|
ALTAR SERVERS
This Ministry
is open to all students grade five and up. They serve Sunday Masses,
Funerals, Weddings, and other special liturgies. Training is done by the
pastor or someone assigned by him. What a special way to serve the Lord and
your parish.
Back to Top
USHERS
Ministers
of Hospitality - the parish ushers have the unique opportunity to help the
whole community begin the celebration in the right spirit. The parish usher
needs a good understanding of the parish's ministry of hospitality. The duty
of the usher is to assist with seating, collect the offertory Collection, as
well as to make our spirit of hospitality known to parishioners as well as
visitors to our church. Ushers are usually assigned to a certain Mass each weekend.
Back to Top
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
These
are women and men of the parish who assist at Mass with the distribution of
the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. This ministry is at the invitation of
the pastor. Assignments are usually for a certain Mass that the person likes
to attend. Training is done at the parish and by the pastor. If you are
interested in this most worthy ministry, please let the pastor know.
Back to Top
LITURGY
OF THE WORD WITH CHILDREN
This
liturgy is held at the 9:30 AM Mass every Sunday of the year. The children
are called forward after the Opening Prayer to hear the Word proclaimed in
their own language. The children reflect and pray with the leader, returning
to their parents for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Back to Top
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
Parishioners
who are willing to welcome our new families into our parish community deliver
a "new home package" and information on St. Matthew Parish and a
warm welcome to our church. This can include an informal visit with them or
just a delivery of the materials. The main goal is the message that we are
glad to have them in our neighborhood!
Back to Top
LECTOR
Any
man or woman, high school age or over, who will proclaim the Word of God at
the Sunday Mass.
Our Masses are the Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:15 PM, Sunday at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM
and 11:30 AM. Training is done here at the church by the pastor. You will
benefit from this ministry by being an integral part of the Sunday Mass and
the parish community. The community benefits by seeing their neighbors and
friends proclaiming God's Word.
Back to Top
CHOIR
Our
choir consists of men and women who meet for practice once a week in the
church. The choir sings regularly at the 9:30 AM Mass on alternate Sundays
from September through May and at our special services and liturgies throughout
the year. The Choir always welcomes new members. The only requirement is a
willingness to share the joy of glorifying and praising God through song.
Back to Top
CHILDREN'S CHOIR
Our
children's choir is open to all parish children, grades 2-8. The children
sing for special liturgies throughout the year. Practice is held in the
church and scheduled by the Director of Music.
Back to Top
CANTORS
Women
and men of the parish who enhance our liturgies by leading the community in
song at Mass, Weddings, Funerals and other special occasions are our leaders
of song. Our Music Director will train and work with you on this special
ministry.
Back to Top
ALTAR SOCIETY
This
is a dedicated group of people who take care of our altar and church linens
and do the surface cleaning of the church. They meet on Tuesday mornings,
after the 8:15 AM Mass. About an hour a week is all that is needed for the
special ministry.
Back to Top
Back to Top
RCIA (Rite Of Christian Initiation Of Adults)
Besides
welcoming and initiating new members into the Catholic faith, this religious
education for adults provides a way for Catholic friends and relatives of the
new members to review and come to a new understanding of their religious
beliefs.
Back to Top
Baptismal Preparation
A lay
team and the pastor meet with parents of children about to be baptized. The
class stresses the meaning and importance of this sacrament of initiation
into our faith community. The lay team gives a brief presentation on what their
faith means to them and how they have enhanced their faith and beliefs in
their lives as a family.
Back to Top
CCD (Calling Catholic Disciples)
This
program provides religious education to public school children in grades K to
6. The traditional Monday evening classroom experience and some alternative
models are offered to meet the needs of our parish children.
Back to Top
PASTORAL COUNCIL
Concerned
men and women of the parish serve the community by coming together in a
united effort with the pastor to shape and prioritize our goals. Parish needs
are identified, solutions are discussed and committees explore solutions.
Elections are held every two years. If you are interested in serving, please
make your desire known to the pastor.
Back to Top
PARISH FINANCIAL BOARD
This
committee guides and assists the pastor in the administration of the parish
funds. Members discuss not only the operating budget of the parish, but also
any capital expenditures or other extraordinary expenditures that are needed
within the parish complex. They are ideally a mixture of people from various
careers, professions, or industry and meet only two or three times a year. If
you are interested in this type of planning or feel you have expertise in
this area, please contact the pastor.
Back to Top
FUND RAISING
We
have only a few fund raising efforts throughout the year to help the parish
financially. Currently our effort is the sale of SWEEPSTAKES TICKETS. This is
a "20 Week Club" with members paying weekly if they choose or
paying in full before the first drawing. If a ticket is paid in full before
the drawing starts, you receive a FREE ticket. Each week for 19 weeks there
is a drawing and on the 20th week we have a grand prize drawing. Over one
hundred prizes are awarded during the course of this event. Sellers are
needed for this project to be successful. A seller who has sold at least 10
tickets receives $3.00 for each ticket sold plus 10% of whatever winners they
have.
Our
annual Bake Sale
on Mother's Day weekend is another effort in supporting the parish.
Back to Top
ADVENT CRIB
Once a
year, during Advent, we have a baby cradle in the front of church to collect
donations of baby items. The donations are distributed mostly to MOM's HOUSE,
an organization that helps single women to continue their education and keep
their child; and also BIRTHRIGHT, an organization that helps single women who
have chosen to keep their child and make a life for that child.
Back to Top
BIBLE STUDY
Everyone
who is interested in expanding their knowledge of the Bible and the Church's
teaching join in an informal gathering of people and the pastor to discuss
either a certain section of the Bible, or the Sunday Readings, or even to
answer any questions on our Catholic Faith. We meet every other Thursday
evening in the St. Vincent DePaul Meeting Room under the sacristy. Sessions
are held from September to June. If interested, just join us. Dates are
posted in the Sunday Bulletin.
Back to Top
CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION (CYO)
This
organization provides the youth of the parish with athletic and social
opportunities. The ultimate object is to instill Christian behavioral ideals of
courage, loyalty, honesty, good sportsmanship and mutual love and respect
into our young adults. Most of the sports take place at our local Fellowship
House and Sutcliffe
Park. Sign ups for
sports and meetings for parents are published in the Sunday Bulletin and on
this website. There are also service projects scheduled throughout the year.
Back to Top
HAMMER AND NAIL CLUB
Volunteer
women and men who have some knowledge of home repairs help any handicapped or
elderly parishioners who live alone and need minor repairs done to their
homes.
Back to Top
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
Young
adults, single or married, come together for spiritual and social opportunities.
The Sunday Bulletin, as well as this website, announces the events that are
currently happening.
Back to Top
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The
main goal of this group of men and women is to help the poor and needy. There
are many activities to this end. Some of these are a clothing and household
collection; confidential financial help; visiting the sick in hospitals;
visiting and driving the shut-ins to doctor appointments. Most of the needs
are met with visits during the day, so retired or shift workers are the ideal
volunteers. The major personal benefit is the knowledge that you can make a
difference in the lives of the people in our area who are most in need.
Back to Top
|
