Hospitals and House Calls
While priests from the parish visit local hospitals regularly and take the sacraments to parishioners in need, they don't always see every parishioner. So, if you (or someone you know) are in the hospital and are in need of the sacraments, by all means let the parish office know. And if you are going to undergo serious surgery, by all means arrange to come to the rectory beforehand to receive the sacraments then and there.The parish welcomes volunteers to read or distribute Holy Communion at our Saturday evening or Sunday morning Masses. Both Lectors and Ministers of Holy Communion should be adult Catholics in good standing who practice their faith and are not prevented from marital or other irregularities from receiving Holy Communion. They should have the poise that denotes they recognize the seriousness of their ministry and be willing to dress in keeping with the solemnity of the Mass. Interested volunteers may let the pastor know he or she is available if needed.
Lectors should be able to read Scripture This usually entails advanced preparation at home so that the sometimes-difficult passages, are understood and which understanding can be conveyed from the pulpit.
Boys and Girls from fourth grade on up who would like to serve at God's altar at Saturday evening or Sunday morning Masses are welcome to attend our annual Altar Server training sessions. We usually try to accommodate parents by scheduling children for Masses families already attend, though sometimes, if an imbalance occurs, we will make different arrangements. We expect children who serve to be faithful to their assigned Masses or get replacements when they can’t make it.
Though we keep a list of ushers, becoming an usher is not the result of a formal training process. Usually, someone interested lets a current usher know that he or she is available to help out at Mass. The responsibilities of an usher entails taking up the collection, helping with sick parishioners, tending to the church or chapel doors, helping elderly parishioners get up and down stairs or get to their seats, or, occasionally at Christmas or Easter, helping newcomers find seats. Those who have become ushers through this process should let the parish office know so that we may put their names on our ushers list.