Parish Ministry Descriptions

- Ministries

Ministries

and

Parish

Organizations

FAITH FORMATION

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION ^{1, 2, 3}

This ministry provides parish welcome and hospitality to families bringing their children to the Sacrament of Baptism. This ministry attends the one-hour pre-baptismal parent meeting on a rotating basis, usually once every other month. As part of the meeting, the host couple gives a short (7 – 10 minute) witness talk about their experience with the sacrament in their own family. This ministry requires a minimal time commitment; approximately two hours per year.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD ³

This ministry involves participants who share the Word of God in a comprehensible way with children pre-school through kindergarten. Children are blessed after the opening prayer during Mass and are sent forth with adult leaders to the lower church hall to share the Liturgy of the Word and dwell on the relevance of the Word in their lives. They listen to an age-appropriate homily by one of the adult team members. They re-join the assembly for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

RESPECT LIFE TEAM ^TBD

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). This committee works with our pastor and the Pro-Life Apostolate of the Fall River Diocese, to implement parish based respect-life activities.

FAITH FORMATION CATECHISTS ^{1, 2, 3}

Levels 1 – 9: Formal religious instruction of children begins with children in Level 1 and continues through the elementary school years. Volunteer teachers include parents or any parishioners wishing to share their faith with these young people. Training and assistance by the director of religious education is available at all times for persons willing to participate in this ministry. Please share your gifts.
Confirmation Preparation: This two-year preparation generally begins at the start of eighth grade and culminates in the reception of the sacrament during the Spring of Freshman Year. We need mature, faithful people as leaders and teachers

(RCIA) CHRISTIAN INITIATION³

The initiation process welcomes unbaptized (catechumen) and un-catechized (candidate) people into our Catholic faith. Moving toward the celebration of the initiation sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, they progress with help from the community in a variety of ways. The process of Christian Initiation takes a minimum of one year. We depend on the many works of people who will commit to this ministry. Come share the journey!

VOCATIONS TEAM ^TBD

“Come and Follow Me” is the invitation from the Lord to minister in His name. The Vocations Team mission is to foster Vocation education in the parish level for the priesthood, diaconate and religious life through prayer, poster contests, adoption of a Diocesan Seminarian, educational formation through bulletin inserts, etc.

LITURGICAL MINISTRY

ALTAR SERVERS ^{1, 2, 3}

Altar servers minister for liturgical events in the parish. Boys and girls, from the fourth grade up, are invited to join. Experienced altar servers fully train newcomers. Training involves weekly practice sessions for about four weeks.

ADULT ALTAR SERVERS (ACOLYTES) ³

WEEKDAYS AND FUNERALS: Men and women who minister for liturgical events in the parish. Training involves weekly practice sessions for about four weeks. Schedules are flexible. Acolytes assist at funerals with vessels, incense, books, etc.

ART & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ³

This team assumes the responsibility of the aesthetics of the worship space through the seasons of the Church according to the directives on Art and Environment in the Church to provide a subtle yet powerful beauty when liturgies and other celebrations occur.

COLLECTORS ^{1, 2, 3}

This ministry of hospitality includes greeting and welcoming as well as seating and taking up the collections. Meetings are rarely held and any adult can join by checking “usher” on the involvement card.

EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST^{1, 2, 3}

Extra-Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are lay people or religious who are selected by the pastor for this role of service. These individuals attend an orientation session and are commissioned by the Diocese to serve in their parish. Eucharistic Ministers distribute the Eucharist at Mass as assistants to the priest when other ordained ministers are not readily available. Some of these ministers may bring the Eucharist to the infirm or housebound.

GREETERS ^{1, 3}

Greeters extend hospitality and welcoming to parishioners and visitors alike, they welcome worshippers before mass and distribute bulletins at the end.

MARTHA MINISTRY^{1, 2, 3}This group works together to maintain and care for our beautiful place of worship. Volunteers performing light housekeeping and other associated duties such as vacuuming, dusting or washing windows.

READERS ^{1, 2, 3}

Parish readers help the presence of God to become alive through the proclamation of the Words. With practice and training, readers will grow in prayerful appreciation of God’s Word. The Word, thereby challenging others as they proclaim God’s Word, will challenge readers. Readers assist at the weekend liturgies, holy days, funerals and other liturgical celebrations.

SACRISTANS ^{1, 2, 3}

Volunteers become acquainted with the preparation before a liturgy or the aftermath of a celebration. Other responsibilities include unlocking church doors, turning lights on before liturgies, ensuring Holy Water is available at all entrances, keeping track of bread and wine for ordering purposes, cleaning altar linens, checking and preparing the altar vessels, readying the Sanctuary before Mass and cleaning up after Mass.

PARISH LIFE

EVENTS TEAM ³

The mission of the events committee is to host social events within the CCNBN community, open to the parish, across all demographics, including families, to foster a sense of parish community. We hope to plan and host 4 events a year. If anyone in the parish would like to join our group, we would love to have you! This is an excellent opportunity to meet and welcome new people and connect with old friends.

SPIRITUAL LIFE TEAM ³

LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) offers an opportunity to be renewed each day in faith and vigor. This team is designed to provide a solid basis of spiritual renewal in the young and old alike. The team fosters small discussion groups which enriches the wider community in spiritual and catechetical development.

YOUTH MINISTRY ³

Offered to students in grades 6 through 9, this ministry regularly meets on the first Sunday of each month during the school year. Students participate in numerous religious, social, educational and community service programs.

