Vertical TabsExtraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is a Catholic lay person who assists in the distribution of Holy Communion, either during the Mass, or afterwards to housebound persons. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact the parish office. Ministers of Hospitality The Ministers of Hospitality provide a valuable service. They not only assist with seating, take up collections, and distribute bulletins, but they are also the first point of contact that visitors will have with the people of St. Monica. The welcome that these ministers extend is extended on behalf of us all. Ushers respond in case of emergency, tidy and prepare the church at the conclusion of Mass, distribute the bulletin and maintain order. We are very grateful for their dedication, and hope that you will consider joining them. If you are interested in becoming a Minister of Hospitality, please speak to one of the Ministers of Hospitality at the Mass that you attend Saturday 4:00 p.m.: Laura Lawton Sunday 8:30 a.m.: Gary Rooney Sunday 11:00 a.m.: Joe Supino Ministers of the Word Ministers of the Word (lectors) proclaim the Word of God at weekend masses and special liturgical celebrations. Each mass involves three lectors. The First Reader reads the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm, as applicable. The Second Reader reads the Second Reading. The Commentator welcomes the congregation, leads the congregation in the Prayers of the Faithful and reads the announcements. Christine Holland is the coordinator of this ministry. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. Altar Servers The Altar Servers, drawn initially from the ranks of the Faith First students, provide liturgical support for Eucharistic celebrations and other services. An additional dimension to their participation is to develop a greater appreciation, reverence and love of the Eucharist and an appreciation for prayer as a basis of their relationship with God. As such it can be viewed as an extension of the Faith First Program. A full complement at a weekend mass is six servers. The primary activity of the altar servers is to assist at Eucharist on weekends and major feasts and solemnities. To this end there are irregularly scheduled training sessions often preceding Faith First sessions. During the sessions there are two levels of training. The first is instruction in the mechanics of serving mass. The second is teaching senior servers how to assist the juniors. There are three levels of Servers: Brown level servers (designated by their cincture – colored belt) are beginners. The “brown period” lasts at least a year during which he/she learns the basic parts of the mass. To advance to the next level a server at the brown level must demonstrate that she/he is capable of serving at any position and have been available to serve on at least three occasions when there was no Faith First. Cinctures matching the liturgical color of the season designate the second level. It is assumed that these servers are at a level where they can be paired with brown-level servers to support them as they learn. These servers advance by demonstrating the ability to serve with minimal assistance and teach others as well. It is expected that they will demonstrate a demeanor and presence on the sanctuary that speaks to a growth in reverence and respect for their role in the liturgy. The highest level is the Gold level. Gold-level servers are expected to be proficient on the sanctuary. They are also expected to be role models for the junior servers. As well, the Gold-level servers are taught to support the development of the juniors, both in the procedures of serving as well as in an attitude of service, through example and instruction. Sr. Lorraine Lebert, SSA, is the coordinator of this ministry. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. Adult Choir The adult choir leads the congregation in song at the 11a.m. mass on Sundays from September to June. The choir sings liturgical and contemporary music that is appropriate for the week’s Liturgy of The Word. The choir season runs from the Sunday after Labor Day Weekend, until the 3rd week of June. The choir meets weekly on Sunday one hour before Mass to practice and learn new music for upcoming weeks. In preparation for Christmas and Easter, the choir will meet for two evening rehearsals in addition to two extended Sunday rehearsals in advance of each respective season. After the 3rd Sunday in June, the choir members usually meet for an end of the year lunch hosted by the Pastor at the rectory. The coordinator of this ministry is Mark Boyer. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. Youth Choir The youth and young adult choir typically sings once a month at the 11 am Sunday Mass and occasionally at the 4 pm Saturday Mass. The choir also sings at important celebrations, such as Christmas Eve, Easter, as required by the Liturgical Team. The coordinator of this ministry is Fred Manricks. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. Altar Society The Altar Society of St. Monica's offer their dedicated service to the Church. They are involved in the life of the Church in a special way. Through their efforts, they assist the Pastor in maintaining the Altar, Sanctuary and Sacristy. This includes cleaning and setting of the Altar for Services, caring for the vestments, Altar cloths, etc. The Alter Society also decorates for special occasions and cares for the plants and flowers. The coordinator for this ministry is Peggy Hyland. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. The purpose of this guild is to unlock, the two front doors, the ushers room, emergency door to ramp, side door, across from the rectory and all those in the sacristy, including the cupboard and vault. This is done every day for preparation of the daily Mass. The lights are turned on at the altar and the front of the church. The lights in the body of the church are turned on at 7:50 a.m. Also a check that the eternal candle lighting is done. The doors of the church are opened at 7:30 a.m., from Monday to Friday and at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday. Ministry Activities Read Ordo. This book is placed on the counter in the sacristy and gives the appropriate colour for the pall and tabernacle, also proper Mass for the day. The plastic cover is taken from the altar and the sacramentary is placed, arranging it at the proper Mass for the day. Also, putting both an English and Italian missal at the proper Mass for the day. The lectionary is placed on the ambo (green book – week day, red book – Sunday). The Ordo is checked for the proper reading and page number. The ribbon is arranged to the right place. The key is taken from the vault to the tabernacle and a visual check is made to make sure there are enough hosts. Take the chalice and paten from the vault. Prepare the chalice with a purificator over it, put the paten with a large host and use the appropriate colour pall, making sure that a corporal is inside. Prepare the cruets – one water, one wine. Place cruets on the credence table along with the chalice and paten. Place a towel and dish for the washing of hands on the credence table. Take out the microphones for the altar and ambo. Microphones should be plugged in before putting the switch on in the panel. Light candles on the altar. Every 3 weeks, check the candles to see if they need replacing. When Mass is finished, turn off the switch for the microphones and return them to their places. Take away chalice, cruets, dish and towel. Wash everything and put away. The soiled purificator and towel go to the box in the far cupboard to be cleaned. Take the plastic cover and put it back on the altar. Turn off all lights when everybody has left the church and lock all the doors. From time to time, check that the supplies are adequate. If getting low, send a list to the secretary asking her to re-order. During the last week of the month, put out ‘daily missals’ for the next month, on sale. These are put on the little counters at the front of the church, near the inside doors. Keep the front of the church clean by removing all the outdated magazines and papers for recycling. Also, putting back all the hymnals, left on the counters, in their rightful places.
