Help! I was asked to become a reader at mass and I'm a new convert!

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LemonAndLime

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At Mass the week before last a woman sat in front of me turned to talk to me at the end, as everyone was getting up to leave. She was one of the readers during Mass that day, and explained that her and her husband used to do it together, but he was now in a care home with dementia, so she was looking for a “reading partner” to replace him and asked if I would be interested, after asking my name, introducing herself, and confirming that I was one of the new converts who joined at Easter.

Not sure how I feel about this! I’m dyslexic so my reading isn’t very good. I’m not at all experienced with Scripture. It’s a struggle to read most fiction books, I read slower than average sometimes, and I can only be patient with my reading if the book is really good, as because of my reading difficulty, I find it hard to “get into” what I’m reading. Practice helps, but it’s slow progress. When it comes to reading the Bible on my own I have to admit, I do avoid it but occasionally persuade myself to try. I have to read each passage several times to get the meaning and I struggle. When reading aloud, my voice isn’t clear and flowing.

I would find it a great honour to be able to read the Bible aloud at Mass, but I don’t feel like I’m ready to or deserve to. But at the same time - a woman who I’ve never spoken to properly before suddenly turning around and asking me to be her husband’s replacement? Not sure it’s a coincidence. I’m meant to be giving her an answer tomorrow during Mass and I forgot all about it - now I’m nervous and not sure what to do. Would appreciate some advice!

Note - The woman said that she’ll be going away during the summer and needs someone to take her turn then, so if I did decide to take her husband’s place it wouldn’t be necessary for me to start straight away.
 
Obviously it’s a decision only you can make, ultimately, it’s not for me to tell you what to do. That said, a few thoughts, in no particular order:
  1. I’ll get the practicalities out of the way: assuming your parish does things properly, whether this woman wants you to be her partner or not won’t be the end of the story. The parish priest will have to approve and send you on a course (usually run by the diocese, possibly within the parish). You’ll have to regularly go on courses to renew your practical reading aloud skills and pray together with other people in this ministry. If you end up agreeing to this woman’s request and none of this happens, go and see the priest yourself, ask whether he is ok with you reading and explain that you would like to be properly trained.
  2. It may be that, as you are hinting, God has put this opportunity before you for a reason. When I was going through marriage prep, the priest really heavily stressed (the first time I had ever heard this message) the obligations of the laity towards their parish and I resolved to get more involved, ideally with helping other people. The next week, there was an appeal from the SVP, so I went for it and I really think it wasn’t coincidence! However, as a new Catholic, you are likely to be invited to all sorts of things. Clearly there’s nothing dodgy about reading, but be careful with some of the things you’re asked to join - just because someone asks you, it doesn’t necessarily come from God.
  3. As for the dyslexia, there are plenty of good readers in Mass who have trouble reading. It is very different from e.g. being picked on to read in class. You will know the readings a long time in advance. As long as the parish has a rota prepared, you can look up the readings in the lectionary several weeks in advance. I would usually read through the reading for the first time a few days before I was due to read it at Mass. You have time to read it slowly, absorb the meaning. If it makes it easier for you, you could print it out on lined paper (maybe yellow, which many dyslexics find easier than white) and bring that with you to Mass. You can look online or ask other Christians for the pronunciation of any words you don’t know (quite often names of people or places come up, as well as words that just aren’t very common in everyday speech).
  4. On the other hand, you do have to be able to read well out loud. If you think that this is a separate issue for you (unrelated to the dyslexia), then maybe it isn’t the ministry for you. There will be old people who can’t hear very well, parents trying to hear you over screaming children, in a lot of older churches (which since you’re in the UK like me is fairly common) the acoustics are not really geared up to help you and the mic may be old and faulty. You have to be able to project your voice slowly, clearly and confidently. People hear God speaking through you so you want to make sure it’s done right!
In short, no one can decide but you. Don’t be afraid to refuse if it’s not right for you, there are plenty more ways you can serve the Church. Remember we are all parts of the body of Christ but each of us have different gifts. Equally, don’t be afraid to accept if you think you’re being called to this. Pray, speak to your godparent(s), speak to the parish priest and anyone else you trust. Don’t let this woman push you into a response if you’re not ready to give one!

On another note, I really encourage you to keep trying to read Scripture on your own, independently of whether or not you read in church. It is more difficult for some than others but it’s so worth it! There are lots of resources to help you (I can tell you some if you want) and it’s such an amazing way to deepen our faith and meet God [/end preaching, I’ll go off to see if I can take my own advice a bit more 😊].
 
The lady was being very kind and welcoming to you by asking if you would like to take her husband’s place. She is not aware of your reading difficulties, and if you explained that to her in the context of wanting the readings to be done as well as possible for the Lord’s sake, I’m sure she would understand your not wanting to become a reader. Not every invitation is a sign from God. I think you should just relax and enjoy being a new Catholic without all the pressure to do readings well.
 
