Sacristans assist the priest by preparing the church and sacristy for daily and weekend Masses. Sacristans ensure that all Liturgical ministers are present and ready for Mass. They see to it that the gifts are ready, lights and microphones are on and other necessary tasks are completed. Contact Jessica at the parish office if you are interested in becoming a Sacristan..
Any person who has received the Sacrament of First Communion is able to be an Altar Server in the Church.
Altar Servers assist the priest and deacon during the Mass.
To become an Altar Server, you must be in 3rd grade or above, have received First Communion, and have completed Altar Server Training at St. Dominic's. Please contact Jessica Davison at (423)288-8101 x 114 for more information.
Lectors have the primary role of proclaiming the Word of God in such a way that it comes to life in the hearts of the assembly. Lectors must be approved by the pastor, and must complete training here at the Church.
Extraordinary Ministers are a group of men and women who, after preparation and commissioning, distribute the Body and Blood of Christ during the celebration of Mass. Extraordinary ministers must be approved by the pastor, and must complete training here at the Church.
First, if you are receiving communion on the tongue, it is still asked that you wait until the end of the communion line and come to the priest in order to receive. This is a precaution being asked by the diocese due to Covid and it is still in effect.
Second, the appropriate time to transition from kneeling in the pew to sitting after receiving communion is when the Blessed Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle, and not when the vessels are finished being cleansed and the altar is cleared. The cleansing of the vessels and the altar are secondary actions and not primary. We kneel after receiving communion both in an expression of prayerful gratitude for so great a gift and in reverence to the presence of Christ still being distributed in communion. Once the sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle is therefore the appropriate time for a person to end that moment of reverence and prayer as well as being an acknowledgement that the focus has now shifted away from the altar of sacrifice and its action to Christ now reposed in the tabernacle. You will notice that the priest will sit once the Blessed Sacrament is returned tot he tabernacle. Please follow his cue.
Thank you.
Fr. Michael