most likely going to be after the final blessing. If a song is sung after communion, it may be possible to return while it is being sung. Please do not move during the silent meditation.

10. Taking Communion to the sick. Try to go as soon as possible after Mass. If you find that you do not need all the hosts that day, consume the extras rather than saving them at home or in the car.

11. Special Ministers of the Eucharist are designated for service only in their own parishes. They do not delegate their authority to distribute the Eucharist. The Archbishop, and for specific occasions the Pastor, are the only ones authorized to appoint Special Ministers.
Revised October 3, 2003

Serving Funeral Masses
What is different about serving a funeral compared to Sunday Mass?
Funerals are like Sunday Masses except:
1. No candles are carried by the acolytes in procession. No Gospel procession.

2. At the beginning the casket is brought to entrance of the church (near the back pews).The crossbearer and two servers are behind the priest as he receives the body into the church with a greeting, sprinkling with holy water, and placing the pall (large white covering). One acolyte has the holy water ready to hand to the priest. The other holds the hymnal, marking the place of the opening song. The crossbearer in the center. Crossbearer: be sure you know where to stand.

3. After the homily, the altar is set up by the two acolytes in the usual way. The crossbearer does not wait to go back to the vestibule for the gifts, because there is no collection to wait for. The crossbearer therefore goes back to the vestibule while the altar is being set up, and usually family members follow the crossbearer so that they can bring up the gifts.

4. After communion, the acolyte sitting at the priest's right hand goes to the sacristy to be ready to return with the censor and incense. The acolyte at the priest's left brings up the book for the prayer after communion. (Note: sometimes a member of the deceased's family speaks first). The crossbearer does not assist with the book, because he or she must be ready to proceed to the far side of the casket at the priest's signal.

5. What happened at the beginning of Mass was a welcoming of the body to the church. At the end what happens is a farewell. Now incense is used instead of holy water. So, after communion, and after a family member has spoken, and after the post-communion prayer, the crossbearer proceeds to the far side of the casket and turns back facing he casket (and the altar). One acolyte brings out the censor and incense and follows the priest on his right. . The other walks along with the priest on his left. The farewell is accomplished with prayer, song, and incense. When it is concluded the priest signals to the acolytes to catch up with the crossbearer, who turns and leads everyone out of church.

Note: A special effort should be made to look presentable while serving funerals. Make sure your alb comes down to your ankles. It would be best to wear dress shoes rather than tennis shoes. People are dressed up at funerals out of respect for the deceased.

Second Note: Please arrive at least twenty minutes before the funeral is to begin, so that you can be dressed, have the candles lit, and be ready to go at least ten minutes before we are to begin. The priest has to be concerned primarily about the family and sometimes about guest priests, and should not have to wonder if the servers have arrived or know what to do.

Note to the crossbearer: Make sure you know exactly where to stand for the ceremonies of welcome and of farewell. If you are not sure come early so that you can ask the priest well in advance.

Are there any variations to this plan?
Sometimes the body is welcomed to the church for a vigil the night before. In that case it will be welcomed at that time, and will already be up near the front of the pews for the funeral.