Batfink said:
Obviously it’s a decision only you can make, ultimately, it’s not for me to tell you what to do. That said, a few thoughts, in no particular order:
  1. I’ll get the practicalities out of the way: assuming your parish does things properly, whether this woman wants you to be her partner or not won’t be the end of the story. The parish priest will have to approve and send you on a course (usually run by the diocese, possibly within the parish). You’ll have to regularly go on courses to renew your practical reading aloud skills and pray together with other people in this ministry. If you end up agreeing to this woman’s request and none of this happens, go and see the priest yourself, ask whether he is ok with you reading and explain that you would like to be properly trained.
.
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No, this might be best practice but it certainly isn’t compulsory, going by our experience anyway (Liverpool).
 
With your current reading difficulties, it sounds like you are the perfect candidate to allow the glory and power of God to shine through you.
 
paperwight66 said:
No, this might be best practice but it certainly isn’t compulsory, going by our experience anyway (Liverpool).
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That’s why I suggested approaching the priest herself and requesting the training if it wasn’t offered. I know with us (Hexham & Newcastle) we’re told that everyone has to go on it every year, but it depends on the pp whether he actually checks who’s signed up and chases up people who haven’t. In some parishes the size and number of readers make it impractical and we very rarely have parish secretaries etc. In my experience, pretty nearly all parishes will advertise the diocesan courses so people should know when and where they’re on even if they’re not made to go.

I’ve lived in Birmingam, Westminster and Brentwood dioceses as well, it is a variable picture!
 
There’s training? Wow, these newfangled ideas… 🙂

One option that might help – if you can get the exact wording of the specific reading ahead of time, a lot of people just go ahead and memorize it. (Especially if they come from a public speaking background where they were encouraged to memorize their speech.) You could memorize the reading from listening to a recording of it, for example, and just use the lectionary at church as a memory aid. That would pretty much circumvent the dyslexia, I guess.
 
LemonAndLime said:
At Mass the week before last a woman sat in front of me turned to talk to me at the end, as everyone was getting up to leave. She was one of the readers during Mass that day, and explained that her and her husband used to do it together, but he was now in a care home with dementia, so she was looking for a “reading partner” to replace him and asked if I would be interested, after asking my name, introducing herself, and confirming that I was one of the new converts who joined at Easter.

Not sure how I feel about this! I’m dyslexic so my reading isn’t very good. I’m not at all experienced with Scripture. It’s a struggle to read most fiction books, I read slower than average sometimes, and I can only be patient with my reading if the book is really good, as because of my reading difficulty, I find it hard to “get into” what I’m reading. Practice helps, but it’s slow progress. When it comes to reading the Bible on my own I have to admit, I do avoid it but occasionally persuade myself to try. I have to read each passage several times to get the meaning and I struggle. When reading aloud, my voice isn’t clear and flowing.

I would find it a great honour to be able to read the Bible aloud at Mass, but I don’t feel like I’m ready to or deserve to. But at the same time - a woman who I’ve never spoken to properly before suddenly turning around and asking me to be her husband’s replacement? Not sure it’s a coincidence. I’m meant to be giving her an answer tomorrow during Mass and I forgot all about it - now I’m nervous and not sure what to do. Would appreciate some advice!

Note - The woman said that she’ll be going away during the summer and needs someone to take her turn then, so if I did decide to take her husband’s place it wouldn’t be necessary for me to start straight away.
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Not to put any more pressure on you or anything…but remember Moses told God “Hey, I can’t lead your people, I can’t talk very good” but God wanted Moses and that was that.

👍

Pray about it. And if you need more time to decide, tell her that - not sure it’s her place to give you a deadline. Isn’t there someone in charge of the Lectors?
 
Being new convert is not a problem at all.

I do not know how dyslexia works, may be you just need more practice for reading. The important is the clear pronunciation.

The local pastor is the appropriate person to appoint readers, readers themselves has no rights for such appointments.
 
