ministrIES of the liturgy

     Many dedicated volunteers make up the Liturgical Ministries of St. Elizabeth Seton Church which include: Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Greeter, Sacristan, Altar Server, Art and Environment or Children's Liturgy of the Word. 

     If you would like to volunteer for any of these ministries, please contact

our Director of Liturgy, Margie Guadagno, at 708-403-0101, ext. 102, or

click HERE to contact Margie Guadagno via email.


LECTORS

Lectors proclaim the scriptures and offer petitions at the Sunday Masses and on Holy Days. At the beginning of the Liturgical Year, each Lector receives a workbook containing the readings for the year so that they can practice them before Mass. Lectors are also encouraged to meet with other Lectors at regularly scheduled Saturday morning reflections and practices so that they can proclaim the Scripture with confidence, prayerfulness, and understanding. On occasion, when a particular reading is presented in a creative manner, some Lectors will spend additional time rehearsing. Lectors are assigned two or three months in advance of the dates on which they serve and can expect to be called upon to proclaim the Scriptures at approximately one Mass each month.


EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS          

Eucharistic ministers give parishioners and visitors the Body and Blood of Christ at the Sunday Masses and on Holy Days during the year. Eucharistic Ministers attend two evening training sessions that include theological reflection on the Eucharist and practical training in this ministry. After training, all Eucharistic ministers are commissioned by the Archdiocese of Chicago for a three-year period. Our parish then schedules ministers two or three months in advance of their assignments. Each Eucharistic minister serves at one Mass every two to three weeks. The invitation to become a Eucharistic Minister is given by the Pastor of the parish. 


GREETERS

Greeters are the men, women, and families who welcome parishioners and visitors to each Mass, offer them a smile and a song sheet, and help them find a seat. Greeters also gather the Sunday collections, distribute the bulletins after Mass, and straighten-up the church for the next Mass. Greeters are scheduled in groups of about eight for their preferred Mass time and serve on a one-month-on, one-month-off basis. Ages: Eighth Grade through adult, but younger children may help their parents who are greeters.


ALTAR SERVERS

Altar Servers at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish are drawn from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and girls who volunteer to attend four one-hour training sessions and serve approximately once each month. In addition to serving at weekend Masses, the Altar Servers serve at weddings. Altar Server training is announced periodically in the bulletin. Watch for dates and times.


ADULT SERVERS FOR FUNERALS

The Altar Servers at funerals are drawn from a volunteer group of men and women. Since a training session is provided, no previous experience at being an altar server is needed. The time commitment of each Adult Altar Server varies according to the time each individual has available.


SACRISTANS AND SACRISTAN ASSISTANTS

Sacristans prepare the altar vessels and set out the bread and wine for our Masses. Sacristans are scheduled for either Sunday Masses or weekday Masses and must be able to arrive ten minutes prior to the beginning of the Mass and stay approximately ten minutes afterwards. Sacristans are assigned to a particular Mass a few months in advance and can expect to serve on a little more than half of the weekends throughout the year, depending on the number of people who have volunteered as Sacristans. Sacristan Assistants give their time and service to launder the altar cloth, servers’ albs, and other cloth items for our Sunday and weekday Masses.


ART AND ENVIRONMENT

Parishioners who serve on the Art and Environment Team work to design and coordinate beautiful and prayerful environments for our Masses. With the financial support of the parish, they procure the flowers, plants, and other items that decorate the church according to the liturgical season. The team meets as needed throughout the year. Art and Environment requires some physical labor.