on 2/2/04 Scott Wright wrote:

Dear prayer leaders & catechists at the jail on Saturdays & Wednesdays, Bob Roleke, Linda & Bob Horning, Gary Roche, Luis Vazquez, Jessica Sherwood, Jeannette Barbacane,  Joe Campbell, Rick Rykowski,   (cc: Fr. Antonio, Art, & Kathleen,)

  Some of you are both prayer leaders & catechists.   Others of you are one or the other.  I address this message to all of you so that we are united in this one ministry.

 As the pastoral administrator, it is my job to keep "holy" order in this jail ministry.  I hope that you feel free to address any dreams or concerns for this ministry and its growth to me.   I hope that we share a long range goal of seeing this ministry grow according to the will of Christ.

 I do not want to stand in the way of genuine growth.  At the same time "the buck stops here"!   I am the responsible person that is charged with organizing: training, funding, & scheduling ministry at the jail.  As you know Jesus Christ is in charge, and the bishop of Lansing has delegated this ministry to our unworthy service, we are grateful for the generous response from so many of you.  Especially Fr. Antonio & all of the priests from the Washtenaw area that help us with sacramental mininistry.

 No one of us can be present for every event in this growing ministry.  You & I must be willing to trust that other volunteers will come and we will be mentors and teachers of the new volunteers. 

 1)     As catechists you will need to be familiar with the very abbreviated RCIA Process including the; class curriculum & text.  Please cover the matterials & let the spirit inspire your teaching.  Bring the text to life.

 2)   As prayer leaders at the Liturgy of the Word you will need to be familiar with the expected tasks.   Remember when you are preparing for your time of breaking open the WORD that we use the Sunday readings.  (Let me know if you need any assistance with understanding and/or explaining the WORD of God I have access to some nice resources.)  See this Sunday's readings here: http://www.usccb.org/nab/

 Please encourage one another!
 When you plan the liturgy for which you are responsible, please be faithful to the order for the liturgy as listed below & in the misselett. When you are scheduled & entrusted to lead the liturgy you are responsible for several parts.  You could lead the prayer and delegate the part of breaking open the WORD just after the Gospel reading to an other person.    Please prepare well. And, if you delegate any parts of your duties to another person.  Give them plenty of notice and trust that they will take care of their part.

 In the case of the women's services, if you have only a half-hour per group, then it is even more important to keep some discipline in the time spent in the liturgy.   Please keep a spirit of prayerfulness and adapt the Rites as needed to shorten the service, yet keep the dignity of the Liturgy & Gospel proclaimed.

 Get a Misselett and look through to find the prayers & pages that you will need to preside at the liturgy.  (A musician could plan the opening & closing songs, the Gloria & the Gospel Acclamation (NO Gloria or Alleluia During LENT).  If there is No musician then the presider is responsible for selecting & leading the music, or delegating it to someone else.)

 As the presider you will need to prepare:
 - Opening Song
 - Process in with the LECTIONARY
 (I will purchase another one or two Lectionaries for the women's services.)
 and/or the crucifix & when applicable, the Holy Eucharist.
 (some day we hope to have another Altar for the women's liturgy too.)
 - Greeting  (Page _?)
 - Penitential Rite (Page _?)
 - Gloria (Page _? normally sung, but NOT during LENT.)
 - Opening Prayer (Page _?)
 - Readings (Gospel Acclamation sung; Alleluia NOT during Lent)
 - Homily (Break open the Word of God. Seriously study the readings ahead of
 time.)
 - Profession of Faith (Page _?)
 - General Intercessions (prayers & sign of peace)
 - Our Father...
 - (If with Communion then, "This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
 the world ..." 
 - Final Blessing ("May the Lord bless us, + Protect us from evil & bring us to
 everlasting life.")
 - Closing Song

 (Notice that pages in the Misselett change depending upon the season.)
 ------------------------- -------------------------

 In Christ,
 Scott Wright (734-821-2121)
 "Go Directly to Jail!"  On the Web:
 www.stfrancisa2.com/jail/

OUTLINE OF THE RITE

Receiving the Candidate (at the door of the Church)
Greeting  (at the door of the Church)
     (During the procession from the door to the altar you may want 
                 to sing the GLORIA as the first song.)
Opening Dialogue 
Candidate’s Declaration
Affirmation by the Godparents
Invitation to the Celebration of the Word of God 

Liturgy of the Word
Readings
Homily
Intercessions for the Candidate
Penitential Rite
Prayer of Exorcism
Anointing with the Oil of Catechumens or 
 Laying on of Hands

Celebration of Baptism
Invitation to Prayer
Prayer over the Water
Profession of Faith
 Renunciation of Sin
 Profession of Faith
Baptism
Explanatory Rites
 Clothing with a Baptismal Garment
 Presentation of a Lighted Candle

Celebration of Confirmation
Invitation
Laying on of Hands
Anointing with Chrism

Liturgy of the Eucharist