Parish Ministries...
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Assist
with the distribution of the consecrated bread
and wine at the liturgy. COMMITMENT: Serve a
minimum of once/month. Must arrive 15 minutes
before the liturgy. Must attend periodic
in-services that review and update this
ministry.
HOSPITALITY MINISTER: Greet
people as they arrive for liturgy; provide
outside assistance if needed; distribute liturgy
guides; help seat people; take up collections;
and help wherever needed before, during, and
after the liturgy. COMMITMENT: Serve minimum of
once per month. Must arrive 30 minutes before
the liturgy. Must attend periodic in-services
that review and update this ministry.
LECTOR: Proclaim the appointed
readings and general intercessions during the
liturgy. COMMITMENT: Must read and pray the
Sunday scriptures during the week, so the
readings are familiar. Serve a minimum of once
every other month. Must arrive 20 minutes before
the liturgy and attend periodic in-services to
review and update this ministry.
SACRISTAN:
Prepare for the Eucharist, and clean up after.
COMMITMENT: Serve minimum of once per month.
Must arrive 20 minutes before the liturgy. And
attend periodic in-services that review and
update this ministry.
TABLE SETTER DURING LITURGY: Set the table
before the preparation of the gifts portion of
the liturgy. This can be done individually or as
a family. COMMITMENT: Minimum of 6 times/year
per individual or family.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY FACILITATOR: Lead the
elementary children’s Liturgy of the Word which
takes place during the 9:00 or 10:30 Liturgy.
Leave with the children after Father’s greeting
and prayer, and return before the petitions.
Necessary lesson materials provided which
explain the Sunday’s reading to children and
apply it to their lives. COMMITMENT: Must be
familiar with the children’s readings before
Sunday’s Liturgy. Serve once per month. Must
attend periodic in-services that review and
update this ministry.
PRESCHOOL:
For children ages 4 and 5. Offered on Sundays
during the school year at the 9:00 liturgies.
DONUT SOCIAL HOSTS: Set up and serve donuts,
cookies, juice, milk, and coffee after weekend
liturgies. Clean tables before the next liturgy
ends. COMMITMENT: 15 minutes before liturgy
(7:30 a.m., 30 minutes). Must stay up to 45
minutes after liturgy. Depending on the number
of volunteers, may serve four to six times per
year.
ADULT CHOIR: Group of adult singers who
assist the assembly with singing. COMMITMENT:
Rehearsal is from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
Alternates between all weekend Masses. Meets
September - May.
CANTOR:
Leads the singing of the assembly at liturgy.
Must be capable of singing as a soloist. COMMITMENT:
Must know and practice the appointed songs for
the liturgy. Requires rehearsal during the week
prior to the liturgy. Must arrive 30 minutes
before liturgy. Must attend periodic in-services
that review and update this ministry.
INSTRUMENTALIST:
Minister to the assembly at the liturgy by
accompanying the singing with instruments.
COMMITMENT: Must know and practice the appointed
music for the liturgy. Must arrive 20 minutes
before liturgy begins.
CHIME CHOIR: Meets every Tuesday evening from
5:45-6:45 from September through May.
MASS SERVER: Open to boys and girls 4th
grade and older. Assist priest during liturgy.
COMMITMENT: Varies depending on liturgy times.
Must arrive 15 minutes before liturgy begins.
INTER-PARISH PICNIC COMMITTEE: Coordinates with St.
Mary Parish the annual Inter-Parish Picnic held
at a local park. COMMITMENT: Meets a few times
before the summer event.
CHURCH CLEANING: A group of people willing to
help in cleaning the church on Friday mornings
at 7:30 a.m. COMMITMENT: Meet on Friday mornings
for 1 hour.
RESURRECTION CHOIR: Group of singers who assist the
assembly with singing at funerals. COMMITMENT:
Must arrive 20 minutes before the funeral Mass
begins.
