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The Liturgical Role of the CantorCantors serve in the dual roles of song-leader/animator and psalmist for liturgical celebrations. Although the cantor must be a skilled vocal musician, it is extremely important that he or she also be well-trained and formed in the liturgical and pastoral aspect of the cantor’s art. A cantor is also a “minister of the Word” when proclaiming the Responsorial Psalm; when leading and supporting the people’s song, the cantor is a model for the assembly. The cantor strives to empower the assembly to be comfortable with raising its own collective voice to God in worship.
- Expectations
- Be reliable, organized and prepared
- Keep finding ways to move forward in your ministry
- Be a leader within the music ministry with your actions and words, a model for other ministers, looking for ways to support others
- Recognize your responsibility as one of the most public representatives of the music ministry and the parish
- Incorporate the Book of Psalms somehow into your spiritual/prayer life
- Cues!
- Kyrie that you are leading - During the recitation of the confetior (“I confess to almighty God…”) move to the lectern.
- Responsorial Psalm - After the, “Thanks be to God,” response to the first reading, wait for the lector to leave the sanctuary, and then start moving to the ambo.
- Gospel Acclamation - After the “Thanks be to God,” response to the second reading, immediately move to the lectern.
- Baptisms - When baptism is celebrated during Mass, the cantor sings the Litany of the Saints from the cantor's microphone at the lectern in the choir area. The cantor should move to the lectern as soon as the homily is completed.
- The participants in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) are dismissed at one Mass each weekend, in rotation. The cantor at that Mass cues the assembly to sing the refrain to the dismissal song and also sings a verse from the lectern. The cantor should move to the lectern as soon as the homily is completed.
- In general, we never want to have to rush to get into place, and we want the liturgy to flow from one moment to the next without unintentional silence.
- Expectations
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