An usher is a man or woman chosen to reflect the warmth and welcome of Christ himself. Ushers are usually the first official representative of the church that people meet when they arrive. Their dress, attitude, words, demeanor, body language all speak a message to the person arriving at church.

The ministry of ushers is the oldest lay ministry in the Catholic Church. In the Old Testament ushers were called "gatekeepers." Their ministry was so important that they were given living quarters in the temple. Their duties included opening the temple every morning, providing care and protection for all the precious vessels, preparing certain food items used in ritual sacrifices, and guarding the temple.

By the time of Christ, these gatekeepers had become known as the "Temple Guard." They were ordered to arrest Jesus, but according to the Gospel of John, they instead became interested in Jesus' message.

By the third century A.D., a clerical order known as "porters" (overseers of the doors) was instituted. During those times, it was the duty of the porters, or ushers, to guard the door of the church against any intruders who might disturb the service. The porters' duties were so important that they came to be included in the rite of ordination, where they were to ring the bells, open the church, and to open the book for the pastor.

In 1972 Pope Paul VI abolished the order of porter and this important task was given over to the laity. While today's ushers don’t ring the bells or open the church, their primary duties and responsibilities include greeting and welcoming parishioners as they enter the church, helping them find seats, taking up the collection and wishing to everyone a good day at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration.

At St. James, there are 85 members of the Usher Ministry that meet, greet and seat parishioners at Mass. Each Mass has an Usher Captain, who directs the other ushers on the needs for that day’s Mass.

For more information on the Usher Ministry, call Ned Kessler at 407 422-2005.