Lectors

Lectors serve the parish by proclaiming the Word of God at Mass. When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the gospel. The readings of God's word must therefore be listened to by all with reverence; they make up a principal element of the liturgy. In the readings, the table of God's word is laid for the faithful and the riches of the Bible are opened to them. Such designated lectors must be truly qualified and carefully prepared for this office, so that the faithful will develop a warm and lively love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the reading from the sacred texts.  All lectors are asked to arrive to the sacristy fifteen minutes before their scheduled Mass. Please be attentive to the schedule and notify the Rectory Office at 884.4968 with any changes in the schedule. To download the current lector schedule, please click on the link below.  All pdfs on this website may be opened with Adobe Reader.  To download a free copy of Reader, please click on the icon below.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Our Lady of Mercy is grateful for those who serve Christ and His Church as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. At Our Lady of Mercy, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, assist distributing Holy Communion at daily and Sunday Mass.  They also bring Holy Communion weekly to the many shut-inparishioners and residents of local nursing facilities on Sundays. 

As Bishop Tobin has stated, Your dedication helps to extend the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, to those who most need Him.In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion (GIRM 162)."

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence. In all matters they should follow the guidance of the diocesan bishop (Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion Under Both Kinds for the Dioceses of the United States of America, NDRHC, no. 28).  All ministers of Holy Communion should show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread or wine. (NDRHC, 29).In November of 2009, the Diocese of Providence issued new guidelines relative to extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.  The guidelines state that extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be Roman Catholics whose qualities of Christian life, faith and morals recommend them; fully initiated Catholics who have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist; be at least 16 years old; if married, be in a wedding bond that is recognized (valid) in the Roman Catholic Church; and be regular participants in the sacramental life of the church.   

Click here to read more about the new guidelines. To download the current schedule, please click on the link below. All pdfs on this website may be opened with Adobe Reader.  To download a free copy of Reader, please click on the icon below.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Home-bound

Each Sunday at the 9:00am Mass, the EMHCs who have been properly trained bring Holy Communion to the sick, the shut-in, the home-bound and residents of local nursing home facilities. In addition, during the week some of these designated ministers bring communion to St. Elizabeth Home and lead the Rosary. Also, some of these ministers assist at Monthly Masses at the St. Elizabeth Home, the Seasons Assisted Living Facility, and Anchor Bay Home. If you are interested in helping with this important ministry, please contact Mrs. Celia Franzone, Coordinator of Home-bound Ministry.

Sacristans

These volunteers are charged with care and good order of the sacristy as well as the care of the sacred vessels and vestments used for Holy Mass. Additionally the sacristans prepare for all Masses, Devotions and major liturgical celebrations. They are assisted by volunteers who clean and wash all the sacred cloths used at Holy Mass. Other volunteers also clean the sacristy and the sanctuary of the Church on a regular basis. If you are interested in learning more, please speak to Sister Lourdes, Chief Sacristan.

Ushers

These volunteers serve at all weekend Masses and Holy Day Masses throughout the year. Their duties are to welcome and provide hospitality to visitors and regular parishioners. Additionally they take up the weekly collection and secure it for the parish. If you are interested in learning more about being an OLM Usher, please contact the OLM Parish Office.

Altar Servers

Although institution into the ministry of acolyte is reserved to lay men, the diocesan bishop may permit the liturgical functions of the instituted acolyte to be carried out by altar servers, men and women, boys and girls. Such persons may carry out all the functions listed in no. 100 (with the exception of the distribution of Holy Communion) and nos. 187 - 190 and no. 193 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.  Servers should be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. They should have already received holy communion for the first time and normally receive the eucharist whenever they participate in the liturgy.

Since the role of server is integral to the normal celebration of the Mass, at least one server should assist the priest. On Sundays and other more important occasions, two or more servers should be employed to carry out the various functions normally entrusted to these ministers. Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary.  Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. They also join in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy.

Our Lady of Mercy Parish has a proud tradition of Altar Serving for both boys and girls from Grade 4 through High School Graduation. The over 100 young men and women assist serving at Sunday Masses, Daily Masses, Funerals, Weddings, and special Masses throughout the year.  Recruitment and training is offered every fall and is open to any child registered at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Grade 4 or above.  Those servers who are in High School take on additional duties of leadership and serve as Masters of Ceremonies at Sunday Masses and Special Masses throughout the year. For more information about becoming an Altar Server at OLM, please contact the OLM Parish Office.