Liturgical Ministries Overview
We offer many different ways to get involved with Mass through the different Liturgical Ministries. The Mass is the ultimate form of prayer for us as Catholics, and ministering at the Masses is a great way to serve God and the community. Training for these ministries are scheduled throughout the year. Check individual ministries for more information, or contact the Parish office if you are interested in learning more.
The Liturgical Year
The Liturgical Year is a tool that kindles the hearts of Catholics so that they may recall God’s marvelous plan of salvation accomplished through the birth, life, death and Resurrection of Christ. Reflective of nature, the Liturgical Seasons of the Church mark the ebb and flow of Catholic life, providing a time to grow, mourn, weep and celebrate in such a manner that the entire year becomes a “year of the Lord’s Grace.” As members of St. Michael the Archangel
Catholic Church we are blessed to be a part of a vibrant, enthusiastic, lively and growing faith community. We need only glance through the weekly bulletin to see the wealth of ministries, activities and events in which we have the opportunity to participate. Our personal and family lives, likewise, are filled with responsibilities, duties and activities. Oftentimes we are faced with so much that we find ourselves overwhelmed with things that in and of themselves are good; but when put into the context of everything else we are doing, make us feel anxious and exhausted.
Through the Liturgical Seasons of the Catholic Church we have been given a template upon which we can gauge all of our activities. When we are faced with so many good things it is difficult to discern what we should say yes to and what we should either say no to or put off until another time. By learning more about what the Church desires for us during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time; we will be better equipped to discern not only what we should be doing or not doing; but also the spiritual nature of our activities
What is the Advent Season?
The Advent season is the beginning of the liturgical year. It is a season of expectation and anticipation, preparation and contemplation. We long for the coming of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. It is four weeks of preparing our hearts to receive Jesus our Savior who will bring incredible promise, healing, hope for peace on earth, and joy to the world. Our Lord first comes to us in human flesh and weakness, wrapped in swaddling clothes, as our redeemer. At the second coming, Christ who came in the flesh comes again; only this time in glory and majesty, to establish a divine kingdom. Between these two visible comings, there is a more hidden coming; that is the coming of Christ that takes place when we invite him to dwell in our hearts, to take hold of our beings as our Lord and Master. Advent is marked by waiting for all three comings of Christ, as it is a reminder that we should always strive to live in a state of anticipation and readiness. Most particularly, however, we are awed by the mystery of God taking on flesh for the sake of humanity. The liturgical Advent color of violet is the same as that of Lent which indicates both a spirit of penitence and ties the birth of Jesus to his ultimate death and resurrection. How lovely that it is also the color of royalty; the color to welcome a King! Prominent feasts such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe occur within Advent to heighten our awareness of the coming of our Lord
What is the Christmas Season?
Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus; the Word made flesh. Our celebration of the Christmas season begins on the evening of December 24 with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and ends on The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This extended liturgical season is the fulfillment of the preparation, anticipation and quiet longing we experience during Advent. The mood changes from one of stillness and hope, to one of joyful celebration filled with love and gratitude, wonder and awe, family and communal togetherness. The liturgical color for the season of Christmas is white, symbolizing purity and joy. The Christmas season is filled with Solemnities and Feast days. During the Feast of the Holy Family we honor the family of Jesus and celebrate the Holy family as the model for all families. During the Solemnity of Mary we commemorate the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Christ to the world and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord signifies the purification of the world through Christ himself. The numerous Feasts and Solemnities that occur during the Christmas season highlight the extended nature of the season and the sanctity of the domestic church. The Christmas season is the time for us to allow all that we hoped and longed for throughout Advent to take hold of us. Our hearts are filled with the love of God by the completely vulnerable and precious infant Jesus. By welcoming and accepting the weakness and humanity of Jesus, we learn to accept and love our own human weaknesses and limitations. We long to share with one another every aspect of our humanity, our happiness and joy, as well as our loneliness and brokenness. We are reminded that the greatest gift we have to give is the love God has given to each of us.
What is Ordinary Time?
Ordinary Time encompasses that part of the year that does not fall within the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter. The Catholic Church celebrates two periods of Ordinary Time. The first period, Ordinary Time I, begins after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and ends the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday. Ordinary Time II runs from the Monday after Pentecost until Evening Prayer is said the night before Advent begins. Ordinary Time gets its name from the word ordinal, meaning “numbered,” since the weeks of Ordinary Time are expressed numerically. Depending up on the year, there are either 33 or 34 weeks of Ordinary Time. Ordinary time does not mean “plain,” and is not meant to imply that we somehow get a break from the practicing our faith. Ordinary Time celebrates the mystery of Christ in all its aspects. Many important liturgical celebrations occur during Ordinary Time including the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Solemnity of the Assumption, the Solemnity of All Saints and the Solemnity of Christ the King. Ordinary Time invites us to contemplate the parts of Jesus’ life that were ordinary, much like our own lives, and inspires us to see the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the most ordinary events and everyday activities of our lives. When we are able to see God in the most mundane aspects of our lives we realize that nothing is in fact ordinary! The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green; symbolizing hope and growth.