Ministry of Reader
When I was chair of the Liturgy Formation Committee of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission (in the 1990’s), I worked with a wonderful and talented woman, Margaret Rizza. She had been a professional singer — had taught singing, trained choirs and made many recordings of her music.
While on our committee, she wrote a Guide for Readers called ‘Proclaiming God’s Word’. This came from her experience of working on Readers Days, on workshops and on courses, in various parishes in the Southwark Diocese. After a long and fruitful life, Margaret sadly died last month. The news of her death enabled me to recall her great work of forming effective Readers.
She had a great passion for helping those who were involved in the Ministry of Reader in their parish. She believed, as I do, that to be an effective Reader at Mass we need to know something of the nature of the Word: its purpose and the means of bringing it to life. She wrote, ‘The purpose of proclaiming the living Word of God in the midst of the assembly is help the members experience the living and life-giving presence of Jesus in his Word.’
Margaret reminded us that, at Mass, we all need to take on the role of listener. The community is called to listen. Without listeners there is no living Word. We are asked to listen with the ear of the heart, thus opening ourselves to the life-giving Word. When we do not listen we close ourselves to the power of the Spirit who heals us, who enables our selves to grow and transforms our lives. Margaret said, ‘The task is clear; we need to form life-giving readers and life-giving listeners.’
At the end of her first chapter, she writes:
We come to realise that the ministry of Reader is not just about getting up on Sunday or during the week and reading out aloud the scripture passages, but it becomes a God-given ministry, a response to God’s call which brings about our daily conversion — we come to realise that we are God’s instrument — God is speaking his Word through us, which is the Bread of life for all eternity.
Perhaps you might consider taking on this important Ministry of Reader. If you are already a Reader — I thank you for your Ministry.
This is how Margaret concludes her Guide: Let us hope that, through a deepening awareness and understanding of this wonderful Ministry, the Word of God may become more alive and active, in ourselves as readers and in the hearts of those who listen.
