The Ministry of Lectors

“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations." —Mt 28:19

The work of Michael Salemi our seminarian is commendable. His work was fruitful and the parishioners benefited immensely from the column he created on the bulletin, where he shared his profound experiences on the seminary formation. He addressed a spectrum of issues bordering on formation. Michael’s legacy of the past months needs to be sustained. I therefore wish to step in to continue with the weekly sharing. Henceforth, our sharing will cut across a variety of topics towards deepening the faith journey of our parishioners.

The theological formation in the seminary focuses more on the proximate preparation of the seminarian to the Catholic priesthood. As the candidate progresses in his formation, the ministries of lector and acolyte are watershed in this preparation. The term “lector” comes from Latin and means “someone who reads.” Lectors are servants of the Word of God, and their ministry is considered to be vital and sacred.

Canon 1035 states: “Before anyone is promoted to the office of permanent or transitional diaconate, he is required to have received the ministries of lector and acolyte and to have exercised them for a suitable period.” Canon Law further suggests that these ministries are received within an interval of at least six months between the conferral of the ministry of acolyte and the diaconate so that the candidates exercise these ministries for the service of the Church. The ministries of the lector and acolyte are mandatory before being promoted to the diaconate. Dispensation from receiving these ministries on the part of such candidates is reserved to the Holy See (Can 1035).

Consequently, the seminarians are installed lectors in theology II. The importance of the ministry of lector cannot be over-emphasized. Moreover, lectors are installed in a special ceremony by a Bishop. Technically speaking, a lector, is a reader in a liturgical celebration. His work is the same as that of lay readers in the parish. However, the office of the lector in the seminary is transitory by nature. Hence, he exercises this ministry for sometimes with the hope of becoming an acolyte in theology III. Within the year of his installation, he exercises the ministry of a lector by proclaiming the words of God during Mass and other liturgical ceremonies with exception of the Gospel. In the seminary lectors further have the responsibility of organizing Bible study. This offers them an opportunity to begin to learn the act of communicating the Word of God among their peers. Subsequently, they develop the courage to meet a larger audience in the pastoral ministry.

The ministry of a lector is deeply important in the formation of the priest. Thus, as the mouthpiece of God, when he proclaims the Word of God, invariably, he takes part in the Church’s mission to evangelize and teach the people of God. The word of God, first and foremost challenges the lector as an individual. Consequently, the congregation encounters Christ in the Word of God that he proclaims. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 29) clearly states “When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel.” Lectors make the living Word of God present to the worshipping assembly, fostering a deeper connection with Christ.

In conclusion, what a privilege it is to partake in the prophetic office of announcing the Word of God as a lector or lay reader. The need for proper formation of lectors or lay readers cannot be over-emphasized for effective fulfillment of this ministry. These preparations include spiritual preparation, scriptural understanding, and practical skills of proclaiming the Word of the Lord. Hitherto, lectors are not just proclaimers, but doers of the words they proclaim, towards helping the congregation to encounter and understand God’s message.