St. Patrick Catholic Church

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve on another with whatever gift each of you has received.- 1 Peter 4:10

Offertory Tabulators:   Volunteers sort, count, and prepare deposits. Involves about two hours, during office hours, at an assigned time on a rotating basis. 
Office Volunteers : * Provide office assistance to the parish staff, such as answering the phone, doing data entry, stuffing envelopes, etc. Volunteers are contacted when a need arises. Adults and older teens are eligible. 
Parish Library Committee:   Volunteers are needed to assist with planning, organizing and maintaining the St. Patrick Library. 
Building Committee: A consultative body to the pastor and appointed by him, this committee assists in planning and overseeing construction and renovations to the physical plant.
Finance Board: Members of the Finance Board are appointed by the pastor and meet periodically to review parish finances and the annual budget. This group is aware of their responsibility to assist the Pastor and office staff in being good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to our parish. 
Pastoral Council of Ministries:  Members of the Pastoral Council of Ministries are active in at least one of the ministries of the six commissions and serve as a consultative body for the pastor. The purpose of the Pastoral Council of Ministries is to foster the development of ministries and to build community through prayer, discerning needs, making recommendations, overseeing implementation and providing ongoing evaluation. Meetings are held quarterly. Signing up for this ministry indicates your willingness to serve on the Council when positions become available. 

St. Patrick Preschool CONTACT:  Katie LaFont, 752-3898
Classroom or Office Volunteers:   Volunteers who love little children and are willing to work hands-on with them or in the office when school personnel are absent or must leave early. 
Readers and Storytellers:  Volunteers who love little children and are willing to visit whenever called to read to them or tell them a story. CONTACT:  Katie LaFont, 752-3898

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:12

Coffee and Donuts:* Hosts monthly gatherings after 9:30 a.m. Mass. Volunteers set out donuts, orange juice and coffee and clean-up. Four to six volunteers per team. Open to adults and youth 15 years and older.
Golden Shamrocks: Adults 55 years and older gather for fun and fellowship. Volunteers help organize and plan events. 

K. C. Council 8601: A national, Catholic, fraternal organization dedicated to promoting the virtues of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. St. Patrick's Council 8601 meets once a month. Activities include business meetings/ dinners, family/social meetings, and service projects. Open to practicing Catholic men ages l8 and older. 

K. C. Auxiliary: Assists Knights of Columbus Council 8601 in promoting fellowship through religious and social activities. The Auxiliary meets once a month and membership is open to all females, Catholic or non Catholic, 18 or older. 
Photographers: * Adults or youth who enjoy taking pictures to capture special celebrations, events and miscellaneous pictures for use in the bulletin, website, social media. 
Receptions and Socials: * Prepares for parish-wide social events and other functions. Volunteers help with food preparation, serving, and cleaning. Involves 4-5 hours, 2 or 3 times a year. 
Scouts: * Scout Troop 203 is a year-round program for youth in 5th grade through high school that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge, and responsibility to help them become their best selves. The ultimate goal is for all Scouts to have fun, learn about leadership skills and be recognized for their growth through rank advancement. In Scouting, everybody learns positive life-long skills and each Scout can advance at their own pace. Troop 203 focuses on teaching leadership skills that provide positive experiences for both the older Scouts as leaders and teachers, and the younger Scouts as students. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. - Matthew 28:19-20

FAITH FORMATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH - CONTACT: Melissa Harshbarger, 753-5750
Catechists: Volunteers willing to teach and share their faith as catechists for grades 1-10 for our two-week summer Parish School of Religion program. 
Vacation Bible School Leaders/Helpers: Provides children, ages 4 to 10, the opportunity to learn more about God while enjoying fun, faith-filled activities. Volunteers needed to plan and lead the various VBS stations of snacks, faith, games, music and crafts.
Children’s Catechumenate Team: Prepares children above the “age of reason” to complete their initiation sacraments. A two-stage process requires adult volunteers to teach the basics of the Catholic Faith and sacramental preparation.
Youth Ministry: * Sixth through 12th grade students are invited to youth nights on most Sunday evenings, filled with fun, faith, fellowship and food! Students in grades 3-5 are invited to monthly youth gatherings!
Youth Ministry Adult Team: Adults assist the Youth Minister in the development and growth of middle and high school youth. They are called to share their faith with passion and zeal through their action and lifestyles. Time and commitment may be in one or more of the following: prepare and serve refreshments, meals, publicity, prayer support team, prepare and lead weekly lessons or chaperone on a rotating basis. Must be Safe Environment trained and be willing to have a background check.

