By Evelyn Jock
Rev. Fr. Simon J. Kontou, Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, Sandakan gave a Briefing to the Lectors on the proclamation of the Word on 26 August 2023 in the Cathedral. About 100 lectors, old and new from St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Joseph’s Church, St. Mark’s Church and St. Peter’s Chapel in Sg. Manila attended this briefing. Among the lectors were those who also serve as commentators and psalmists.
Fr. Simon presented the briefing in English and Bahasa Malaysia (BM) to the participants who were from the different language groups, that is, English, BM and Chinese. He said that the Parish Liturgical Committee is directly under the purview of the Parish Priest and Lectors are individuals called to proclaim the Word of God. It is an important service in the church for when a Lector proclaims the Word of God, he makes Jesus present. A lector becomes the mouthpiece of God, for He lends the voice of the lector to speak to his people. It is also significant that Lectors proclaim not for themselves but for the glorification of God. Fr. Simon also mentioned that not everyone can be a lector, for example, a newsreader need not necessarily be a good lector but that a non-newsreader can make a better lector. A good lector is a person who trains himself, understands fully the Word of God, be opened to receive guidance and at the same time, have good rapport with his/her community of lectors.
Fr. Simon also explained that the Formation of Lectors usually involved biblical, spiritual and technical formation. He clarified that the Word of God is not only about what happened in the past but that the word of God also reflects clearly on our lives today. God’s plans of Salvation began in the Old Testament and is fulfilled in the New Testament. Hence, readings of the Liturgy of the Word is taken from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He further explained that the Liturgy of the Word of God should be treated equally with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, therefore it is important that the people come early for Holy Mass, and contemplate as God speaks to them through the sacred scriptures and then receive the Eucharist.
Commentators were also briefed on their role during the celebration of mass, and that is, to announce the hymns and church announcements. Fr Simon went on to explain that the Responsorial Psalms are our response to the Word of God and cannot be replaced with other hymns. We sing the psalms in our response to God. All lectors, commentators and psalmists are taught to always prepare well and continuously seek the Holy Spirit to Guide them.