Church and Worship

ARE YOU BEING CALLED TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY IN PRAYER?

The most important thing we do in our parish is to gather for Mass each week. Our celebration of the Eucharist is our greatest prayer. It is both the sign and source of our unity as a faith community. It makes sense then that our very best efforts would be put into making our gathering at Mass a real source of prayer.

Our prayer at Mass is everyone’s prayer. At different times we call upon people to help lead the community in prayer. Perhaps it is serving as a Greeter, welcoming all those who come to worship. Perhaps it is being a Lector, proclaiming the Sacred Words of Scripture for all in the assembly to hear and take to heart. It might be serving as a Cantor, helping the community to life their voices in song to the Lord or maybe even singing with the Choir. Or it may be serving as a Eucharistic Minister, sharing the Body and Blood of Christ with the assembly. Perhaps it could be serving as a Gift Bearer, bringing forth the gifts of bread and wine and the gift of our tithe (the collection.). Perhaps it is serving as an Usher, helping to collect the tithing offerings of the community each, or being an Altar Server, preparing things for Mass and cleaning things after Mass.

Who are these people? Actually we all are. Some of us may have particular talents in one area or another, but in a larger sense, we are all called upon to help lead the community in prayer.

Who is worthy to do any of these ministries? In one sense, none of us are. We are all imperfect, we all have our own areas of sinfulness. In another sense, we are all worthy. Since Jesus came to call people who were in need of healing, we are all equally worthy (or unworthy) to help make Jesus present in our common prayer.

Perhaps you have thought about serving in one of the different ministries at Mass and was just waiting for someone to ask you. Maybe you never even thought about being a minister at Mass. Perhaps now God is gently inviting you to share . Whatever the case, I am asking you to think and pray about this. How might God be calling you to help our community pray at Mass?

CANTORS

Cantors lead the congregation in singing at the weekend Masses, Holy Day Masses and other special occasions. Contact Kristan Gilles for more details.

CHOIR

St. Joseph’s choir accompanies the 8:00 a.m. Sunday mass throughout the year, as well as singing during Christmas and Holy Week celebrations. This group meets Tuesday evenings to practice. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of music ability. Organ and other musical instruments as available accompany the group. Contact Kristan Gilles for more details.

We are always seeking people who have special musical ability and play musical instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard, and other musical instrument players and singers) to enhance our prayer at Mass. Contact Kristan Gilles, our Directory of Liturgy, for more details.

LECTORS

Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Masses on weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. Training is provided for all lectors. If you are interested, please contact l for more details.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Eucharistic Ministers serve by distributing Holy Communion at Masses on weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. New ministers are trained and commissioned. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schroeder for more details.

USHERS

Ushers assist people in finding a seat and take up the collection at all Masses on the weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schroeder for more details.

GREETERS

Greeters stand at the entrances of Church and welcome those who come for the Masses on weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schroeder for more details.

ALTAR SERVERS

Altar Servers assist the celebrant at all Masses during the weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. Servers may be either boys or girls and are usually in Grades 4-8. New servers are trained each year. High School students are also invited to serve but may want to consider being a Lector or Eucharistic Minister instead. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schroeder

GIFT BEARERS

Gift Bearers take up the gifts at all Masses during the weekends, Holy Days and other special occasions. The rotating schedule is planned in advance. While gift bearers are scheduled, any member of the congregation is invited to serve as a gift bearer at Mass if the scheduled people do not show up. If you are interested, please contact for more details.

HOLY WATER

Containers for Holy Water can be found in the server’s sacristy (west side of church). These are available for use by parishioners. They may be returned there as well to be filled.

REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES AT MASS

MASS INTENTIONS

It is a good and holy thing to remember our deceased relatives and friends. There is a book in the Sacred Heart Alcove (southwest corned of the church) near the votive candles, which contains all the names of the people of our parish who have died and the particular day on which they died.

Each day at Mass we also remember the deceased relatives and friends of our parishioners. You are invited to submit these names and the particular day and Mass time at which you want to remember your loved ones. These names will appear in our weekly bulletin. There is no charge for this, but if you would like to make a memorial contribution to the parish in their name, you may do so. To submit mass intention requests, contact the parish secretary and send the names you want to remember and the dates and time of Mass you want them to be remembered at (e.g. Sunday, August 27th at the 10:30 am Mass) or call her at the parish office (963-3273) and give her this information.

The church is open daily and parishioners are invited and encouraged to come and pray. For your convenience, during services, a special room for Parents with small children is in the rear of the church. Since this is a limited space, we ask that this space be reserved for parents and young children only.

VOTIVE CANDLES

In keeping with an ancient tradition of lighting candles for those people we want to pray for, votive candles are available for your use. They can be found in the Sacred Heart alcove, which is located in the southeast corner of the church. Suggested donation is $2.00 each. There are envelopes for your use at the votive candle stand. You may drop these envelopes in the collection or put them in the mail slot at the back door of the rectory

BRINGING COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND

Each week members of our parish bring Holy Communion to members of our parish who are homebound or live in nursing homes and retirement centers. If you would like to be one of these people, contact Fr. Schroeder at the Parish Office. If you know of people in our parish who are not able to come to Mass and would like someone to bring them Holy Communion, contact Fr. Schroeder so that their name can be added to the list.

CHURCH ENVIRONMENT AND DECORATIONS

People help decorate the church for special occasions such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Throughout the rest of the year they take turns arranging flowers and plants to enhance the worship area in church. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Schroeder

MARIAN PRAYER GROUP

This group of individuals meets each Wednesday evening at 7 pm for prayer and devotion time. Many of the traditional Catholic prayers and devotions are part of this service. All parishioners are invited to join them in prayer.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

In keeping with the ancient tradition of prayer in the Church, each Monday parishioners are invited to come and spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament is placed on the altar for Eucharistic Adoration each Monday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate. If you would like more information or would like to sign up for a time to pray, please call Paul or Marlene Hasselbrinck 963-3468

PRAYER CHAIN NETWORK

The Prayer Chain is an opportunity to prayer for the needs of our parishioners, their families and friends, and the needs of the whole community. The prayer chain involves a large number of parish members and it operates by simply calling one person for a prayer request. Each member in turn calls the next one to ask them to pray for the intention of the original caller. Prayers may be said in the quiet of your home, at church or where you feel most comfortable with your individual prayer time.

If you have a prayer request, you may submit it by calling Terry at 963-3149.

Or you mail email requests to the Prayer Chain Request Line

If you are interested in adding your name to the prayer chain you may please call the parish office (963-3273) or Terry (963-3149) or Imogene (963-5521).