The Responsorial Psalm is an affirming prayer in response to the First Reading.
The response nature of the psalm is more clearly indicated if it is led by another person – that is, a person different from the one who proclaimed the First Reading or Lesson, as Anglicans sometimes call it.
Ideally, the response is sung and the verses chanted, because good singing is an aid to prayer.
It should be understood that when the same person is proclaiming the First Reading and leading the prayer of the Responsorial Psalm, at least a different tone of voice is called for in leading the psalm.
Anything that distracts from the prayerfulness of the psalm is also out of place. So omit unnecessary introductions such as “The response to the psalm is...” And for prayer’s sake don’t say “response” at the end of every verse of the psalm.
A suitable voice inflection can indicate when the congregation comes in with the response. To aid the congregation in making the response the reader might say the response in an undertone.
At the end of the proclamation of the text of the reading there can be a short pause, then “The Word of the Lord”, then another short pause before the psalm. In the Liturgy even brief periods of prayerful silence are important. And some variety in the timings could help maintain a freshness in the Liturgy too.
The Responsorial Psalm is a prayer in response to the first proclamation. Ideally it is sung, because good music and singing help prayer and celebration. Certainly the Alleluia and its verse are composed for singing, a welcoming kind of singing, so much so that the Introduction to the Roman Missal indicates that if it can’t be sung it may be omitted. Nevertheless, by custom now, if we don’t sing it, we generally say it.
As mentioned above there is no place for a distracting directive at the beginning of the Psalm. Simply say the Response clearly and distinctly so that the congregation can pick it up and repeat it. The reader might support the congregation by reciting the Response with them each time in an undertone.
To summarise: The reader presents the verses of the Psalm as a prayer. So in comparison with the proclamation of the First Reading the prayer of the Psalm has a different tone, even a different voice tone. At the end of each verse of the Psalm the reader can give the cue for the Response by using a distinctive voice inflection.
Perhaps include another brief pause before leading the congregation in the Alleluia gospel-welcoming acclamation. (Without introductory directives!)
When introducing any change in procedure in
the Liturgy, even a small change, it is a good idea to inform the
congregation before the Liturgy begins, explaining the change and
giving the reason for it. Avoid incorporating explanations of the
Liturgy into the time of the Liturgy itself.