This person helps ensure a smoothly running church service and ministers to people in a variety of practical ways.  The duties include greeting people as they arrive for Mass, assist people with special needs, and collect the offering.

Before Mass: The ushers will have the responsibility to make sure pews are clear of debris, all kneelers are up and the bulletins are prepared for distribution. As the churchgoers arrive, the ushers will act as doorkeepers at each door, greeting each person with a smile & shaking hands as well as extending extra help in seating those who need assistance. The bell needs to be rung fifteen minutes and again at one minute before Mass. Also the head usher needs to find a family of three or group of three to bring up the gifts. They should be dressed appropriately and able to carry the items. Make sure they know what to do and that they need to come to the back of the church at collection time. 

During Mass:  The ushers are responsible in aiding latecomers in finding a seat and in taking up the church collection with one person at the end of every isle (4 total). During communion two people are needed on each side of the center isle to guide parishioners out of their pews to receive communion. In case of an emergency, the ushers will take the lead in getting people to safety in an orderly manner.

After Mass: The ushers will again be at each door to greet the congregation as they leave and provide assistance as needed as well as handing out bulletins. Two will be needed to put the money in the safe and sign the book and stewardship envelope. Again the pews need to be checked for debris and all kneelers need to be up then lock the church when Mass is over.

Although the position of “usher” is not mentioned in the Bible, ushers today provide an invaluable service to the local church body. In many ways, the ushers are the “face” of the church, the first ones that people see when they arrive and the last ones they see as they leave. It is important that an usher be friendly, honest, and willing to serve. It is an honorable position in the church, requiring integrity, cordiality, and wisdom.

The heart of an usher is the heart of a servant, and he does his work for his Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:24). A church usher has a true love for the people of the church and a desire to promote an atmosphere of reverence and worship in the house of God. An usher’s theme verse could very well be Psalm 84:10, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”