Liturgical Ministries

The Eucharistic Liturgy is the source and summit of the faith life of Siena College. Sunday and weekday masses offer the campus community--faculty, staff, and students--the opportunity to gather in prayer and give thanks for all that God has done for us.

 

To make these liturgies true celebrations, we take advantage of the many talents of our student body to serve our liturgies through a variety of ministries. 

 

Follow the link to the Liturgical Ministry Interest Form. The Chaplain's Office offers the following ways for students to become involved in the liturgical life of Siena College:

 

Lectors

Serve as those who proclaim the Word of God to the community at every liturgy.  It is the task of the lectors to proclaim the scriptures so that they command the attention of all.  Proclaiming the Word is different from any other reading.  Eye contact and presence is of the essence--God speaks to people through the Lector.  A period of silence and reflection after the reading is very important.

 

Eucharistic Ministers

Serve as those who help to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to the assembly during the liturgy.  They are also ministers of hospitality who greet the assembly as they arrive for the liturgy, pass out programs, and select people to bring up the gifts of bread and wine. 

 

Acolytes

Take the responsibility of freeing the presider from various details so he may give his full attention to presiding.  The various tasks of an acolyte include:  assisting with the Sacramentary when the presider needs to read from it; preparing the altar table with the vessels of bread and wine; and helping others to share in communion, both bread and cup, taking care of candles, incense, and the processional cross.  This ministry is open to both men and women.

 

Training sessions for all liturgical ministries take place in the Fall Semester for both experienced ministers and new-comers. Each of these liturgical ministries manifests the connection between the food we receive at mass and the food we are for one another in companionship and hospitality.

 

Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel Choir

Provides the music leadership for the liturgical celebrations on Sundays and special feast days at Siena College.   The Chapel Choir is composed of about 20 men and women, instrumentalists--guitars, drums, keyboards, flute, brass--and vocalists, whose repertoire encompasses a wide variety of contemporary and classical liturgical music.  The full Choir sings at the 6:00 p.m. mass in St. Mary of the Angels Chapel on Sundays.  The Choir also performs for the Opening Day Liturgy, the Mass of the Holy Spirit, the liturgies for the Solemnity of St. Francis, Family Weekend Liturgy, the Advent Candlelight Liturgy, Ash Wednesday liturgies, Palm Sunday Liturgy, the Liturgy of Christian Initiation, and the Baccalaureate Liturgy.

The Chapel Choir, under the direction of Marjorie Voytko, Director of Music, places great emphasis on the full, active participation of all the faithful at every liturgy.  To that end, much of the music performed is lyrical, responsive, and easy to be a part of.  The Choir also shares in reflection on their ministry, the importance of music in Catholic rituals, and training for musical leadership in assembly.

Membership is open to all students of Siena College and training in voice and sight singing is offered to new-comers and interested persons. The Chapel Choir rehearses every Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel. 

 

Interested? Contact Michelle Stefanik , Associate Campus Minister