Preparation, Presence and Proclamation

• Personal copies of the Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers are provided to all parish lectors.  Make good use of your copy.
• Advance preparation is essential for effective proclamation at liturgy.  Please read the introduction to the Workbook carefully.  Effective preparation involves prayer, study and attention to the elements of good public speaking. 

a)      Pray with the text

b)     Set aside time at home over several days to prepare the readings

c)      Become familiar with the scriptural text

d)     Identify the type of passage: narrative, poetry, dialogue, letter, etc.

e)      Identify the characters

f)       Study the meaning of the passage

g)      What words need emphasis?

h)     What ideas need to be given at a slower or faster rate?

i)       Where are pauses needed?

j)       Where are changes in volume or voice needed?

k)     Where does the phrase move to its climax?

l)       Consider the tone of the passage: comforting, scolding, warning, intimate…

m)   Become familiar with unusual names

n)     Read ideas not words

o)     Be conscious of lengthy sentences, particularly in the Pauline letters

p)     Ask for feedback

• Each assigned lector should be familiar with all the readings in order to have a full understanding of the proclamation for which you are responsible.

Voice

• Having reflected on the tone of the passage, use a voice quality that dynamically illustrates the reading
• Avoid dropping the voice at the end of phrases and sentences
• Respect punctuation marks
• Indicate, by changes in vocal tone, the various speakers in a passage, including the narrator
• Be conscious of consonants and use them.  Diction helps propel the text forward.
• Articulate the consonants properly, particularly at the ends of words.
• Be aware that the acoustics of the space will affect tempo, pauses, and diction.

Posture

• Walk upright and with confidence to and from the ambo
• Do not carry anything in your hands
• Stand straight and comfortably
• Hands may rest lightly on the ambo; do not grab the sides tightly
• Be aware of the position of your head as the reading progresses to the bottom of the page so your voice does not trail off and become distant.

Eye Contact

• Look at the assembly for a moment before beginning
• Maintain eye contact as much as possible, particularly at the ends of paragraphs and sections

Breathing

• Breathe regularly and from the diaphragm, not the chest.

Nerves

• Know how to use your vocal mechanism
• Know how to use your amplification system
• Understand fully the text

Mistakes

• If a mistake occurs, do not apologize.  Repeat the phrase with corrections and continue reading.

Microphone Use

• Position the microphone appropriately.  A voice may become distorted if the microphone is too close or a reading may become inaudible if the microphone is too far from the speaker
• Be aware of the acoustics of the space

Introducing the reading

• Rather than – “The first reading is a reading from …” or “The Second Reading is a reading from …”  Please read the opening to the reading as it appears on the page . . . “A reading from . . .”  And remember that “A” is pronounced “uh” and not “aye” with the long “a” sound.