Grade 6, Chapters 7 & 8

Ministers of the Church

Some day soon, you and your classmates will be the ministers of the church. Do you ever wonder how you will serve the people of God when you're an adult? Interviewing people who do this special kind of service is like a chance to try on different ministries. It can help you to think about what you would be best at.

Here is a sample interview. We talked to a eucharistic minister, one who distributes the body and blood of Christ at Mass.

But you can download these questions and use them to interview other kinds of ministers, such as a director of religious education, a catechist, a youth minister, or a lector who reads the word of God for the assembly.

Click on the image to download the activity.

Q: Why did you want to become a minister in the first place? Why did you choose this particular ministry?

A: I have always had a deep love for the Eucharist. Becoming a eucharistic minister gave me a chance to participate more fully in the Mass; to be closer to the action. I could work with the celebrant, and serve the assembly of God's people gathered together.

Q: How did you first become involved?

A: When I went away to college, serving in ministry on campus gave me a chance to learn where my gifts were. Becoming a eucharistic minister seemed like a safe place to begin, because for this work I didn't have to have a lot of skills to start off with. I just needed to be willing. So it gave me a stepping stone into other ways of doing ministry. It also helped me to feel more a part of the community.

Q: How did you train for this work? What new skills did you need to learn?

A: Before I could begin, I took part in several training sessions. First we reflected on liturgy itself¡Xthe Word, the Eucharist, the role of the assembly in the celebration. We learned about the central place of the Eucharist in Catholic theology. We studied the scripture stories that touch on this ministry, especially the story of Jesus and the two disciples at Emmaus. We also learned the rubrics: the specific actions needed to distribute the Eucharist.

Q: What exactly do you do?

A: As a eucharistic minister, my job is to be present to those who come forward. I make eye contact with each person, smile at them, and bless the children too young to receive the Eucharist. When I trained, I learned that the word "reverent" means "to take notice of." What I do as a eucharistic minister is to take notice of everyone who comes to me, showing the kind of reverence that Christ shows for each of us.

Q: How do you think you have changed or grown as a result of this ministry?

A: When I began doing this as a college student, I didn't have a deep faith. But over time, my prayer life got deeper. I went from having faith that was in my head to faith in my heart. Also, I find myself paying more attention to others, to the assembly as a whole, even to my own gifts.

Q: What do you like best about this work?

This ministry gives me a chance to take part in the deepest aspect of the church's life. It's a huge privilege to share in this work. It adds an extra dimension to my life with family and friends to be able to offer them the Eucharist.