Ushers

“Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

What We Do

Ushers welcome people as they arrive for Mass.
They assist people to their seats, help those with special needs, and select people to present the gifts. During the Mass, they help late-comers find seating, guide people as they line up for Communion, and take up the collection(s).
At the conclusion of Mass, ushers distribute bulletins in the Gathering Space and at the exits and wish parishioners a good day, handle lost and found articles, and prepare the pews and doors for the next Mass. Many of St. Catharine’s ushers are CPR/AED certified.

Our History

The ministry of ushers is the oldest lay ministry in the Church. During the time of Christ, the doorkeepers of the temple numbered in the hundreds; they were the forerunners of today’s ushers.
The more immediate predecessor of today’s usher can be found in the clerical order of ostiary (porter), instituted in the 3rd century A.D. During that time, it was the duty of the porter or usher to guard the door of the church against any intruders, who might disturb the service. The porter’s duties were so important that they were included in the rite of ordination as: “to ring the bells, open the church and sacristy, to open the book for the preacher.” In 1972 Pope Paul VI abolished the order of porter, and this important task was given over to the laity.

Join Us!

Open to: Men, women and teen parishioners
Meet: Saturdays and Sundays
Time: 20 minutes before Mass until approximately 15 minutes after Mass
Place: St. Catharine Church

Contact: Joe Sparacino at jcs926@aol.com