Lay Ministries
ASSEMBLY (the “People of God” . . . the “Faithful”)
“In the celebration of the Mass, the faithful form a holy people, a people whom God has made his own, a royal priesthood, so that they may give thanks to God and offer the spotless Victim not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him, and so that they may learn to offer themselves. They should, moreover, endeavor to make this clear by their deep religious sense and their charity toward brothers and sisters who participate with them in the same celebration. Thus, they are to shun any appearance of individualism or division, keeping before their eyes that they have only one Father in heaven and accordingly are all brothers and sister to each other. Indeed they form one body, whether by hearing the word of God, or by joining in prayers and the singing, or above all by the common offering of Sacrifice and by a common partaking at the Lord’s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and postures observed in common by the faithful.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #95-96)
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MASS COORDINATORS
- Must possess a deep love and reverence for the Eucharist Must be good at organization and love working with people
- Work with the Liturgy Director to ensure that things run as planned at Sunday liturgy
- Coordinate all of the ministries at a particular Mass
- Ensure all ministry spots are filled
- Coordinate special activities with priest, liturgist, ministers & parishioners
- Substitutes are also needed to fill in for the regular Mass Coordinators.
- Initial training – one 3 hour session required
- Ongoing formation - meet seasonally
- Serve on a rotating basis.
Contact: Pat Chuchla
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EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS/SPECIAL MINISTERS
- Must possess a deep love and reverence for the Eucharist and a joyful desire to share it with the community
- Must be a Confirmed, Catholic in good standing with the Church
- Must be officially mandated for service by the Diocese of Joliet (obtained by the parish)
- Special Ministers have a few additional jobs at the altar and may be scheduled more frequently
- Initial training: One 2 ½ hour session
- Ongoing formation - attendance at a yearly workshop expected.
- Serve at two or three liturgies each month
Contact: Ron Goodin
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LECTORS/COMMENTATORS - ADULTS
- Must possess a love and respect for the scriptures
- Adults and high school students gifted with public-speaking skills
- Proclaim the scripture readings,
- Read the Opening Comment, Penitential Rite, Prayers of the Faithful and Announcements, etc.
- Initial training – Three 2 hour sessions required
- Ongoing formation -
- attendance at one or two workshops per year
- practice at home before reading
- Serve once or twice a month.
Great site for Lectors! www.lectorprep.org
Contact: Barbara Yahnke
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LECTORS/COMMENTATORS – CHILDREN
- Must possess a love and respect for the scriptures
- Children in grades 3-8 gifted with public-speaking skills
- Initial training – September 11, 2005
- Ongoing formation – required monthly sessions to review skills and to practice on the microphones (much like choir practice)
- Serve a few times a year at
- some 9:00 AM and 12:15 PM Sunday Masses
- at other special liturgies
- at Sacramental celebrations
- at prayer services
- at WINGS events.
Contact: Christine Palumbo
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HOSTS TEAMS, USHERS (HOSPITALITY MINISTERS)
- Must love people, be gracious and hospitable, love to smile, like to talk with people
- Can serve either as individuals or as teams (families).
- Arrive about 20-30 minutes before Mass to ensure that all is ready.
- Duties include…
- reserving pews,
- greeting people at the door,
- seating people,
- keeping the communion procession orderly,
- taking up the collection,
- choosing individuals to present the gifts,
- passing out bulletins
- warmly bidding farewell to parishioners
- Initial training – one 3 hour session
- Ongoing formation - attendance at a yearly workshop expected.
- Serve about once a month.
Contact: Pat Chuchla
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MINISTERS OF THE ALTAR (Altar Servers)
- Must be reverent and prayerful while ministering
- A minimum of two Ministers of the Altar is needed for each Mass - households or groups of family members or friends may take on this ministry together –adults and children serve together
- Perform certain tasks at the altar that help the flow of the liturgy -duties include
- lighting the candles,
- carrying the processional cross,
- setting the altar table for the Eucharistic celebration,
- and various other tasks as decided upon seasonally by the liturgy planners
- Initial training: One 2 ½ hour session
- Ongoing formation - attendance at a yearly workshop expected.
- Serve at one or two liturgies each month
Contact: Sue & Jerry Afeltra
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Lay Liturgical Support Ministries
ART & ENVIRONMENT BOARD AND SEASONAL DECORATORS
Responsible for the appropriate decoration of the liturgical space.
Members of the Board are expected to have or to develop an understanding of
art in general, liturgical art the liturgical seasons the principles of liturgical decoration.