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY ^TBD

The Young Adult Ministry is made up of young people 17-20 who are looking to share and to live their faith by their association with one another.

PARISH OUTREACH

CONSOLATION COMMITTEE ^TBD

This ministry strives to meet the needs of the bereaved. Members are lay people who call and visit the family immediately following their loss. They assist the family in organizing the funeral liturgy.

GREEN TEAM ^TBD

The mission of the team is to assist in beautifying the campus around St. Mary's Church and Rectory by weeding, planting flowers, edging and other related activities to give our Parish a beautiful curb appeal.

MAILING TEAM ³

"The Holy Stuffers" gather when extra hands are needed to stuff envelopes, fold letters, mail schedules or brochures during the liturgical year.

NEWCOMERS TEAM ^TBD

A parish “Welcome Wagon” to welcome new families or individual parishioners with as welcome basket and ministry booklet, introducing them to the ministries of the Parish and some of its members.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY ³

This group has given out more than 200 shawls since its inception in 2009. Members gather in prayer as the shawls are being made. The prayers and thought of those making the shawls are incorporated into the shawls. Each shawl is blessed before it is delivered. Monday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 in the Fr. Unsworth Hospitality Center.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY ^{1, 2, 3}

The Society exists to serve people in need of food and clothing. In extreme cases, such as unexpected unemployment, they may assist in helping to meet some costs for essential services such as utility bills for a brief period of time.

PARISH SUPPORT

Small children who carefully drop money into the collection basket often smile proudly as they settle back into their pews. Adults should likewise feel satisfied when they support their parish’s work. Your financial support also helps our parish bring Christ’s healing embrace to children, the elderly, the sick and the poor in our community. Your gifts also benefit you for Christ has promised, “Give and it shall be given to you… for the measure you measure with will be measured back to you”. (Luke 6:38)

St. Mary's Parish Family

New Bedford, MA

Parish Ministry Descriptions

Ministries

and

Parish

Organizations

FAITH FORMATION

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION ^{1, 2, 3}

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD ³

RESPECT LIFE TEAM ^TBD

FAITH FORMATION CATECHISTS ^{1, 2, 3}

(RCIA) CHRISTIAN INITIATION³

VOCATIONS TEAM ^TBD

LITURGICAL MINISTRY

ALTAR SERVERS ^{1, 2, 3}

ADULT ALTAR SERVERS (ACOLYTES) ³

ART & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ³

COLLECTORS ^{1, 2, 3}

EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST^{1, 2, 3}

GREETERS ^{1, 3}

Greeters extend hospitality and welcoming to parishioners and visitors alike, they welcome worshippers before mass and distribute bulletins at the end.

READERS ^{1, 2, 3}

SACRISTANS ^{1, 2, 3}

PARISH LIFE

EVENTS TEAM ³

SPIRITUAL LIFE TEAM ³

YOUTH MINISTRY ³

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY ^TBD

PARISH OUTREACH

CONSOLATION COMMITTEE ^TBD

GREEN TEAM ^TBD

MAILING TEAM ³

NEWCOMERS TEAM ^TBD

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY ³

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY ^{1, 2, 3}

PARISH SUPPORT

Parish Ministry Descriptions

Ministries

and

Parish

Organizations

FAITH FORMATION

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION 1, 2, 3

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD 3

RESPECT LIFE TEAM TBD

FAITH FORMATION CATECHISTS 1, 2, 3

(RCIA) CHRISTIAN INITIATION 3

VOCATIONS TEAM TBD

LITURGICAL MINISTRY

ALTAR SERVERS 1, 2, 3

ADULT ALTAR SERVERS (ACOLYTES) 3

ART & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE 3

COLLECTORS 1, 2, 3

EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST 1, 2, 3

GREETERS 1, 3

Greeters extend hospitality and welcoming to parishioners and visitors alike, they welcome worshippers before mass and distribute bulletins at the end.

READERS 1, 2, 3

SACRISTANS 1, 2, 3

PARISH LIFE

EVENTS TEAM 3

SPIRITUAL LIFE TEAM 3

YOUTH MINISTRY 3

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY TBD

PARISH OUTREACH

CONSOLATION COMMITTEE TBD

GREEN TEAM TBD

MAILING TEAM 3

NEWCOMERS TEAM TBD

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY 3

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY 1, 2, 3

PARISH SUPPORT

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION ^{1, 2, 3}

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD ³

RESPECT LIFE TEAM ^TBD

FAITH FORMATION CATECHISTS ^{1, 2, 3}

(RCIA) CHRISTIAN INITIATION³

VOCATIONS TEAM ^TBD

ALTAR SERVERS ^{1, 2, 3}

ADULT ALTAR SERVERS (ACOLYTES) ³

ART & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ³

COLLECTORS ^{1, 2, 3}

EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST^{1, 2, 3}

GREETERS ^{1, 3}

READERS ^{1, 2, 3}

SACRISTANS ^{1, 2, 3}

EVENTS TEAM ³

SPIRITUAL LIFE TEAM ³

YOUTH MINISTRY ³

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY ^TBD

CONSOLATION COMMITTEE ^TBD

GREEN TEAM ^TBD

MAILING TEAM ³

NEWCOMERS TEAM ^TBD

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY ³

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY ^{1, 2, 3}