The following is a brief report on each of our parish ministries and what they do each week. Together over 100 families participate in our stewardship programs.

ADORATION: During Lent adoration was offered once a week on Wednesday nights, since May Adoration has been offered the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. Adoration is a short prayer service and quite time before the blessed Sacrament.

ADULT EDUCATION: We have two groups offering programs in this area. One group meets Monday mornings from 10:00 AM to Noon in our hall, they read and discuss a book of the bible. The second group meets on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM in the back of the Church Legion Room. Both groups have 15 to 20 people each week and provide lively discussions, Parishioners are always welcome.

ALTAR SERVER: Girls and Boys who have received their first Communion are able to assist at Mass by serving on the altar. Each child serves once or twice a month at a Mass of their choice.

BAPTISMAL COMMITTEE: This committee has met with all new parents teaching the importance of Baptism and the preparing them for the sacrament of Baptism. Each parent views a video tape and then participates in a discussion on their role in their child’s Baptism.

BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE: A brand new committee trained by the Archdiocese to assist families at the time of death. They plan help to prepare for a meaningful Funeral Liturgy and assist in the grieving process afterwards.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC: Special thanks to our parish nurses who have offered free blood pressure clinics once a month after each Mass. They maintain records of all pressures checked.

BUILDING & GROUNDS COMMITTEE: This committee has been busy with the maintenance of buildings and grounds and planning for future use and growth of the parish. Some of this years work included: New roof over vestibule, polishing all the brass on our doors, hosting a clean up day for the parish; repairing all exterior lighting; trimming of shrubs and they are working on the parking lot repairing the cracked areas.

CHURCH CHOIR: Our choir has provided leadership in music for Mass as well as all special celebrations of Mass in the church. They have sung every weekend this past year.

COOKING OR DELIVERING MEALS: This committee continues to cook for two area shelters three evenings a month. The food is cooked in the church hall kitchen and delivered to the shelters on the first and fourth Fridays and the second Saturdays of each month. One group cooks at the hall, another makes deserts at home and drops them off at the hall and a third group delivers the food to the shelters, talk about team work!

CROSSING GUARD: These individuals have worked just a few minutes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but do they work during that time. They ensure the safety of our students leaving their religious education programs.

FOOD FOR THE NEEDY: This committee is responsibly for getting the food donated by our parishioners to the food pantry. You can see Tony Moscato and his workers loading his truck almost every Sunday at our church and then unloading it each Tuesday at the food pantry.

GIVING TREE: This committee has responsibility for planning and executing the annual Christmas gift tree for needy children. In 1999 over 300 presents where purchased by parishioners and delivered by the Giving Tree committee to needy children. One of the hardest tasks is providing gifts to the boys at the Saint Francis home in New Haven, but each year our parishioners seem to outdo the previous years efforts.

GREETERS: A newly formed committee with the responsibility for greeting parishioners and visitors at Sunday Mass. They welcome us all to Mass each week with a smiling face and a big hello.

HOME FRONT DAY: This is a committee that works all year to prepare for one day of activity. On the first Saturday in each May they rebuild a home for a needy family. This program is coordinated by Americares but much work is done locally by the committee to prepare for the big day.

HOME VISITOR: Another new committee formed in 1999 to visit shut-ins. They have assisted with purchasing groceries and running errands for those unable to get out of their homes or sometimes it’s just a friendly visit to break up the day.

HOSPITAL VISITOR: This new group visits members of the parish who are in the area hospitals. While it takes much coordination, when they find out about parishioners in a hospital they will visit. You can help this group by calling the office when you hear if someone goes to the hospital.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: The pre-eminent Catholic laymen’s organization which supports the work of the church and the local parish. This past year our Knights completed many projects.

LADIES GUILD: This group of women work hard to support the parish and offer a community for women to share together. This past year they ran many events most notibly the Christmas fair, the Tea Party, Card Party and their Christmas meeting.

LECTOR: Men and women who proclaim the Scriptures at Mass. Each takes turns reading the scriptures at Mass, this requires preapration before Mass as some of the readings are not the easiest to read aloud.

LITURGY PLANNING COMMITTEE: A committee with responsibility for giving leadership and planning to parish liturgical life. Most notible project this year is the distribution of both specese of the Communion at Mass this past year.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHER: A Catchiest teacher in our religious education program. Teachers can do an entire year, a mini courses for 6-8 weeks, or be a kindergarten teacher two Sundays a month. This past year our 35 teachers taught over 350 children. They are to be commended for such dedication and great job.

SANCTUARY GUILD: A group of men and women who have prepared the sanctuary and sacristy for Sunday Mass each week, this includes preparing the Sacred Linens and taking care of cleaning the altar area.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE: A committee made up of all the chairpersons and leaders named in this booklet that gives leadership to total stewardship process of parish life.

TEACHERS AID: A high school-aged or above person who has assisted in teaching in our religious education program, but only wishes to assist a regular teacher. This past year we were lucky to have many teacher aids.

TEACHER SUBSTITUTE: A high school-aged or above person who has substituted for a teacher, as needed, in our religious education committee.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: A committee who purpose it is to work on bringing new technology into our parish administration. This past year we have put together a small local area network in our parish office. The committee is now working on linking both parish offices together.

USHERS: A committee with responsibility for taking the collection, helping parishioners find seating, helping parishioners during reception of Communion and making sure that the church is prepared for the following Mass.

YOUTH MINISTRY: Adults who are willing to work with the teenagers in our parish. Training is provided. You can work with the middle school age or high school age students planning activities that are social, service oriented, and spiritual.