FUNERAL LUNCH VOLUNTEER: Setup the parish hall
for funeral lunches, serve the lunches, and
clean up after. COMMITMENT: On an as-needed
basis. Time commitment generally is from 10:30
a.m. until 1:30 p.m. per funeral lunch.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION: Married couples willing to
help prepare engaged couples for marriage
through a variety of ways: process the FOCCUS
instrument with engaged couples, plan and/or
participate in the Pre-Marriage Day for engaged
couples. COMMITMENT: Dependent on area of
involvement.
DESSERT BAKERS FOR PARISH ACTIVITIES:
Volunteers willing to make bars, cookies,
cupcakes, etc. and drop them off for parish
activities such as Bake Sales, Speakers, Fall
Festival, etc. 2-6 times/year.
PARISH OFFICE VOLUNTEER/RECEPTIONIST: Answer
the telephone, greet & help visitors, make
needed phone calls, and work on small projects
(stuff bulletin inserts, monthly envelopes,
special mailings). COMMITMENT: 2-3 hours/week.
Time of day and day of week are flexible to fit
the volunteer’s schedule.
PRAYER MINISTRY: Prayer is the active
expression that can be practiced by all. This
ministry includes praying for church officials,
the parish community, and special intentions.
COMMITMENT: Pray for intentions received through
a phone tree.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: Knitters
and/or crocheters are needed to make the shawls
we distribute to those in need of support and
comfort. New members always welcome (meetings
1st and 3rd Tuesday afternoons of the month).
Pattern handouts for shawls available.
SNOW SHOVELERS: On weekends and for holy day
masses we need families or individuals to help
keep our sidewalks clear of snow and ice
throughout the winter. It will involve clearing
the sidewalks of snow and spreading ice-melt
before the masses. We have a snow blower and a
power broom that can be used for this purpose. A
one month commitment is appreciated.
Care Team Ministry...
This ministry is designed
to meet the non-medical needs of people in our
community who are homebound, in nursing homes or
in the hospital. Care Ministry
involves the following:
DISTRIBUTING COMMUNION: Distribute communion
to the homebound or at care facilities.
COMMITMENT: 3 to 4 hours/month.
VISITING HOMEBOUND: Visit homebound members
of our parish. COMMITMENT: 2 or 3 hours per
month.
VISITING HOSPITALIZED: Visit members of our
parish who are hospitalized. COMMITMENT: 3 or 4
hours per month.
VISITING NURSING HOME: Visit members of our
parish who are in a nursing home. COMMITMENT: 2
or 3 hours per month.
Parish Committees...
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE: Supervises
the upkeep and care of our parish properties.
COMMITMENT: Meets quarterly for 2 hour meetings.
Special meetings may be called to address
concerns to property as they arise.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: Produces a monthly
newsletter and other publications that highlight
our parishioners, report on parish activities,
and increase our knowledge of religion.
COMMITMENT: Meets 1 hr/month.
FINANCE COUNCIL: Responsibly
plans and directs the parish fiscal budget.
COMMITMENT: Meets monthly for 1 to 2 hours.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: Meets once a month to
plan and carry out parish fundraising projects
and solicit volunteers, if needed, for the
projects. COMMITMENT: Meet once each month – 1-2
hours & occasionally help after Mass selling
SCRIP.
PARISH AND FAMILY LIFE COMMITTEE: Plans a
variety of social activities for parish members.
Hay wagon ride, bake sale, St. Nick visit,
appreciation dinner, plants and Mass cards for
homebound and nursing home residents, and giving
tree, which provides Christmas gifts for the
less fortunate families in the parish.
COMMITMENT: Meet 2nd Tuesday each month,
September thru April.
SENIOR CITIZENS MONTHLY ACTIVITIES: Seniors help
plan and implement social, spiritual and
educational gatherings for senior citizens.
COMMITMENT: Two to three hours per month.
SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE:
Raises the social consciousness of the parish by
seeking to touch our society with Gospel values
and seeks to educate the parish on social
justice issues. The committee organizes
activities such as the Rose Sale, Bread for the
World Sale and an Advent Mission Tree.
COMMITMENT: Meets the first Tuesday of the month
for one hour. Additional time commitments
depending on outreach activity involvement.
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE:
Increases awareness of the variety of ways to
participate in parish activities. Looks for ways
to promote Prayer, Service and Sharing within
our parish.. COMMITMENT: Meet the second
Thursday of each month.
WELCOMING COMMITTEE: To help keep the friendly
and welcoming spirit of St. Joseph Parish alive
by helping with the semi-annual new member
brunch, taking photographs of new parish members
and welcoming new parishioners in other ways.
COMMITMENT: Meet about four times a year.
WORSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY COMMITTEE: Responsible
for providing a variety of prayer experiences.
Help with church decorating. Recruit and train
people for ministries. COMMITMENT: Meet monthly
for two hours.
TWINNING PROJECT: Serve in various capacities –
committees or work projects to assist our Sister
Parish in need. COMMITMENT: Varies depending on
what capacity you are serving in.
YEARLY PARISH EVENTS: Volunteers are needed to
help with occasional "one time" events in
addition to sharing their time and talent
through the ministries and committees described
here.
FALL FESTIVAL: Volunteers are sought to help
with the annual Fall Festival fundraiser held
one Sunday in October. Opportunities to work 2-3
hour shifts with various activities such as
children's games, silent auction, food, produce,
baked goods and used book sales, etc.
COMMITMENT: 2-3 hours or if interested in
serving on the planning committee: meet monthly
for 4-5 months for 1-1½ hours.
RUMMAGE SALE: Help sort and price items prior to
the sale and/or work during the sale on Fall
Festival Weekend.
Inter-Parish Adult Enrichment Programs
LAWRENCE PRAYER PARTNER: Adult
parishioners/families who would be willing to be
matched with Catholic Lawrence University
students for prayer, friendship and sharing.
Parishioners send cards, emails, etc. at lease 3
times per year. Opportunities for meeting in
person are provided. New matches occur in late
October.
COOKIE BAKERS FOR CAMPUS MINISTRY:
Bake 3-4 dozen cookies or bars for student care
packages (at exam times) once during the school
year (usually November, March, early June).
INTERPARISH ADULT ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE:
Plans/suggests activities to enrich the faith
life of adults in St. Mary & St Joseph Parishes.
Meets Monday evening approximately 5 times per
year. Need adult men and women of all ages.
YOUNG ADULT PLANNING COMMITTEE: Open to folks in
their 20’s and 30’s, single or married. Plan
social, service, and spiritual activities to
meet the needs of young adults.
CRHP RETREAT – KITCHEN HELPERS:
Adults or teens willing to help prepare food,
serve and clean up for one meal during one of
our men’s or women’s Christ Renews His Parish
Retreats. This is approximately a 2-3 hour
commitment at the parish. You will be contacted
regarding dates and times.
Inter-Parish Religious Formation Programs...
INTERPARISH RELIGIOUS FORMATION BOARD
(St. Joe rep.): Establishes policies for all
activities of the IPRF Program. COMMITMENT: Two
hours every other month.
YOUTH MINISTRY VOLUNTEER:
Assist the youth minister as chaperones, retreat
small-group leaders, advisors, prayer group
leader, etc. COMMITMENT: Youth Minister will
contact
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CATECHIST:
Prepare & present a weekly class for public
school youth - kindergarten through 11th grade.
COMMITMENT: Classes are held at 4:30 or 6:30
p.m. every Wed. during the normal school year.
Study lesson plans ahead of class. Attend
periodic in-services. Confirmation Catechist for
Sunday evenings Feb. through May, 7:30 PM.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF:
Assist as support person in IPRF program as
aide, prayer checker, special needs advisor,
hall monitor, office aide, parking lot monitor.
COMMITMENT: 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
