Please check the readings when you arrive at church, seeing that the page is open at the right reading and that you’ve prepared the right one. You should not need to practise or study your reading at the lectern; that should have been done already at home in conjunction with your Guide for Readers. Please also double check that the microphone has been switched on.
First reader:
- After the Collect go to the altar, bow, then go to the lectern and read the First Reading. Do not say, “The first reading is from …” but simply “A reading from …”. At the end, pause (count to 2) before saying, “The word of the Lord”. Do not say, “This is the word of the Lord”.
- Do not read the Responsorial Psalm unless no choir members are available to sing it.
- When you have finished, bow to the altar as you leave it – ideally at the same time as the cantor, if the psalm is to be sung.
Second Reader:
- After the Responsorial Psalm go to the altar, bow – ideally at the same time as the cantor, if the psalm has been sung – then go to the lectern and read the Second Reading.
- As above do not say, “The second reading is from …”, simply “A reading from …”
- When you have finished your reading, take the lectionary off the lectern and put it on one of the shelves below.
- Bow to the altar as you leave.
- Do not read the Alleluia unless there is no choir member available to sing it.
- After the Creed go to the altar, bow, then go to the lectern for the Bidding Prayers. Please read through the Bidding Prayers before Mass starts and check any pronunciation of unusual names with Father.
- Readers are forgetting to pause between announcing the intention and saying “Lord, hear us” or other response. This pause is very important. It’s the heart of the prayer. At least count to 5 each time
- Lead the saying of the Hail Mary; don’t just leave it to the priest or the people.
- Remain at the lectern until Father has finished the concluding prayer.
- Bow to the altar as you leave.
Weekday Masses
- If you are reading at a weekday Mass, please remember that it is your responsibility to read the Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation, and also to lead the congregation in the Memorial Acclamation. Don’t leave it to other people in the congregation, even if they are readers, to start it off. At weekday Masses and on Feast days Father will introduce and start the Entrance Antiphon and Communion Antiphon, unless otherwise advised.