Batfink said:
Obviously it’s a decision only you can make, ultimately, it’s not for me to tell you what to do. That said, a few thoughts, in no particular order:
  1. I’ll get the practicalities out of the way: assuming your parish does things properly, whether this woman wants you to be her partner or not won’t be the end of the story. The parish priest will have to approve and send you on a course (usually run by the diocese, possibly within the parish). You’ll have to regularly go on courses to renew your practical reading aloud skills and pray together with other people in this ministry. If you end up agreeing to this woman’s request and none of this happens, go and see the priest yourself, ask whether he is ok with you reading and explain that you would like to be properly trained.
  2. It may be that, as you are hinting, God has put this opportunity before you for a reason. When I was going through marriage prep, the priest really heavily stressed (the first time I had ever heard this message) the obligations of the laity towards their parish and I resolved to get more involved, ideally with helping other people. The next week, there was an appeal from the SVP, so I went for it and I really think it wasn’t coincidence! However, as a new Catholic, you are likely to be invited to all sorts of things. Clearly there’s nothing dodgy about reading, but be careful with some of the things you’re asked to join - just because someone asks you, it doesn’t necessarily come from God.
  3. As for the dyslexia, there are plenty of good readers in Mass who have trouble reading. It is very different from e.g. being picked on to read in class. You will know the readings a long time in advance. As long as the parish has a rota prepared, you can look up the readings in the lectionary several weeks in advance. I would usually read through the reading for the first time a few days before I was due to read it at Mass. You have time to read it slowly, absorb the meaning. If it makes it easier for you, you could print it out on lined paper (maybe yellow, which many dyslexics find easier than white) and bring that with you to Mass. You can look online or ask other Christians for the pronunciation of any words you don’t know (quite often names of people or places come up, as well as words that just aren’t very common in everyday speech).
  4. On the other hand, you do have to be able to read well out loud. If you think that this is a separate issue for you (unrelated to the dyslexia), then maybe it isn’t the ministry for you. There will be old people who can’t hear very well, parents trying to hear you over screaming children, in a lot of older churches (which since you’re in the UK like me is fairly common) the acoustics are not really geared up to help you and the mic may be old and faulty. You have to be able to project your voice slowly, clearly and confidently. People hear God speaking through you so you want to make sure it’s done right!
In short, no one can decide but you. Don’t be afraid to refuse if it’s not right for you, there are plenty more ways you can serve the Church. Remember we are all parts of the body of Christ but each of us have different gifts. Equally, don’t be afraid to accept if you think you’re being called to this. Pray, speak to your godparent(s), speak to the parish priest and anyone else you trust. Don’t let this woman push you into a response if you’re not ready to give one!

On another note, I really encourage you to keep trying to read Scripture on your own, independently of whether or not you read in church. It is more difficult for some than others but it’s so worth it! There are lots of resources to help you (I can tell you some if you want) and it’s such an amazing way to deepen our faith and meet God [/end preaching, I’ll go off to see if I can take my own advice a bit more 😊].
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Thank you for the advice very much. My Church, without revealing where it is, is one of the oldest in Britain that still survives as a Catholic Church (and looks like a Church on the outside!) The acoustics aren’t too bad though.

It is something I would like to get involved in, but I’m not sure if I want to do it right now. And as other posters have suggested - it may not be within her authority to decide I should take her place. My mother used to read the Bible at her Church (Methodist) so it’s always been something I’m aware of as a possibility, but I would much prefer to go through my Parish Priest and sign on a course/join the group officially, before I jump in on the deep end. It would be something good to do to increase my confidence (in a challenging sort of way) but I’m not sure. Maybe I’ll discuss these things with her tomorrow instead of saying yay or nay straightaway.

Praying about it is definately something I need to do also. I’m already during to discern whether or not I’m called to veil in Mass, and I’m starting a new module at university next week so I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment!
 
At my parents’ church, they offer training for all ministers including lectors. I am sure that most people that go up and read do not do public speaking for a living.

Even my mother was asked by my aunt to read a reading at my grandmother’s funeral. My mother made it through without issues, and she isn’t the type to volunteer to be a lector. She would much rather be a greeter/hospitality minister and assist with the cup at Holy Communion. My aunt who is trained as a lector may have coached my mother some prior to reading as most of the attendees at the funeral were Catholics but not members of the parish where the funeral was held.
 
LemonAndLime said:
At Mass the week before last a woman sat in front of me turned to talk to me at the end, as everyone was getting up to leave. She was one of the readers during Mass that day, and explained that her and her husband used to do it together, but he was now in a care home with dementia, so she was looking for a “reading partner” to replace him and asked if I would be interested, after asking my name, introducing herself, and confirming that I was one of the new converts who joined at Easter.

Not sure how I feel about this! I’m dyslexic so my reading isn’t very good. I’m not at all experienced with Scripture. It’s a struggle to read most fiction books, I read slower than average sometimes, and I can only be patient with my reading if the book is really good, as because of my reading difficulty, I find it hard to “get into” what I’m reading. Practice helps, but it’s slow progress. When it comes to reading the Bible on my own I have to admit, I do avoid it but occasionally persuade myself to try. I have to read each passage several times to get the meaning and I struggle. When reading aloud, my voice isn’t clear and flowing.