Confirmation Team: Facilitates sessions to prepare 11th grade students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sessions are held from September through January. The meetings provide an opportunity for teens and adults to journey together in small faith groups.

ADULT FORMATION
“That Man Is You!” — Men: An interactive adult Christian formation program for men combining the best research from science with the teachings of the Catholic faith and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of a man fully alive. “That Man is You!” seeks to form men who will be capable of transforming homes and society. CONTACT: Deacon Pete Walsh, 241-1791.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)- CONTACT: Mary Rogers, 773-9045
Catechists, Sponsors, Hospitality:  Catechists are persons responsible for giving session presentations and/or leading Sunday morning Scripture discussions to adults wishing to become a member of the Catholic Church through the community of St. Patrick. Sponsors accompany those coming into the church by meeting privately and attending weekly sessions and special liturgies with the candidates. Especially needed from September through Easter. Hospitality Ministers are persons responsible for physical arrangements, coordinating volunteers to provide refreshments for occasional meetings and special events and volunteers to assist with arrangements and refreshments for socials and retreats.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. - Psalm 103

Altar Servers: *Girls and boys, 4th-12th grades, assist the priest at Sunday and Holy Day Masses. Assigned once or twice per month depending on server’s preference. 
Altar Servers for Funerals: *Girls and boys, 4th-12th grades, available during the day to serve for funerals. Assigned as needed. 
Communion Ministers: Distribute Holy Communion at Sunday and Holy Day Masses. Must be Confirmed and able to fully participate in the sacramental life of the Church. Diocesan online training required. 
Readers: Read the Word of God to the assembly at Mass according to a rotating schedule. Must be Confirmed or preparing for Confirmation. 
Sacristans: Adults prepare the church for daily, weekend and funeral Masses by turning on lights and microphone, setting the credence table, lighting candles, putting the books in place and then returning these to their proper places after Mass. 

Choirs
Mass Choir: Sings weekly at the 4:00 pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, and on Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 am. 
Children’s Choir: *Children in 3rd through 9th grades sing at the 9:30 a.m. Mass on the second Sunday of the month during the school year, the Christmas Concert, Christmas Eve and First Eucharist. 
Resurrection Choir: Sings at parish funeral Masses. Rehearsals are held 30 minutes prior to funeral time. Notifications through email or phone calls. 

Ushers: Men and women ages 18 and over who serve as ministers of hospitality at Liturgical celebrations greeting people, especially visitors and strangers, seating parishioners, receiving offerings and more. Ushers serve at the Mass they normally attend. Social activities are also held. 
Altar Society: Assists in caring for the church, priest vestments, altar server robes, altar cloths and communion vessels. Provides hosts, sacramental wine and candles. Membership open to all. Meets on the third Tuesday of most months at 6 p.m. 
Weekly Church Cleaning: Routine dusting and cleaning of the church to prepare for weekend or special Liturgies. Takes approximately one to two hours each week (usually Mondays). Volunteers usually rotate every six weeks and work in teams of two or three. 
Offertory Gift Bearers: Individuals, groups and families to bring the offertory gifts to the priest/presider in the sanctuary at weekend, Holy Day and special liturgies. 

He has told you what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8

Social Responsibility Committee: Coordinates all social responsibility ministries. Meets every other month as announced at 6:30 p.m. 
Respect Life Committee: Coordinates pro-life parish activities throughout the year including 40 Days for Life, spiritual adoption project and letters to Congress regarding pro-life issues. Meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. 

