Gift Bearers
Contact Information
See the Usher in the Back of Church
or, to schedule a mass, call 724-775-6363
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Within every Sunday liturgy is a moment in which a family or
representatives of a small faith community carry forward the gifts for the altar.
Those who have requested a special intention at the Mass should check in at least ten minutes before Mass is to begin. If the scheduled gift bearers do not check in, a sign requesting gift bearers will be placed on the gift table at the back of Church. Every family or individual is encouraged to request to serve in this ministry at least once during the year.
Make this ministry a special time to reflect on the gifts that God has given you and how this Divine Creator of incandescent galaxies and our humble parish is calling you to use those gifts. A vocation is the life to which the Lord calls you, whether single, married, religious brother or sister, or priest. Learning to listen to God's voice is the topic of many books, talks, and retreats. Call Ellen Cavanaugh 724-775-6363 for a list of resources. Volunteer to initiate a vocation awareness team in the parish.
THE OFFERTORY
AND PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
The second major part of the Mass begins with The Offertory. In the earliest days of the Church, the 'Liturgy of the Eucharist' was very simple. By the fourth century, this rite had expanded to include the people themselves bringing the gifts (the bread and wine) to the altar. From the fourth century to the Middle Ages, the whole congregation participated in the Offertory. The bread and wine for the Eucharist were brought forward with gifts for the poor and candles and incense for the Church. The priest accepted each of the gifts at the altar then supervised their distribution later. By the late Middle Ages this became impractical and was replaced by the collection of money. The offertory processions disappeared altogether in liturgy, only to be revived as a simple offertory procession.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal tells us that procession of the gifts is intended to carry on "the spiritual meaning of the ancient custom when the people brought bread and wine from their homes." From time to time, collections of food or other needed items are still made, and although they are not directly part of the procession of the gifts, their value is still directly connected to the Eucharistic sacrifice.
The altar is prepared; the gifts are "set apart" and presented as a sign of the community's desire to incorporate itself in the sacrifice of Christ; the bread and wine are placed on the altar as the celebrant praises God for his gifts which will become the body and blood of the Lord; finally, in a prayer over the gifts the priest sums up the meaning of all that has taken place.
From time to time, collections of food or other needed items are still made, and although they are not directly part of the procession of the gifts, their value is still directly connected to the Eucharistic sacrifice. The altar is prepared; the gifts are "set apart" and presented as a sign of the community's desire to incorporate itself in the sacrifice of Christ; the bread and wine are placed on the altar as the celebrant praises God for his gifts which will become the body and blood of the Lord.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
Finally, in a prayer over the gifts the priest sums up the meaning of all that has taken place. The words of this prayer change at every celebration. Listen carefully as we ask God to accept our gifts and grant that our sacrifice might bear fruit.
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