I would find it a great honour to be able to read the Bible aloud at Mass, but I don’t feel like I’m ready to or deserve to. But at the same time - a woman who I’ve never spoken to properly before suddenly turning around and asking me to be her husband’s replacement? Not sure it’s a coincidence. I’m meant to be giving her an answer tomorrow during Mass and I forgot all about it - now I’m nervous and not sure what to do. Would appreciate some advice!

Note - The woman said that she’ll be going away during the summer and needs someone to take her turn then, so if I did decide to take her husband’s place it wouldn’t be necessary for me to start straight away.
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Welcome home!:grouphug:

First, if you do not feel comfortable about reading the holy scriptures in public, politely decline the offer.

I do not think there should be any reason you should not read the scriptures because you have only entered the Church.

If you are just nervous the only way around that is to get up and do it.

God bless

Matthew
 
Since you have to give your new friend an answer tomorrow, why not tell her that this interests you but you would like some more time to look into it and pray about it.

Then, to see if you might do well at this ministry, look at the readings for an upcoming Sunday. Read them over several times or listen to them on tape so you understand the meaning.

When you feel that you understand them, stand up and read one of them aloud. Then try proclaiming it as though you were doing it at mass.

That should give you an idea if you are well fitted to this ministry and if you want to take the time to get into it right now. Remember, this is not your only chance to become a lector. You could get involved in it at a later time.

It may help you to have a friend tape record the readings for you. I do that with the gospels for a priest who isn’t a native English speaker so he can practice ahead of time.

Despite the dyslexia, if you have the time to prepare and can proclaim the readings slowly, loudly, clearly, with expression, and in such as way as to convey the meaning, you might be a good lector. If you decide to do this, perhaps you could ask the pastor if you could try it at a daily mass and see how it goes.
 
Some parishes have policies in place requiring the newly-initiated to wait a yaer before beoming involved in a liturgical ministry. If you feel called to this ministry, fill out the application, but if you don’t feel ready, don’t. With regard to the application, t’s not just our “yes” that’s important, it’s also the pastor’s.
 
quiet52 said:
Some parishes have policies in place requiring the newly-initiated to wait a yaer before beoming involved in a liturgical ministry. If you feel called to this ministry, fill out the application, but if you don’t feel ready, don’t. With regard to the application, t’s not just our “yes” that’s important, it’s also the pastor’s.
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I’m very surprised at this. In our parish, seeing that there are enough readers is the job of the people who have taken responsibility for the rota for each Mass.

Surely this is a job that should be undertaken by a parishioner? Our priests are very happy and grateful for routine jobs like this to be taken over by the laity.There’s no actual application involved, either, more a case of the rota organiser approaching someone if a reader has had to give up .

I really don’t see why the priest has to approve a reader personally… Is there a fear that someone unknown to him might get up in the pulpit and say something rude or something?
 
Well, there is the unfortunate possibility of scandal, should someone who is obstinately in pubic sin be serving as a lector. The pastor always has veto power, and he isn’t obligated to say why, so it can help people save face if they don’t know what all might be going on.
 
The woman wasn’t there at Mass, I did look around for her but she wasn’t at her usual seat. There was a group outing today though so possibly she was away on that.

Feeling like I’ve been given a stay of execution. :eek:
 
Batfink said:
  1. I’ll get the practicalities out of the way: assuming your parish does things properly, whether this woman wants you to be her partner or not won’t be the end of the story. The parish priest will have to approve and send you on a course (usually run by the diocese, possibly within the parish). You’ll have to regularly go on courses to renew your practical reading aloud skills and pray together with other people in this ministry. If you end up agreeing to this woman’s request and none of this happens, go and see the priest yourself, ask whether he is ok with you reading and explain that you would like to be properly trained.
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I guess it’s different anywhere. Our diocese has pretty basic requirements that you be a practicing Catholic who can do a decent job reading. Some parishes have a required training, some don’t. My training was 5 minutes after Mass one day, basically “here’s how you find your way around the lectionary, and make sure you put it under the ambo when you’re done.” And it’s a lady who’s just another parishioner who takes care of training and scheduling, because the pastor has delegated that to her.
laszlo said:
I do not know how dyslexia works, may be you just need more practice for reading. The important is the clear pronunciation.
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Our parochial vicar is dyslexic. Doesn’t stop him from doing a whole lot more than just reading!

To the OP: If you decide to read at Mass, take it seriously, but don’t stress out about it. You go up, bow or genuflect, read what’s on the page at a decent pace, and you leave. Pretty basic if you can get through the reading difficulties.
 
Claire_from_DE said:
Despite the dyslexia, if you have the time to prepare and can proclaim the readings slowly, loudly, clearly, with expression, and in such as way as to convey the meaning, you might be a good lector.
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My dyslexic friend practices her readings, 3 or 4 days before Mass. Hands down, she’s our best lector.
I’ve watched the people around me when she reads. They pay attention, and listen to her! 😃
 
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