Revisions to Mass Movements during Renovation

Dear Fellow Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers and Altar Servers,

As a result of the upcoming construction and anticipated future changes in the Sanctuary, the following changes will be implemented starting immediately.

There will no longer be chairs in the Sanctuary near the Sanctuary Lamp so as to make room for another credence table, which will be used to hold all the Sacred Vessels and items needed for the Mass. As a result, the Lectors and Cantors/Psalmist will no longer be coming up and be seated as a group in the Sanctuary area during the 1st Reading, Responsorial Psalm and 2nd Reading. Each Lector/Cantor will come up one at a time when it is their turn to proclaim. Be sure to allow for a period of Sacred Silence (approx. 30 seconds) when coming up and going down between proclamations.

Other changes that will be occurring, of which you should be on the lookout:
 

• All items needed for the Mass will now be set up in the credence tables near the Sanctuary Lamp. There will no longer be an extra table on the other side of the Sanctuary for the Chalices and tray.
• During Communion, Altar servers will no longer be seated, since there are no longer chairs in the Sanctuary.They will all be kneeling during the distribution of Communion, and will all stand after Communion to help the Presider and deacon with the Sacred Vessels.
• The seats to the right and left of the Presider's chair are reserved for the Clergy only. Hence, the Altar Servers are no longer going to sit next to the Presider. Instead, they will be seated on the chairs located by the wall near the Baptismal Font, even when there are no Deacons.
• During Communion, the Ushers will now invite the Congregation from the first row of pews to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and proceed going down the next rows away from the altar. Those who are seated by the Baptismal Font side and the Choir area will be coming to the center aisle through the pews next to them, and not going all the way around toward the back of the church (vestibule).

Please let me or Deacon Albert Dizon know if you have any questions regarding this matter.  Thank you and God Bless.


Carlos Melendez