Many Catholics are not aware of the planning, logistics, and structure needed to successfully perform one of our our most sacred moments, the Mass. The Roman Missal, the book of prayers and instructions for celebrating Mass, has over 1500 pages. From the color of the altar cloth to the readings to the positioning of vessels, every detail is planned out for every service. Some are very simple, others, like the beautiful Easter Vigil, take weeks of preparation. When we have between 10 to 2,000 people celebrating together, with various liturgical requirements and unique needs, our church requires a group of people dedicated to supporting the priests, the ministries, and the Parish Family within our church. Those individuals are called Sacristans. It is the responsibility of the Sacristans to prepare the church for Mass and ensure a joyous and positive experience for those serving the Mass (clergy, musicians, lectors, ushers, EM’s, and altar servers), and our parishioners and visitors. From opening the church at 7AM to closing it up at 6PM, and for every Baptism, Funeral, and service in between, the Sacristan prepares our church, stocks our liturgical materials, and handles all the details that allow our priests to focus on pastoral support and engagement with all of us. While they may appear invisible sometimes, the Sacristans are the glue of our liturgical environment.
It saddened me to have to say goodbye to our Sacristan, Lorna Woonsam, this week. Her dedication to our church is extraordinary and we will miss her in the Sacristy. She will continue to be a wonderful part of our Parish Family. We are very blessed to have in our midst another individual who is equally devoted and ready to lead our Sacristans, Lan Tran. Lan has been assisting Lorna for many years, so she can “hit the ground running” and continue the wonderful efforts we have in place for our Parish Family.
My name is Lan Tran. I have been a member of the church for about 10 years. It has become a very important part of my life. I am a widowed mother of seven wonderful children and eleven beautiful grandchildren. I am honored to become a part of Saint John the Evangelist. It’s a blessing to be able to serve God by working in his church. I look forward to working with everyone in our church community. Please pray for me as I enter into this journey of serving our Heavenly Father and Blessed Mother.
Thank you and God Bless,
Lan Tran