Ministries of Worship

-Liturgical Advisory Committee
-Altar Server
-Church Décor Team
-Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
-Lectors
-Church Usher

Liturgical Advisory Committee

Mission Statement:  The Liturgical Advisory Committee functions as an advisory body to the Friars and Pastoral Staff, ensuring a liturgical experience consistent with the Franciscan Tradition.  The committee is responsible for recommendations for the celebration of each season with particular attention to the season of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. Further, the committee is dedicated to promoting liturgical catechesis, and faith sharing within the community of St. Patrick-St. Anthony.

Responsibilities of the Liturgical Advisory Committee

-Membership requires regular attendance and participation in monthly meetings, study and planning, and the sharing of one’s faith.
“Jesus not only calls people to him, but also forms them and sends them out in service. Whoever wants to follow Christ will have much work to do in His Name”. (United States Conference of Bishops)

-Shared preparation in catechesis materials distributed to the community on a regular basis.
“The purpose of liturgical catechesis is to lead communities and individual members of the faithful to maturity of faith through full an active participation in the liturgy which expresses that faith in conscious living out of a life of justice”.(Catherine Dooley, O.P.)

-Full participation in the liturgical life of the worshipping community.
“The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states that because the sacraments are the first signs, they also teach.  Liturgy conveys its meaning not through explanation but through full participation in the vary action of the liturgy.” (GDC, 1967)

-Work in collaboration with the Pastoral Staff in the preparation and evaluation of our worship life, with special attention to the liturgical seasons of the year.
“Because the Eucharist is at the core of the Church’s identity, it matters how we celebrate. Liturgy must never become a rote activity for those assembled and their ministers”. (Dennis Smolarski, S.J.)

Membership

The Liturgical Advisory Committee consists of the Director of Worship, the Director of Music, Liturgical Coordinators and members of the worshipping community.  New members join the committee with the rotation of outgoing members.

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Altar Servers

Altar servers play a vital and visible role in weekend liturgies and special celebrations.  An altar server assists the Presider in many facets of the Mass and is an intimate participant in the celebration of the Eucharist.  Further the altar server shares in the welcoming of our parishioners and friends as they join us for Eucharist.  In preparation for this ministry, each new server participates in a two hour training and practice sessions.  Please be willing to rotate the masses you are assigned too. 

Altar Server is a great opportunity and privilege for those over ten years of age.

Adult Servers are a very important component of this ministry.  Adult servers are an integral part of our major celebrations, such as Christmas, Holy Week and Easter.  Further, your guidance supports our younger servers in their role at the altar.

Funeral Servers assist both the Presider and members of the family who participate in the celebration of the Funeral Liturgy.

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Church Décor Team

The Church décor team comes together several times throughout the year to enhance the seasonal beauty of our worship space.  Special attention is given to seasons of Christmas and Easter.  The coordinator of this ministry designs the scheme for decorating and assists the team in accomplishing its goal, a beautifully decorated church.  There is a task for everyone, so don’t exclude yourself.  This ministry is a great family and community opportunity.

    

    

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Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

The Eucharistic Ministry of St. Patrick-St. Anthony is a liturgical ministry of service.  St. Augustine reminds us; ‘if then you want to understand the body of Christ, remember what the Apostle says: You are the body of Christ, we are all members of the one body. May you be one body by loving one another through faith, hope and love”.

With profound faith and reverence the Minister of Communion distributes Holy Communion under both species at mass at our Sunday worship.  We also welcome woman and men to serve at our weekday liturgy.  If a minister chooses they man also serve the community by bringing Holy Communion to the homebound and those residing in convalescent homes.    Ministers of Communion also share in the welcoming of our parishioners and prior to the start of Liturgy. Each year all liturgical ministries gather for an evening of prayer and reflection, as well as a yearly meeting to review policies and procedures.

Training is conducted by the Archdiocese of Hartford joined by an in-service parish training session.

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Lectors

Proclaiming the Word of God is an essential component of our Liturgy.  In a commentary by Larry Boadt, CSP we read; “In the liturgy, scripture not only forms the basis for the prayers of the mass, especially the narrative prayers of the preface and Eucharistic prayers, but also, as proclaimed during the liturgy of the word, governs weekly themes and catechesis”.

Lectors proclaim the Word of God with a profound spirit of reverence and with proper preparation for both our Sunday and weekday Masses.  We ask Lectors to be open to being assigned at more than one specific mass.  Each year all liturgical ministries gather for an evening of prayer and reflection, as well as a yearly meeting to review policies and procedures. 

Training and practice takes place on-site at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church. 

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Church Ushers

The role of the ushers is more than just taking up the weekly collection.  Our ushers greet the members of the community on their arrival, offer them a worship guide and assist in locating seating for those in need. Ushers take up the collection and then assist the people who will bring forth the gifts for Eucharist.  The need for ushers greatly depends on the time of the Mass.  Seasonal assistance (Christmas and Easter) is most welcomed and greatly appreciated.

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