Ministry Description
Usher
St. Anthony Church
Introduction
As the Church teaches, Christ is “truly present” in the assembly of believers. Thus you are called to be a sacrament of God’s presence, and extension of the presence of Christ in the consecrated bread and wine shared at communion. To be this sacrament we must act as a minister in the Spirit of Christ. So above and beyond any of the guidelines below, let Charity be the rule. May every person entering our doors experience being treated with great respect and care! So that when they leave they will have been touched, lifted, and healed by God’s love.
General Responsibilities
●Be familiar with the light switches and sound system controls.
●Be familiar with the location of all exits and fire extinguishers.
●Be familiar with where the First Aid Kit is.
●Be familiar with the location of the restrooms.
●Be familiar with location of first aid and emergency kit
●Whensetting up chairsfor large crowds, please don’t block the aisles.
●Identify the presence of EMT’s.
Responsibilities before Mass Begins
●Please try to find a substitute from the latest usher list if you are not able to come as scheduled.
●On days you attend mass and are not scheduled,let the ushers know you are available if needed.
●Dress well. You are ministering at the banquet of the Lord, in God’s house.
●Arrive at least 15 minutes early and check in with your lead usher.
- Check the Ushers board for special requests (reserve seats for baptism, take attendance count, etc.)
●Assist people in finding seats,but be sensitive to their preferences.
●Assist in seating those with special needs and treat them with respect.
●When people come in after mass begins, seat them between the scripture readings, not during the reading.
●Identify those who will need communion brought to them in their seats. Most will request this of you.
● Recruit Gift Bearers. A good place to start is with family members of the person for whom the Mass is offered, or members of a family celebrating a baptism or anniversary.
Revised 11/29/12
Responsibilities during Mass
●Participate in the liturgy. Please do not be in conversation with other ushers or parishioners during the mass. Your primary role is as a member of the assembly and as such your first responsibility is to participate as fully as possible in the prayer of the assembly.
●Be attentive to the priest in case there are unusual needs.
●Assist people with special needs during the liturgy.Be aware of people who seem uncomfortable or confused and try to offer needed assistance without causing a disturbance. If you have a problem, see your lead usher.If someone gets sick bring the emergency kit and assist with clean up.
●During mass stay in areas of the church where you can see and respond too the needs of the parishioners as needed,in case of a medical or other emergency.
●Help people find restrooms when needed.
●For special feast days and holy days be sure that all areas of the church are covered. Be in conversation with the leader for those masses so you know if there are changes you should be aware of, and which aisle you will be working.
●Take up the collection, be sure all aisles are covered be aware of any special requirements.The collection begins when the celebrant sits after the Prayers of the Faithful.
●Place the cash in one of the sealable bags kept in the cabinet in the entrance way and then place the still open bag in in the offertory box.
●Help the Gift Bearers with the gifts giving them the offertory box as well.
●Assist with communion as needed. On Ordinary weekends there is no need for the ushers to come forward and initiate the communion procession. But when there are many visitors (Fall Festival or holidays) it may be helpful to do so.
● Alert Eucharistic Ministers to those needing communion brought to them in their seats.The communion minister is there only to serve special needs people. Everyone else should be encourage to process to the front.
●If there is a second collection, wait until the priest sits down after communion. He should make an announcement alerting people to its coming.
Responsibilities after Mass
●Assist people as they leave (walkers, wheel chairs etc.)
●Hand out bulletins
●Return the church to a state of readiness in preparation for the next liturgy by putting up kneelers, picking up extra bulletins or papers, returning missallettes to book racks , and returning reserved signs.
● Turn in forgotten articles to the Sacristy.
Revised 11/29/12