Guidelines for the Ministry of Ushers & Ministry of Hospitality
(revised) – October 7, 2014
 
THANK YOU for volunteering to Minister to your Parish Family.
 
St. Michael’s has had Ushers who have served the parish for many years.
Some of you are volunteering for the first time.
That makes a GAP of many years.
 
St. Michael’s has had the same TWO Ushers at designated Masses for as long as most of the parishioners can remember.  When they die they are replaced.
 
When those TWO ushers are absent for whatever reason, “VOLUNTEERS” step up to take their place.  The Collection(s) get done but there is often confusion and thus the Mass is delayed and the Ministry of Usher is not up to standard.
 
It is my hope that we can ADD to our Ushers List of volunteers and work by a few necessary “Guidelines” to follow in the “Ministry of Usher”, so that when new volunteers approach the Worship Committee there is something to give them as to how St. Michael’s Parish Ushers serve the parish.
 

1. The PRIMARY role of an Usher is “to offer Hospitality” when people approach the doors of the Church.  The USHER is the first face to give a guest a “welcoming” smile and assure the friendliness of the community at prayer and worship.

2. The Usher should carry the little “welcoming cards” to give to families with small children or infants. They serve no purpose sitting on a table as is; so with a courteous smile welcome the whole family and inform them of the overflow/TV room and “changing table” for the little people in the bathroom.

3. The Usher(s) is the person that is “KEY” to visitors and the community when an emergency happens.  Ushers should know where the First Aid Kit is kept and where to find the Fire Extinguisher.

4. The Usher invites a family to bring up the Offertory Gifts (the family should be properly dressed for this honor).

5. The Usher is responsible for the neatness of the Church before the people arrive.  Of course if the prior Usher Team cleaned up after the Mass, there should be very little housekeeping to do.

6. The Usher is responsible for making sure the Bathroom has paper and soap and it is in a sanitary state for our parishioners and guests. (Empty trash if overflowing, and pick up paper on the floor.)

7. The Ushers should ALL arrive 15 minutes prior to Mass time to assure the neatness of the pews and back tables.

8. The Ushers should stay after Mass to assure the neatness of the pews, bathroom, and back tables.

9. Prior to Mass, stop by the Sacristy to make sure there aren’t any “SPECIAL” instructions for that day or Mass. There may be a visiting Priest and we want him to feel welcome and confident that everything is in order for the Mass.

1. Be aware of the empty spaces in the church.
2. Usher people to their seats prior to Mass beginning.
3. After the Readings begin, usher the guests (via the outside side door) to the overflow/TV room.
4. The CHOIR LOFT is to be used “sparingly” – people are to sit in among the congregation.

1. The Ushers should make sure the Offertory baskets are in the back of the church prior to Mass and see that the Blue Second Collection baskets are sitting on the communion rail.
2. The Ushers should come down and stand at the first pew and wait until after Father has made any announcements, especially about the “second” collection and informs the visitors that it will be taken up immediately after the first collection – giving the people time – before beginning to take up the collections.
3. The Usher is the normal person to carry the collection basket in the Offertory Procession. The family is invited to bring up the water and the bread.
4. DIOCESAN GUIDELINES: for the “security” of the Offertory Collections:

1. TWO Ushers will pick up the baskets sitting in front of the altar, and take them to the Sacristy, where “assigned” bags are for each of the THREE Masses.
2. TWO Ushers will place money in the assigned bags for each collection.
3. TWO Ushers will put the bag(s) in the safe.
4. At no time is the money to be left alone, and always with TWO Ushers present. In the past there has been theft involved with the Offertory Collection. Be always vigilant.

e.   During the months of October and April, the Ushers take up a “Count” of Attendance at each Mass.  These records are sent to the Pastoral Center.
f.   Assisting with Communion:  it is the custom at St. Michael’s Church that the Communion Line begins with the last pew following the Music Ministry from the choir loft.
 
It is the hope of the Worship Committee and the Pastor that at each Mass there will be an Usher Team of three ushers.
 
It is the hope of the Worship Committee and the Pastor that the Ushers be dressed appropriately for each Mass – not in shorts.
 
The Coordinator of the Ministry of Ushers is ARNIE SEYDEN.