Prepare Food for Funerals/Sick: Serve on rotating teams, volunteers prepare and deliver food to parishioners who are ill and in temporary need of food. The teams also meet the immediate needs of bereaved family by preparing and delivering food, usually following the funeral. 
Blood Drive Coordination Team:  A blood drive is held three times a year through Our Lady of the Lake Blood Bank. Volunteers work the day of the blood drive to assist parishioners as they fill out forms, offer directions and refreshments. Commitment time is about two hours three times a year on a rotating basis. 
Stitching Ministry: Meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Celtic Shannon Room of the Family Center to work on various charitable or church projects. All skill levels welcome. 

Outreach Ministries

St. Vincent de Paul Society Home Visits: Members go in pairs to visit needy individuals or families within our parish boundaries to provide food and other humanitarian aid such as rent or utility payments. Group meets every third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Center.
St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room: A team of volunteers serves lunch at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room two Saturdays per month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Advent Giving Tree Team: * Coordinates efforts to provide Christmas presents for the disadvantaged of our community. A variety of tasks is involved: organizing what’s needed, making and/or writing ornaments for the tree, hanging the ornaments each week, sorting and delivering the presents, preparing a flyer, etc. Involves varying amounts of time, depending on the task selected, from October through December. 
Habitat for Humanity: * Provides workers to join eight other Catholic parishes to build one house per year for the working poor. Involves one to two Saturdays in the spring. Participating youth should be at least 16. 
Prison Ministry at Hunt: Persons needed to assist the Catholic Chaplain at Hunt Correctional prison for men in St. Gabriel. Volunteers help weekly or monthly with faith sharing sessions, RCIA, Mass, and distribution of Holy Communion in cell blocks. 

Outreach Communion Ministers

Homebound: Ministers take Holy Communion each Sunday (on a rotating schedule) after the 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Masses to sick and homebound parishioners. A brief orientation prepares ministers to participate. Involves about one hour a month. You do not have to serve as a Communion Minister for Sunday Masses to volunteer for this ministry. 

Outreach—Nursing Homes

Jefferson Manor Nursing Home: Volunteers assist Catholic residents of Jefferson Manor Nursing Home to the chapel at 9:45 a.m. each Friday morning. Mass or a Communion Service is celebrated at 10 a.m. The rosary is recited while Holy Communion is taken to those who are unable to go to the chapel. Involves about two hours each Friday morning. 

White Oak Post Acute Care Facility: Volunteers assist wheelchair bound Catholic residents to the chapel at 9:45 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Mass or a Communion Service is celebrated at 10 a.m. Holy Communion is offered to those who are unable to attend. Involves about two hours once a month. 

And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. - 1 John 5:14-15

Eucharistic Adoration: Volunteers give one hour each week in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament (9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays & Thursdays). 
Prayer Line: This is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to be involved in parish ministry but cannot attend meetings or activities. Prayer requests are made to the office, which in turn contacts volunteers. These volunteers call the next person on the chain. Each prayer minister spends time each day praying in his/ her own way for the intentions received. 
Monday Scripture Study: Meets on Monday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Family Center Library and focuses on a variety of themes. No meetings during summer. 
Tuesday Scripture Study: Meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Center to read, reflect, and share on a variety of scriptural themes. (No meetings in summer.) 
Small Christian Communities: Several parish small groups meet in private homes on a regular basis for faith sharing and Scripture discussion. 
Blue Army:  A worldwide organization whose purpose is to spread the message of Fatima and increase devotion to the Blessed Mother. Meets weekly on Wednesday following the 8 a.m. Mass to pray. 
Legion of Mary Active Members, Auxiliary Members: A worldwide association of men and women who work toward the purpose of increasing personal holiness, fostering devotion to the Blessed Mother, and participating in charitable and apostolic works. Active members meet on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Family Center. Auxiliary members offer prayer support for the active members but are not required to attend any meetings. Both groups are welcome to attend all Legion functions throughout the year. All members share in the many graces received. 
Vocations Prayer Team: Fosters increased vocations to the priesthood and religious life through prayer and special activities. During Sunday Masses of Lent, an individual or family accepts a statue of the Holy Family to take to their homes for the week to pray daily for vocations. 
Apostolate of Prayer for Priests: Coordinates opportunities to offer prayer for priests and seminarians. 

* Indicates a ministry in which children and/or youth can participate.