Ministry in the Catholic Church Quiz

Answer: The Lector

A lector can be anyone trained in proclaiming the Word (other than the Gospel) at Mass. (Only ordained clergy can proclaim the Gospel, with an exception in place for Masses for children.) An instituted lector is a man who has been formally installed in that role, and under current Church law, cannot be a woman. Typically, parishes utilize the ministry of lector without any formal installation.

Therefore, women are included.

Answer: Deacon, Priest, Bishop

Deacons, Priests and Bishops are ordained clergy in the Catholic Church. They are the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Instituted acolytes are also ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, but in most parishes, instituted acolytes do not exist.

Answer: Consecrated Religious

Consecrated Religious are vowed men (Brothers, Friars, Monks, and in some cases, Priests) and women (Sisters or Nuns) who usually belong to a particular religious order. Some examples of religious orders are the Dominicans, the Franciscans, and the Benedictines.

Answer: Cantor

The ministry of Cantor is exercised when someone who has the gift of singing and gift of leading others in song, does so in service to the assembly.

Answer: Faith Formation

A meaning of Catechesis is "to echo." A catechist, then, is one who "echoes" the faith to others. These are teachers of the faith. They participate in the ministry of Catechesis or Faith Formation. (In some places, this ministry may be called Religious Education, or CCD - Confraternity of Christian Doctrine - often older terms to express the same reality.)

Answer: Outreach

Outreach to those in need, particularly the poor and vulnerable, is at the heart of ministry within the Catholic Church. Many parishes exercise the ministry of Outreach to help address the needs of the poor, and often to empower those who are poor and vulnerable.

Answer: Lay Person

Where there is a shortage of Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (bishop, priest, deacon, or instituted acolyte), others may be commissioned in this ministry as approved by local ecclesial authority. (Technically, nuns or sisters are lay people, in that they are not ordained ministers of the Church.)

Answer: Altar server

An altar server is usually a boy or girl or other person (adult) who assists the priest or bishop at Mass. In the United States, a local bishop has the authority to allow males or females to minister in this role. There are also instituted acolytes (male only), who, through a rite of the Church, are authorized to serve in this role.

Answer: Deacon

Transitional deacons are those single men who receive the first part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and are preparing for ordination to the priesthood. Permanent deacons are men, who may be single or married (providing they are married before they are ordained). Permanent married deacons may not become priests.

Answer: All of these

All Catholics are called to holiness, each in their own particular vocations. Whether they be married, single, ordained, non-ordained, consecrated religious, bankers, teachers, administrators, construction workers, etc., they are all called to participate in the mission of Jesus. That mission is to transform the world to Christ - to help bring about the Kingdom of God. All ministry, whether it be official church ministries (ordained or non-ordained) - or ministries as parents, friends, teachers, students, authors, etc. - affords the baptized an opportunity to be the hands of Christ to all God's people wherever they are.