Liturgical Ministries
1.1 Altar Guild
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | This group of volunteers is responsible for the care of sacred vessels, vestments, altar linens and other appointments used for Sacred Liturgy. |
| Activites: | Altar linens - Washing and ironing of alter linens, changing of altar linens Care of vestments – bringing vestments to cleaners when necessary Being aware of supplies on hand – note if necessary to re-order Know the changing liturgical seasons – necessitating changing of colors of vestments and banners – (during Advent and Lent) Have accessories available for special liturgical events – as during Holy Week, Tridium, Christmas, or Special Masses (ie. candles, baskets, towels, bowls, linens) |
| Training/Requirements: | Those interested in this ministry will be mentored by those currently involved. No formal training required. Volunteering for this means – working quietly in the background to create an environment, which is both reverent and beautiful. |
| Need: | In addition to the three people who currently carry out portions of these duties, two additional people are needed with one learning (not necessarily doing) all that is done. |
| How to Participate: | Speak to Ann Desmond |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | These will be determined by the availability of those who volunteer |
| Contact Person: | Ann Desmond 617-484-1385 No e-mail address |
1.2 Altar Servers
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | To assist at Mass on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning twice monthly To assist the presider/leader of prayer for special annual Masses or prayer services e.g. Stations of the Cross during Lent |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Two training sessions with the senior Altar Server, Robert Powers Serve initially with an experienced server Younger altar servers will need more training sessions. Up to four sessions are suggested for these altar servers. Next, they will serve with an experienced server for their first few weeks. |
| Need: | We should have two servers at each Mass for a total of sixteen servers. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Father Petringa. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | We would hope to schedule any server only twice a month. During Holy Week, we may need to schedule you a couple of times. |
| Contact Person: | Father Gerard Petringa (617-484-1996) stlukebelmont@verizon.net Sister Kathleen Moran (617)-489-5857) Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.3 Art and Environment Committee
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | To plan the seasonal decorations of the church in such a way that the environment reinforces and communicates the liturgical tone of the season To coordinate the decorating of the church To work with family liturgy and music representatives to ensure a common theme/tone for the liturgical season |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI Check Willingness to study the nature of the liturgical seasons to understand the ways in which environment can enhance the season’s Gospel message. |
| Need: | We need a committee of about 8 members to be the planners and many more hands at the time of putting the plan into action. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Mary Cieslik or Father Petringa |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Planners would need to meet five times: prior to Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time Hands on decorators are needed in large numbers just before Christmas and Easter Watering of indoor and outdoor plants two or three times weekly Re-arranging of funeral flowers |
| Contact Person: | Mary Cieslik (781-891-7082) no e-mail address |
1.4 Collaborative Liturgy & Retreat Planning Committee
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | When called upon by the pastors of the Collaborative to do so, this group meets to plan special Liturgical celebrations: Mass, Reconciliation Services, Anointing Liturgies or Retreats. This group shapes the prayer experience, choosing readings and music. In the case of planning retreats, the group selects speakers, makes contact with them and encourages the formation of an inter-parish choir. They also arrange for refreshments |
| Activites: | Advent and Lenten Retreats Reconciliation Annual Mass with Anointing of the Sick |
| Training/Requirements: | Each person ought to have a familiarity with liturgy and design of prayer service. |
| Need: | Two people |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Father Petringa. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Varies with type of event. |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (617-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.5 Eucharistic Exposition
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | In the absence of a priest, a person would expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel at which time this person would join the community in brief prayer. |
| Activites: | On Thursday before the 9 A.M. Mass, place the Monstrance and candles in chapel. After Mass expose the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance followed by communal singing of "O Salutaris". At 3 P.M. the community sings "Tantum Ergo" followed by recitation of prayers provided on a worship aid. Repose Blessed Sacrament in Tabernacle followed by communal singing of "Holy God We Praise Thy Name" Return Tabernacle key, Monstrance and candles to sacristy. Note: One may not be required to perform both duties in one day. |
| Training/Requirements: | Half hour of instruction |
| Need: | Three people are desirable to provide coverage when needed. |
| How to Participate: | Speak to Father Petringa or Ann Desmond. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | occasionally |
| Contact Person: | Ann Desmond (617-484-1385) No e-mail address |
1.6 Extraordinary Ministers of Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | These ministers assist the celebrant of the Mass in the distribution of the Eucharist (both hosts and from the cup). Each person should arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before Mass in order to prepare the altar. After Mass, they purify and clean the Sacred Vessels and put them away. |
| Activites: | Generally, there is an opportunity annually to come together for an afternoon of prayer and reflection. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI check Virtus Training (3 hours) Single two-hour training Ongoing on-site mentoring |
| Need: | Sixty ministers at a minimum are needed for the four weekend Masses. Eighteen other ministers (or those same ones) are needed for weekday Masses. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Sister Kathleen |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | On weekend duty: once a month (at times twice) On weekday duty: once a week ideally, though at the 6:45, it could be three times a week. |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (671-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.7 Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | This ministry maintains a vital connection between the gathered community at worship and those who no longer can be present for Mass. They visit the homebound on a regular basis, get to know them, pray with them and give them Communion. |
| Activites: | Generally, an afternoon of prayer and reflection is offered annually. |