- Must read Art & Environment in Catholic Worship and Built of Living Stones
- Board members meet monthly.
- Seasonal Decorators are called as needed.
Contact: Marilyn Dale
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SACRISTANS
- Ensure that liturgical supplies are kept on hand,
- Some light cleaning, polishing and dusting
- Provide for the maintenance of the candles, altar linens, and vestments
- Asked to do other duties as needed.
- Initial training-hands on shadowing
- Duties performed at the convenience of the Sacristan.
Contact: Pat Chuchla
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PLANT MAINTENANCE IN CHURCH
- Must love living plants, and know how to care for them
- Caring for the plants is arranged to fit the schedules and needs of the people and plants involved.
(If you drop off your child at school, lector rehearsal, music lesson or choir rehearsal, this might be just the thing for you to do as you wait.)
Contact: Lisa O’Connell
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LITURGY PLANNERS
- Must possess a love for and an appreciation of liturgy, ritual, prayer, scripture, and worship.
- Assist in preparing weekend and special seasonal liturgies.
- Individual planners are each assigned to write the Prayers of the Faithful, Lamb of God tropes, comments, etc., as needed for a few Sunday of the year.
- Initial Training: a series of sessions on the principles of liturgy planning.
- All planners meet together before each liturgical season to plan and make choices for the season.
- Seasonal planning sessions take place at a time convenient for all involved.
Contact: Pat Chuchla
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LITURGICAL DANCERS/CHOREOGRAPHERS
Occasionally, liturgical dancers are incorporated to enhance the celebration of our liturgies, WINGS events and other special services.
Individuals with experience in choreography and dance are called as needed Contact: Susan Olsen
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SEWERS/TAILORS
Individuals skilled at sewing or serging are needed for mending or to sew new altar linens, baptismal bibs, banners, hangings, etc.
Sewers are called as needed and work is done in your home at your convenience.
Occasionally the expertise of a tailor may be needed to design and sew liturgical vesture. Contact: Jennifer Susina
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LITURGY OFFICE HELP
Individuals with a couple of hours to offer on either a regular or occasional basis can help
- copy and assemble wedding and funeral booklets,
- collate information packets for sacramental preparation,
- help prepare ministry schedules for distribution
- assist with other miscellaneous clerical duties
Contact: Jennifer Susina
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Ordained Liturgical Ministries
PRESBYTERS (PRIESTS)
“A priest, who possesses within the Church the power of Holy Orders to offer sacrifice in the person of Christ, stands at the head of the faithful people gathered together here and now, presides over their prayer, proclaims the message of salvation to them, associates the people with himself in the offering of sacrifice through Christ in the Holy Spirit to God the Father, gives his brothers and sisters the Bread of eternal life, and partakes of it with them. When he celebrates the Eucharist, therefore, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he says the divine words, he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #93).
Our priests can be contacted through the Parish Office 355-4545
- Fr. Theodore Weitzel, Pastor, x 116
- Fr. Pat Mulcahy , Associate Pastor, x117
- Fr. Jude Randall, Weekend Assistant, x 120
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DEACONS
“The deacon, in virtue of the sacred ordination he has received, holds first place among those who minister in the Eucharistic Celebration. For the sacred Order of the diaconate has been held in high honor in the Church even from the time of the Apostles. At Mass the deacon has his own part in proclaiming the Gospel, in preaching God’s word from time to time, in announcing the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful, in ministering to the priest, in preparing the altar and serving the celebration of the Sacrifice, in distributing the Eucharist to the faithful, especially under the species of wine, and sometimes in giving directions regarding the people’s gestures and posture.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal #94)
- Men ordained by the Catholic Church (may be married)
- Function in all three areas of the Church’s life . . .
- in the transmission of the Word,
- in the celebration of the sacraments,
- and in service to the community
- Preside at Baptisms
- May preside at Marriage ceremonies (those without Communion)
Our Parish deacons can be contacted through the Parish Office 355-4545, ext. 120
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RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS – PRIEST/BROTHER/SISTER
- Live in community and serve the Church in a number of ways.
- If you are considering a religious vocation, contact our Diocesan Vocations Office at 815-834-4004 or the Vicar for Religious at 815-834-4000 or www.dioceseofjoliet.org
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Our Liturgy staff can be contacted through the Parish Office 355-4545
Pat Chuchla, Director of Liturgy, x 125 pchuchla@st-raphael.com
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