“Charity, justice, and evangelization are thus the normal consequences of liturgical celebration. Particularly inspired by sung participation, the body of the Word Incarnate goes forth to spread the Gospel with full force and compassion.”  Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, #9

At Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, we hold firm that the liturgy is the source and summit of our lives. Not only do we gather for spiritual nourishment, we gather to celebrate the good work we have done throughout the week. We gather to encounter the Risen Christ in the Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, and in one another – the Church as she prays and sings.

Sunday worship at Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is a place where all are welcomed with a warm and kind embrace. Not only is this a parish in which we share our faith – but we embrace a vision of hope and love for our community!

We are always looking for parishioners to exercise their baptismal call and serve in one of our liturgical ministries. If you are interested in any of the following ministries, or interested in discerning your role in the liturgy, please fill out the liturgical ministry interest form [see button below] or contact our director of sacred music and liturgy, Michael Ruzicki, at mruzicki@saintmarys.org. With all of our ministries, you will be contacted about a time for training and formation before you serve.

At Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes, we welcome altar servers of all ages – children, teens, and adults. These ministers assist the presider in a variety of ways during the Mass.

Pope Francis said “the Eucharist is meant to nourish those who are tired and hungry along the journey, let’s not forget this! The Eucharist is not the reward of saints, but the bread of sinners.” Week after week, we are nourished by the Eucharistic feast. For us to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, we require several Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

As we gather each week for the celebration of the Eucharist, the faithful are also fed at the Table of the Word. At liturgy, Christ is present in the Sacred Scripture that is proclaimed. Our parish lectors are more than individuals that read from the Bible, they are proclaimers of a living and effective Word.

Our community relies on a group of dedicated parishioners who take care of setting up for our liturgical celebrations. In addition to opening and locking the church, sacristans prepare the liturgical books, sacred vessels, and other important elements needed for the celebration of the liturgy.

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (7) states that Christ is present “when the Church prays and sings.” This is an awe-filled reality of our Catholic worship. Week after week, our music ministers lead us in singing songs of comfort, psalms of praise, and hymns of joy. We invite you to explore our parish’s music ministry opportunities:

10:30am Choir – Our choir sings each Sunday at 10:30am Mass. While no experience is necessary, potential choir members must be able to hold a melody. Whether you can read music or learn through recordings, you are welcome to join. If you are new and want to give choir a try without any long-term commitment, that works, too! While we strive to have a choir year-round, we understand that individual schedules vary and conflicts arise. We meet at 10:00am each Sunday to review music. Choir members have access to music and recordings and are asked to review hymns before arriving. Throughout the year, we hold occasional weeknight rehearsals based on everyone’s availability.

Instrumentalists – If you play an instrument (woodwind, string, piano/organ), and would like to get involved, we will welcome you at any of our weekend liturgies.

Cantors – If you have experience serving as a cantor and leading the assembly

First and foremost, welcome ministers are hospitality ministers. They put a face onto the parish by being the first person to greet all who enter our church. While we greet many parishioners each week, we recognize that others may be visiting. It is their task to give a warm greeting and help everyone feel welcomed. These individuals also assist with taking up the weekly collection by serving as ushers.

The Welcome Lead is trained to oversee Welcome Ushers and the flow of liturgical services. The Welcome Lead oversees the communal action by welcoming people to the service, taking up the collection, recruiting gift bearers to take up the gifts, and directing the communion procession when needed.

Together with the Welcome Lead, the Welcome Ushers participate in the parish liturgical ministry and are to be models of participation in the worship as they assist in creating a prayerful atmosphere and ensures a dignified flow to the liturgy. A sense of cheerful service is essential to allow for reverent silence, prayer, and purposeful action.

Welcome Leads, and Welcome Ushers, need to know how to handle an emergency during a religious service, and must be Archdiocesan VIRTUS certified for child safety and protection.

In 2021, the communities of St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes merged into one canonical parish. The archdiocesan Renew My Church initiative has invited us to imagine a faith family that gathers to “celebrate vibrant, transformational liturgies.” To achieve this, we must be intentional and deliberate.

As I travel around the country giving workshops about liturgy, music, and parish leadership, I have experienced many vibrant, vital communities. What do they have in common? The liturgies themselves are truly vibrant and vital. They nurture our call to discipleship and propel us into mission. They are heart-warming yet, challenging. They are solemn, yet festive. The preparation and celebration of liturgy is both intentional and deliberate.

These vibrant liturgies transform us so that we may go forth and transform our families, neighborhoods, and the world.

The fruit of liturgy celebrated well is that we are thrust forth, on fire with our faith, to do the good works that Christ has commanded of us. Jesus did not say “leave,” to his disciples. He said, “Go! Make disciples of all nations.” We are reminded of this at the conclusion of each and every liturgy. Go!

I invite you to think more about your participation in the Sunday liturgy. What is your experience of the Catholic Mass? In what ways do you feel the presence of Christ in the sacramental celebrations? What keeps you coming back to church Sunday after Sunday?

After the Second Vatican Council convened, the bishops of the world published The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in 1963. It is profound that this first document focused on the way in which the Church celebrates the Mass and the Sacraments. By reason of our common baptism, we have the right and responsibility to be fully conscious and active in the way we participate in sacred worship.

Consider what it means for us to a Eucharistic people. Strive to uncover the mysteries we celebrate at the liturgy. Seek out Christ who is fully present in these celebrations.

As we build a vibrant and vital community, I invite you to consider the ways in which you contribute to a vibrant and vital liturgical experience. What helps you center yourself for worship? What aspects of the liturgy rouse your heart for transformation? What hinders your full participation? What can we do, as a community, to help you fully enter into our sacramental celebrations?

We invite you to exercise your baptismal responsibilities by serving as a liturgical minister. This is not about volunteering your time, but answering a call that will serve your brothers and sisters. Our full participation in the liturgy leads others to a transformation of heart and mind.

Consider if you are being called to any of the following ministries… Lectors proclaim Sacred Scripture. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist at Sunday Mass. Musicians lead us in songs of comfort, psalms of praise, and hymns of joy. Sacristans prepare our sacred space and attend to the details of liturgy. The Welcoming Committee invites guests and strangers into our family of faith. If you have participated in any of these roles in the past, whether in our parish or in a previous community, consider how you may serve here and now.

Finally, we all carry out the most important liturgical ministry when we participate as a member of the Eucharistic assembly. It is our right and our responsibility to participate in the ritual gestures, prayers, responses, songs, and silence of the liturgy. When intentional and deliberate about this role, we celebrate vibrant liturgies capable of transforming hearts and mind… and that has the ability to transform our world!

If you are called to serve at the Eucharistic liturgy in any way, contact me at mruzicki@saintmarys.org to start the conversation.

-Michael Ruzicki

Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music