| Training/Requirements: | Attend a two-hour training session. Complete a CORI check annually Attend a three-hour Virtus session Notify the Coordinator of the Homebound Ministry if you cannot fulfill your assignment for an extended time. |
| Need: | Forty people are needed |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Sister Kathleen |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | This varies with the person visited and your ability to serve. Some receive communion weekly; others monthly; other twice a month. |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (671-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.8 Family Liturgy Committee
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | This group plans ways to engage families in the liturgy in order to help them understand and participate more fully in the Mass. They coordinate the involvement of families in a way that engages more families on a regular basis. They plan and lead bi-monthly separate Liturgies of the Word for children during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI Check Virtus Training ( one three hour session) Father Petringa and/or Sister Kathleen will provide training through reading materials and instruction during the planning meetings. |
| Need: | Ideally, we would like to have 8-10 adults. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Father Petringa or Sister Kathleen. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | As we first come together, there will be two initial planning/training meetings. A planning will follow these meeting every other month and a commitment once every three months to lead the Liturgy of the Word. |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (671-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.9 Christian Burial Planning Ministry
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | Those who participate in this ministry provide a pastoral presence to family members who have lost a loved one, assist the family in planning the funeral liturgy, attend the wake and conduct the Vigil Prayer service. When possible s/he attends the funeral and when needed conducts the committal service at the gravesite. The minister communicates with the presider providing background information on the deceased, informs the music director what music has been selected, prepares the intercessory prayer and makes certain the readings are available. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: |
Annual CORI check Virtus training Two two hour training sessions |
| Need: | Three additional ministers are needed to bring the total number to eight. This number allows us to continue the ministry during the winter when some members are not available to serve. |
| How to Participate: | Make known to Sister Kathleen your interest. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Varies; could be twice a month |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (671-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.10 Funeral Servers
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | These adult servers assist the priest at the altar and assist in setting up for the funeral and cleaning up at its end. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI Check Virtus Training One two hour training session Mentoring by an experienced server |
| Need: | Eight to ten servers are needed. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Father Petringa, Sister Kathleen or Mar |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Ideally, you would serve only twice a month. |
| Contact Person: | Margie Fay (617-489-3049) no e-mail address |
1.11 Hospitality Ministry - Greeters
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | Arriving twenty minutes before Mass, they greet all who arrive with a warm "Welcome"or "Good morning." Introducing themselves to visitors and newcomers, they exchange names and let them know we are glad they have come to worship with us. At the offertory, they pass the baskets and at the end of Mass they distribute the bulletin, wishing people well as they leave. After Mass, greeters remove worship aids and place missals and hymnals at the end of the bench. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI check
One three hour Virtus training session
Annual CORI check One three hour Virtus training session One half hour training session for the ministry |
| Need: | A greeter is needed at each door, two at the main door for each of the four weekend Masses. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Mary Cieslik. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Once a week at the Mass you regularly attend. |
| Contact Person: | Mary Cieslik (781-891-7082) No e-mail address |
1.12 Lectors
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | Our lectors have the privilege of proclaiming the Word of God. It is their responsibility to prepare to proclaim it by reading it ahead of time to be clear about the text’s meaning. Care should be taken to pronounce words accurately and to read the text with a good cadence. Praying with the text helps us to read well. The lector should arrive early to be sure the lectionary is open to the right readings, to read over the intercessory prayers. |
| Activites: | Ordinarily, an afternoon of prayer and reflection is offered annually. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI check Virtus Training (one three hour session) Two hour ministry training session |
| Need: | Twenty-five lectors are needed. Ideally, we would have at least five people for each weekend Mass to lector allowing a once a month rotation. Having additional lectors would help during vacation seasons (both winter and summer). |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Father Petringa or Sister Kathleen. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Once a month (occasionally twice) |
| Contact Person: | Sister Kathleen Moran (671-489-5857) or Kmorancssj@aol.com |
1.13.1 Choir
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | This ministry provides the assembly with vocal support in its full, active, conscious participation in the Liturgy. They assist in teaching the assembly new music. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI Check Virtus Training (single three hour session) Weekly choir rehearsal on Thursday evenings in the upper church Weekly warm-up rehearsal Sunday at 10:30 p.m. |
| Need: | Additional voices all ranges always welcome. Male voices are particularly needed. Children are needed to form a youth choir. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with Todd Theriault. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | Weekly rehearsal on Thursday evening and Sunday 11:00 am Mass |
| Contact Person: | Todd Theriault (617-484-1996) or Toddlesii@aol.com |
1.13.2 Instrumentalists
| Purpose/Responsibilities: | Individuals provide alternative or additional accompaniment to our choir. Through the use of different instruments, different moods of music can be accomplished in our worship e.g.: reflective tones of a flute, energetic tones of percussion instruments, majestic tones of a trumpet etc. |
| Activites: | N.A. |
| Training/Requirements: | Annual CORI
Annual CORI Virtus Training |
| Need: | There is no limit to the number of instrumentalists we could use. |
| How to Participate: | Speak with music director: Todd Theriault. |
| Meeting/Serving Commitments: | As a general rule, we would be looking for instrumentalists for Sunday Liturgy and some special, once a year liturgies e.g.: Holy Week, Veterans Day. |
| Contact Person: | Todd Theriault (617-484-1996) or Toddlesii@aol.com |
