Those who serve as liturgical ministers need to be motivated above all by a desire to imitate the love and service of Jesus Christ. Whether bishop, priest, or deacon; whether extraordinary minister of Holy Communion or reader; whether music director, leader of song, or choir member; whether altar server, greeter, or minister of hospitality, all need the proper motivation if they are to bring their ministry to life. They need to be motivated by the example of Jesus Christ who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28).

Lay ministers who are part of our liturgical celebrations: ministers of hospitality (ushers, greeters); ministers of music (music leader, organist, other instrumentalists, cantor, choir members); ministers of the Word (lectors, readers for the Liturgy of the Word for children, catechists for the catechumenate); ministers of Communion (gift bearers, ministers of the eucharistic bread and cup, ministers who take Communion to the sick); ministers of the altar (servers).