Lector Mission Statement
The goal of the Lector Ministry is to provide dedicated and well-prepared readers of the Word for every Mass offered in our parish.
The Lectors of St. Joseph’s Parish in Astoria are members of the Assembly who proclaim the Word in the first two scripture readings and are the first to deliver the Word at Mass. We are proud to have 12 dedicated readers.
Becoming a lector is a serious decision and commitment to your faith and parish since you are sharing your time and energy to the service of the church.
Training and preparation are necessary for those persons wishing to be Lectors. Proclaiming the Sacred Scripture is different from other kinds of public speaking. Not only do Lectors need to be effective communicators, but they need to absorb and express the spirit of the Liturgy as well. Training is provided through the Diocese and on an individual basis. Ask Fr. Vincent, LaRoi Lawton, or Fr. Alessandro; they are available to prepare you in this ministry.
Vatican II said, “They (lectors) exercise a genuine liturgical function. They ought, therefore, to discharge their office with the sincere piety and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and right expected of them by God’s people. Consequently, they must all be trained to perform their functions in a correct and orderly manner… Christ is present in His word since it is He Himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the church.”
Any parishioner who feels called to this Ministry is welcome and asked to contact the Parish Rectory Office at 718. 278.1611.
Meetings
After completing a training session, Lectors are asked each month for their availability via e-mail and are generally assigned to one mass depending upon the availability of each Lector for that month. There is an expectation that each Lector will arrive a half hour early at their assigned Mass to go over the particulars of the liturgy of the day.
Requirements of Becoming a Lector
Vatican II said, “They (lectors) exercise a genuine liturgical function. They ought, therefore, to discharge their office with the sincere piety and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and right expected of them by God’s people. Consequently, they must all be trained to perform their functions in a correct and orderly manner… Christ is present in His word since it is He Himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the church.”
That being stated, any person expressing a deep interest in becoming a Lector must be:
- An adult or teen registered parishioner ( An explanation of “Registered”)
- A person with deep respect for the word of God
- A person able to proclaim the word of God with confidence, poise, and clear articulation.
- Complete a training session administered by the Diocese of Brooklyn via online or in in person via a cluster group via the parish.
Coordinator (English and Italian): Matthew Gallagher
Coordinator (Spanish): Manuel Chirinos
