Parish Ministries

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
Assist in the celebration of Mass and Liturgies

ALTAR SERVERS
Contact: Father Dan Jarosewic and Deacon Jack O’Leary
Ministry Goal: To provide service and assistance at Masses and other parish liturgical functions. Dress code in effect.
Training Needed: Small group training sessions provided by Father Dan and Deacon O’Leary.
Age: Grade 5 through high school.
Time Commitment: Serve for at least one liturgy a month.
Duration of Participation: Minimum of one year. Reliability is essential.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION
Contact: Debbie Framarin and Jack Hayes
Ministry Goal: Distributing the Eucharist (host and cup) during Parish liturgies.
Training Needed: Three training sessions at the Parish.
Age: 18 years or older (Archdiocesan Policy)
Time Commitment: Bi-weekly scheduling for weekend masses. Reliability is essential.
Duration of Participation: While mandates from the Archdiocese are for three years, the minimum parish commitment is one year.

LECTORS AND COMMENTATORS
Contact: Ron Schmitt
Ministry Goal: Proclaiming the first two scripture readings, the prayers of the faithful and the announcements during the Liturgy.
Training Needed: Three evening sessions lasting about two hours each.
Age: High school age and older
Time Commitment: Roughly twelve times a year.
Duration of Commitment: Open ended; reliability is a must.

USHERS
Contact: Jan Coffey
Ministry Goal: Welcoming and seating mass-goers; take-up collections, distribute bulletins; other occasional tasks that might be needed to ensure a “smooth” liturgy.
Training Needed: Initially, one meeting with coordinator (not to exceed one hour). Annually, group meeting and/or gathering with all ushers and the spiritual advisor for updates and input.
Qualifications: 13 years of age or older; dependability; appropriate attire and appearance is mandatory; no jeans or athletic shoes.
Time Commitment: one liturgy per weekend.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Contact: John Ligda music@parishofstjoseph-homewood.org
Includes:
- CANTOR PROGRAM
Ministry Goal: To act as the Psalmist during the Liturgy, and to help bring the churches sung Liturgy “to life.”
Age: high school age or older.
Training Needed: Must possess a pleasant voice and sense of pitch; some previous experience and musical background preferred, but not necessary.
Time Commitment: Minimum of one liturgy per month; some private rehearsal with the music director.
Duration of Commitment: Usually one year at a time; reliability is a must.
- RESURRECTION / FUNERAL CHOIR
Ministry Goal: Leads sung prayer for funeral liturgies upon notice (usually 36-hours in advance).
Age: high school age or older.
Training Needed: Some vocal ability; should possess a love of music.
Time Commitment: No regular rehearsal, call is approximately 20-minutes prior to any funeral liturgy. Funerals are in the morning Monday through Saturday; average about one funeral per week.
Duration of Commitment: Open ended
- FESTIVAL CHOIR
Ministry Goal: Leads the sung prayer at the 10:00 a.m. liturgies from September through June; Christmas, Holy Week and Easter.
Age: High School and older.
Training Needed: Must possess a sense of pitch, a love of singing, and an appreciation for music of various styles and genres.
Time Commitment: Rehearsal Wednesday evening from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., plus Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass.
Duration of Commitment: One choir season, September to June.
- CHORISTERS
Ministry Goal: Leads the sung prayer at the 11:30 a.m. liturgies approximately once a month.
Age: 4th thru 8th grade enrolled in school or Religious Education
Training Needed: Some vocal ability required and an appreciation for all styles of liturgical music.
Time Commitment: Rehearsal Wednesday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in church.
Duration of Commitment: One choir season, September through June. Reliability is crucial.
- JUNIOR CHORISTERS
Ministry Goal: Leads the sung prayer at the 11:30 a.m. liturgies once every other month, approximately.
Age: 1st through 3rd grade enrolled in school or Religious Education.
Training Needed: Some vocal ability and an appreciation for all styles of liturgical music.
Time Commitment: Rehearsal Thursday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in church.
Duration of Commitment: One choir season, September through to June. Reliability is crucial.
- INSTRUMENTALISTS
Ministry Goal: To provide instrumental accompaniment (winds, strings, brass and percussion) for various Sunday, Holy Day and holiday masses.
Age: high school age and older.
Training Needed: Musical ability is essential; sight-reading is a priority, as well as an appreciation for liturgical music of different styles.
Time Commitment: No regular rehearsals; mandatory call 30-minutes prior to mass for a brief rehearsal. On average, an instrumentalist will play for at least 2 masses a month.
Duration of Commitment: One season, September through May.
Visit the Music Ministry page for more details

LITURGY PREPARATION
Committees that prepare our church for the celebration of Liturgy and Mass

ARTS & ENVIRONMENT
Contact: Jeannine Ruse arts@posjhomewood.org
Ministry Goal: Collecting and preparing materials to decorate our Church during Ordinary Time, Holy Days, and holidays (especially Christmas & Easter)
Training Needed: Done on site; creative skills are appreciated.
Time Commitment:A few hours several times a year. Meeting attendance is encouraged but voluntary. Work may also be done at home to fit your schedule, especially if you can sew.
Duration of Participation: Open ended.

