Home > Liturgy > Liturgical Ministries

Liturgical Ministries

Acolytes

With the introduction of the ministry of Crucifer, the Altar Servers have been renamed Acolytes and their duties are now the lighting of the altar candles, carrying the candles in procession, and the ministering of water and wine to the priest at Mass. This ministry is open to children in grades 4 through 8.

With the new Processional Crucifix we returned to the liturgically proper practice of having candles accompany the crucifix in procession for all Sunday Liturgies. Therefore it is vital to have the full complement of servers each Mass (one Crucifer and two Acolytes). Our Altar Servers have tended to be rather unreliable (not all of course, but definitely too many); we hope that the addition of adults to the mix will remedy that problem.

For more information, please contact Sr. Loretta Topper at 724.736.0158.

Cantors

This group works with our choir. Members are trained and assigned to lead the singing at all of our Masses.

For more information, please contact Pat Filak in the Parish Office.

Choirs

MEMORIAL CHOIR: The memorial choir is composed of parishioners who love to sign and are available when a funeral is scheduled. This is seldom harmonized. Everyone sings the melody part in unison and seldom do they gather for rehearsals. Verne Kniha is the regular organist for the funeral choir. The choir provides a service to families grieving the loss of a loved one.

For more information, please contact Betty Ewalt at 724.736.8394.

PARISH CHOIR: The parish choir is organized to provide accompanying music for the major liturgy of Sunday and special holy days throughout the year. The choir leads the congregation in praising God through liturgical music from September to early June. They practice once a week and whenever it is necessary before Christmas and Easter. There is a number of specialized music pieces they prepare which is meditative and inspiration for the congregation to join in. The choir is an invaluable instrument of our liturgy to enhance full and prayerful worship.

For more information, please contact Pat Filak in the Parish Office.

Crucifers

For more information, please contact Sr. Loretta Topper at 724.736.0158.

Lectors

This ministry derives from the call to proclaim the Word of God in the liturgical assembly. Lectors are men and women of the parish who are a part of the worship team that leads the congregation in worship. They study and pray over the Scriptures for Sunday and proclaim the First and/or Second Readings from the ambo. The Ministry of Lector is one of the traditional stated ministries of the Church that was given to a young man on his journey to becoming a priest. Therefore, in some sense, it is extraordinary for those who are not candidates in the priesthood to share in it. Church regulation calls for only those in good standing in the Church to participate in this ministry in Mass.

For more information, please contact Sr. Loretta Topper at 724.736.0158.

Special Ministers of Holy Communion

These ministers are men and women who are specially commissioned by our Bishop to dispense Holy Communion at Mass, to our homebound parishioners, and to Catholics at Mon Valley Hospital. This ministry is especially noteworthy in that it serves directly, not only at the altar of the Lord, but in sharing the sacred treasury of the Eucharist among the people of God for the building up of God's kingdom.

For more information, please contact Sr. Loretta Topper at 724.736.0158.

Ushers

Ushers are a group of dedicated men of the parish who perform specific duties at Mass. Ushers are formed into three teams to be available at Mass early enough on weekends to act as cordial greeters to those coming to worship. Ushers help with the smooth operation of some of the mechanics of the Liturgy: ensuring proper seating of the congregation, taking up the collection, distributing bulletins, and any other item that is needed for any given liturgy. Ushers also help to straighten out and tidy up after Mass is over.

For more information, please contact the Parish Office.