“There are various ministries, but the Lord is the same. There are various functions, but it is the same God who works everything in everyone … This is done by the same and only Spirit, who distributes to each one his gifts as he wishes”, as Saint Paul explains to us (1 Corinthians 12: 5-6,11).
Therefore, in the People of God there are various services, various ministries. Some are the ministries that are conferred through the sacrament of Orders, such as the diaconate, the priesthood, and the episcopacy. Others, however, are not conferred through the sacrament and, therefore, the faithful who receives them do not leave their lay status.
The ministries destined to the liturgical service were considered as institutions prior to the reception of sacred orders, and were called “minor orders.” Among these were the ostiary, the lector, the exorcist and the acolyte.
After the Second Vatican Council, a revision of these functions was made, and they ceased to be called “minor orders”, and the “ministries” were transformed, preserving only the acolyte and the lector, although leaving to the episcopal conferences the possibility of creating others that were necessary for the region (Ministeria Quaedam).
On 2021, third lay ministry was added: that of the catechist (Antiquum ministerium).
Thus, there are three lay ministries: acolyte, lector and catechist, which can be entrusted to any member of the faithful, who meets the age and conditions established by the episcopal conference. To this end, they must be instituted through a liturgical rite.
This, however, does not mean that only instituted catechists can be the communicators of the truth of the faith, or that only instituted lectors can read the word of God in the liturgical assembly, or that only instituted acolytes can take charge of the altar service. These functions may also be performed by any other lay person, either de facto or through the temporary assignment of the parish priest. The existence of lay ministries only indicates that those who are instituted through the liturgical rite will do so in a stable way.
Let us consider whether in our condition as lay people we feel called to any of these ministries, to contribute with the gifts and charisms that the Holy Spirit has blessed us and to collaborate with our parish in the Holy Eucharist or sharing the faith as catechists.
Liturgia Papal, “Los ministerios laicales”, LiturgiaPapal.org, 12 February 2022, translated from https://liturgiapapal.org/index.php/manual-de-liturgia/ministerios/1155-los-ministerios-laicales.html