MINISTRY LINKS
Altar Servers
Servers are individuals who display a desire for a more intimate union with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a great privilege to serve at the Altar of Our Lord. Accordingly, servers have a solemn responsibility to do their assigned duties with dignity and reverence.
Communion to the Sick
In the case of sickness, the Church is obliged to meet the spiritual needs of her faithful. From these needs arise the Church's ancient pastoral practice of visiting the sick. This practice includes taking the Eucharist to the elderly, the sick and the infirm. It involves sharing in prayer and the word of God during these visits. These eucharistic visits may take place in the home, at the hosptial bed, or in any institution that provides basic care and day-to-day living arrangements of the elderly, the sick and the infirm. (Canon Law and the Lay Minister of Holy Communion, article Pete Vere)
Extraordinary Ministers - EM's
Bishops, priests, and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. The Priest may call upon extraordinary mnisters of Holy Communion at Mass to assist him in distribution of Holy Communion. The extraordinary ministers are faithful who receive sufficient spiritual, theological, and practical preparation to fulfill their role with knowledge and reverence.
Funerals
Because of our belief not only in the immortality of the soul, but also in the resurrection of the body, the Church professes hope in the face of death, and acts with charity in the funeral rites. The Church provides a number of prayers for the faithful to offer both to accompany the dying of a loved one and to strengthen our faith upon their death. Through private prayer and public funeral rites, we strengthen our faith and hope, comfort those who mourn, and bury the bodily remains of the deceased with care befitting what was the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Greeters
Ushers and Greeters are called to be Ministers of Hospitality. They are entrusted with promoting a sense of welcoming and belonging to all the faithful assembled for worship. They are the first point of contact for the communal celebration of the Liturgy. Ministers of hospitality minister to he entire community in a very active way through a welcoming atmosphere, ministers of hospitality take an active role in enabling each person to come to freer expression of God in the Liturgy.
Music
Sacred Music, The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or intregal part of solemn liturgy. The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. The Church continues and develops this tradition. "Address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord with all your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father". Eph 5:19.
MI/Militia of the Immaculata
The MI is a worldwide evngelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 that encourages total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society. The MI movement is open to all Catholics. It employs prayer as the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil. Members also immerse themselves in apostolic initiatives throughout society, either individually or in groups, to deepen the knowledge of the Gospel and our Catholic faith in themselves and in others.
Lectors
Lectors at Mass, when the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in the word, proclaims the Gospel. The readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of the greatest importance in the Liturgy. The Lector is appointed for a function proper to him, that of reading the word of God in the liturgical assembly. Accordingly, they are to proclaim the readings from sacred scripture except for the Gospel in Mass.