Sacristans

Sacristans prepare the sacred vessels, linens, books and vestments needed for the liturgy. 

What do you need to be a sacristan?

• Organised and happy to work behind the scenes before and after Mass
• Adaptable
• Fully initiated Catholic active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Three hours per month (weekend) OR two hours per week/fortnight (weekdays)

Why be a sacristan?

Preparation is the key to a prayerful celebration. Just as a meal is not possible without someone to prepare it, liturgical celebrations are not possible without people working quietly behind the scenes to ensure everything is in place. Sacristans prepare the entire community to express our thanks, to offer our sacrifice, to affirm our unity, and to be sent into the world as the Body of Christ.

Welcomers

Welcomers greet all people attending Mass.

What do you need to be a welcomer?

• Friendly, outgoing and willing to help others
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Once per month, arrive at Mass 25 minutes early.

Why be a welcomer?

First impressions last. The experience of parishioners and visitors is shaped by the welcome they receive when coming to Church. Christ calls us to welcome others just as He welcomes us. By greeting others as they arrive at Mass, welcomers have a key role in making our parish a welcoming environment for all.

Reader

Readers proclaim the Word of God and prayers during Mass.

What do you need to be a reader?

• Comfortable with public speaking
• Able to operate and use the microphone
• Willing to prayerfully prepare readings in advance
• Fully initiated Catholic active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Once per month, arrive to Mass 15 mins early, prepare readings in advance.

Why be a reader?

Jesus is the Word of God become flesh. When a reader proclaims the Scriptures, the living Word of God is present among the community of believers. This Word touches our hearts and transforms us so that we might live more and more as Christ’s followers in the world.

Altar Server

Altar servers assist the priest at Mass.

What do you need to be an altar server?

• In at least year 5 and have completed first Holy Communion
• Willing to carry out the duties of altar serving and seek assistance when needed
• Willing to work with others and offer help
• Prayerful and reverent
• Prepared to learn more about Mass and the vessels and vestments
• Willing to participate in training, formation and social activities

Commitment

Twice per month, arrive at Mass 15 minutes early.

Attend altar server formation and social activities four times a year.

Why be an altar server?

Altar servers contribute to the whole community’s participation in the fruitful worship of God through high standards of service during Mass. Altar servers are called to intimately understand the Church’s liturgy and undertake their role with prayerfulness and reverence. Through their service, and relationships with each other and the parish, altar servers are called to respond to their unique vocation.

Sacred Music

Musicians raise minds and hearts to God through silence and song.

What do you need to be involved in sacred music?

• Gifted in music or singing
• Willing to commit to rehearsals
• A love for liturgy and willing to work within the Church’s liturgical guidelines
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Weekly rehearsals.

Arrive to Mass 30 mins early on rostered days.

Why be involved in sacred music?

Members of the Sacred Music Ministry discern a call from God to use their gifts in service of the Church’s Liturgy so all Christ’s Faithful may raise their hearts and minds to the All-Holy God in silence and song. With hearts full of joy, they enhance the sacredness of liturgical prayer through a commitment to beauty and excellence in voice and instrument which is in service of the fully conscious and active participation of Christ’s Faithful.

Hospitality Team

The Hospitality Team extends fellowship through social events outside Mass times.

What do you need to be on the hospitality team?

• Friendly
• Happy to help serve coffee/tea or chat with anyone
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

10:00am Mass: once per month, arrive at Mass 25 minutes early and stay after as long as needed.

Other times: ad hoc as requested.

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass

Communion ministers faithfully share the Body and Blood of Christ with fellow members of the congregation.

What do you need to be a Communion minister?

• Believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
• Fully initiated Catholic active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Once per month, arrive at Mass 15 minutes early.

Why be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?

The Eucharist is the privileged way of experiencing the presence of Jesus Christ and sharing in his work of redeeming the world. Fed by the Body and Blood of Christ we, though many, are made one in the Lord. Eucharist allows us to participate more deeply in the Paschal Mystery, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, inviting us to conform our lives to Christ’s.

Screen Operator

The screen operator displays words to the congregation at the correct times during Mass.

What do you need to be a screen operator?

• Computer literate
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Once per month, arrive at Mass 30 minutes early.

Why be a screen operator?

The Church calls us to “Full, Conscious and Active Participation” in the Mass. Modern technology has made this easier. The Screen Operator facilitates full, conscious and active participation by displaying words to hymns, responses and other spoken parts of the Mass at the correct times.

Sound Engineer

The sound engineer assists musicians, readers and priests by optimising sound before and during liturgy.

What do you need to be a sound engineer?

• Confident with an iPad and willing to learn all aspects of the sound system at St Mary’s Church
• Good hearing
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Once per month, arrive at Mass 30 minutes early.

Why be a sound engineer

The Church calls us to “Full, Conscious and Active Participation” in the Mass. Modern technology has made this easier. The sound engineer facilitates full, conscious and active participation by working with musicians, readers and priests to ensure music and spoken aspects of the liturgy are at the appropriate volume for the congregation.

Photographer

The photographer captures images of our parish for use in print and online publications.

What do you need to be a photographer?

• Own camera
• Willing to give the parish unrestricted use of images
• Discernment in when to take, keep and/or delete images
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Ad hoc basis, as needed.

Why be a photographer?

Photography allows the parish to keep memories of parish events and people for future generations. 

Cleaner

Cleaners ensure God’s house is a worthy place to worship.

What do you need to be a cleaner?

• Able to use cleaning equipment and products
• Active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

Two hours, once per month.

Why be a cleaner?

Do you appreciate the sparkle of a clean house? Have you ever used a broom or dust rag or vacuum cleaner? Cleaners care for our church family, ensure a welcoming church environment and show love and respect for God by cleaning God’s house.

Extraordinary Minister of Communion of the Sick and Housebound

The Extraordinary Minister of Communion of the Sick and Housebound brings the Body of Christ in the form of Eucharist and in their own person.

What do you need to be a Communion minister?

• Compassionate for the sick and infirm
• Able to adapt to the individual’s circumstances and specific needs
• Fully initiated Catholic active in the life of the parish
• Good-hearted, a forgiven sinner on the way to being a saint
• Willing to undertake specific initial and ongoing training
• Willing to collaborate with parish leadership and other ministers
• Motivated by a desire to serve

Commitment

1-2 hours per week.

Why be an Extraordinary Minister of Communion of the Sick and Housebound?

From the earliest days of the Church, Holy Communion has been taken to those members that can’t be present at communal celebrations due to sickness or other incapacity. When the sick receive Holy Communion, they are united sacramentally to the Lord and are reunited with the Eucharistic community from which illness or other incapacity has separated them. Reception of Communion is a not only a privilege, but a sign of support and concern shown by the Christian community for its members who are ill.

More information coming soon!

More information coming soon!

More information coming soon!

More information coming soon!

More information coming soon!