LITURGY WRITING TEAM
Contact: Joyce Janowick
Ministry Goal: Writing commentaries, Prayers of the Faithful, Penitential Rites for Sunday and Holy Day liturgies; and prepare them for use by Celebrants and Commentators.
Training Needed: On the job training provided
Time Commitment: Meet once a month for approximately 2-hours.

SANCTUARY HOUSEKEEPING & CLEANING COMMITTEE
Contact: Magda Hepokoski
Ministry Goal: Dusting and cleaning sanctuary, changing altar cloths.
Training Needed: Basic household skills
Time Commitment: One hour or less on Friday morning. The cleaner would work one Friday in five.

GARDENING TEAM
Contact: Michelle Condon
Ministry Goal: To maintain Church flower beds (i.e., watering, weeding and planting).
Training Needed: On site.
Time Commitment: One to two hours monthly.

RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Committees that help our church grow in faith and love

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASSES
Contact: John and Prisilla McDonnell
Ministry Goal: Prepare parents and godparents for baptism of their child.
Training Needed: Some preparation required, available at the parish.
Age: Parents of baptized children
Time Commitment: Approximately 3 hours per year to lead 1 session; usually 3 sessions a year held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Burke Center.

BEREAVEMENT TEAM
Contact: Rosemarie Kearney
Ministry Goal: To contact the bereaved family before and after the funeral service to provide consolation, sometimes accomplished by sending a compassionate note to the family.
Training Needed: On site; additional training through the Archdiocese is optional.
Duration of Participation: Open ended.

CATECHISTS (RELIGIOUS EDUCATION)
Contact: Pat Hoffmann religioused@parishofstjoseph-homewood.org
Ministry Goal: Provide religious education for parish children who attend public schools.
Training Needed: Training, support and educational materials are provided by the director.
Age: Teacher: 18 years or older, Aid: 13 years or older.
Time Commitment: Two hours per week. Sessions are at either 8:30 am or 10:00 am Sundays.
Duration of Commitment: One year, reliability is a must.
Visit the Religious Education page for more details

ELIZABETH MINISTRY
Contact: Joan Furlong and Mary Pat Meehan
Ministry Goal: Women ministering to women of childbearing years; celebrating birth and adoption; supporting those women experiencing loss through miscarriage or infant death; prepare quarterly blessing Mass for expectant, foster and adoptive mothers.
Training Needed: Done within the group meetings and is ongoing.
Time Commitment: Two to three hours per month

PARISH OUTREACH & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Committees and organizations whose purpose is to be hands and feet of Christ

HEALTH MINISTRY / PARISH NURSING
Contact: Sister Kathy Scott,LCM
Ministry Goal: Holistic health of body, mind and spirit.
Training Needed: RN’s with an active license in the State of Illinois.
Time Commitment: Monthly meetings from September to June, plus involvement in health activities.
Visit the Health Ministry page for more details

MINISTERS OF CARE
Contact: Deacon Jack O’Leary
Ministry Goal: To bring the Eucharist to those who are in hospitals and homebound. Have an ability to devote time to the ill, and care for the sick and suffering.
Training Needed: A six-session formation session given in local parish setting.
Time Commitment: Mandate is for three years.

PRAYER MINISTRY
Contact: Julie Orbik
Ministry Goal: As part of the Elizabeth Ministry, the Prayer Ministry is for women who are comfortable accepting and honoring anonymous prayer requests and special intentions.
Training: None; e-mail is helpful
Age: Women, 21 years or over
Time Commitment: Flexible.

PRO-LIFE MINISTRY
Contact: Joanne Hadduck
Ministry Goal: To support pro-life activities, pro-life candidates and pro-life organizations and oppose abortion, cloning and euthanasia. We also raise funds in support of pro-life activities.
Time Commitment: Meetings on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in a parishioner’s home.

TEEN MINISTRY
Contact: Liz Collins teens@parishofstjoseph-homewood.org
Ministry Goal: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and faith of the Catholic church. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
Training Needed: Provided as needed
Age: Adults in their 20’s and 30’s
Time Commitment: Open
Duration of Commitment: Minimum of 1 year
Visit the Teen Ministry page for more details

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Contact: Anne De Castro
Ministry Goal: To help young adults develop a deeper relationship with God; to connect with other young adult Catholics in the local area; to offer spiritual, social and educational opportunities; to promote involvement with the larger Catholic community and to nourish the growth of future young adults. This ministry also organizes the “Theology on Tap” summer series.
Training Needed: None.
Time Commitment: Open
Duration of Commitment: Minimum of 1 year
Visit the Young Adult Ministry page for more details

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Contact: Claude Zaba – Grand Knight
Ministry Goal: An organization of Family, Faith, and Fraternity serving as the strong right arm of the Church. For more information, visit their official website, www.kofc.org.
Training Needed: Practicing Catholic men 18 years and older.
Time Commitment: Meets once a month, on the first Thursday at 8:00 p.m. in the Burke Center.
Duration of Commitment: Renewable one year membership.

PARISH RELATIONS AND MARKETING
Contact:
Ministry Goal: Coordinate public and internal information for the parish. Act as an adviser to the Parish Communications Coordinator.
Training Needed: Based on individuals experience.
Time Commitment: as needed
Duration of Commitment: one year

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