An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion is a Catholic lay person who assists in the distribution of Holy Communion, either during the Mass, or afterwards to housebound persons. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact the parish office.
The Ministers of Hospitality provide a valuable service. They not only assist with seating, take up collections, and distribute bulletins, but they are also the first point of contact that visitors will have with the people of St. Monica. The welcome that these ministers extend is extended on behalf of us all. Ushers respond in case of emergency, tidy and prepare the church at the conclusion of Mass, distribute the bulletin and maintain order. We are very grateful for their dedication, and hope that you will consider joining them. If you are interested in becoming a Minister of Hospitality, please speak to one of the Ministers of Hospitality at the Mass that you attend Saturday 4:00 p.m.: Laura Lawton Sunday 8:30 a.m.: Gary Rooney Sunday 11:00 a.m.: Joe Supino
Ministers of the Word (lectors) proclaim the Word of God at weekend masses and special liturgical celebrations. Each mass involves three lectors. The First Reader reads the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm, as applicable. The Second Reader reads the Second Reading. The Commentator welcomes the congregation, leads the congregation in the Prayers of the Faithful and reads the announcements. Christine Holland is the coordinator of this ministry. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office.
The Altar Servers, drawn initially from the ranks of the Faith First students, provide liturgical support for Eucharistic celebrations and other services. An additional dimension to their participation is to develop a greater appreciation, reverence and love of the Eucharist and an appreciation for prayer as a basis of their relationship with God. As such it can be viewed as an extension of the Faith First Program. A full complement at a weekend mass is six servers. The primary activity of the altar servers is to assist at Eucharist on weekends and major feasts and solemnities. To this end there are irregularly scheduled training sessions often preceding Faith First sessions. During the sessions there are two levels of training. The first is instruction in the mechanics of serving mass. The second is teaching senior servers how to assist the juniors. There are three levels of Servers: Brown level servers (designated by their cincture – colored belt) are beginners. The “brown period” lasts at least a year during which he/she learns the basic parts of the mass. To advance to the next level a server at the brown level must demonstrate that she/he is capable of serving at any position and have been available to serve on at least three occasions when there was no Faith First. Cinctures matching the liturgical color of the season designate the second level. It is assumed that these servers are at a level where they can be paired with brown-level servers to support them as they learn. These servers advance by demonstrating the ability to serve with minimal assistance and teach others as well. It is expected that they will demonstrate a demeanor and presence on the sanctuary that speaks to a growth in reverence and respect for their role in the liturgy. The highest level is the Gold level. Gold-level servers are expected to be proficient on the sanctuary. They are also expected to be role models for the junior servers. As well, the Gold-level servers are taught to support the development of the juniors, both in the procedures of serving as well as in an attitude of service, through example and instruction. Sr. Lorraine Lebert, SSA, is the coordinator of this ministry. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office.
The adult choir leads the congregation in song at the 11a.m. mass on Sundays from September to June. The choir sings liturgical and contemporary music that is appropriate for the week’s Liturgy of The Word. The choir season runs from the Sunday after Labor Day Weekend, until the 3rd week of June. The choir meets weekly on Sunday one hour before Mass to practice and learn new music for upcoming weeks. In preparation for Christmas and Easter, the choir will meet for two evening rehearsals in addition to two extended Sunday rehearsals in advance of each respective season. After the 3rd Sunday in June, the choir members usually meet for an end of the year lunch hosted by the Pastor at the rectory. The coordinator of this ministry is Mark Boyer. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office.
The youth and young adult choir typically sings once a month at the 11 am Sunday Mass and occasionally at the 4 pm Saturday Mass. The choir also sings at important celebrations, such as Christmas Eve, Easter, as required by the Liturgical Team. The coordinator of this ministry is Fred Manricks. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office.
The Altar Society of St. Monica's offer their dedicated service to the Church. They are involved in the life of the Church in a special way. Through their efforts, they assist the Pastor in maintaining the Altar, Sanctuary and Sacristy. This includes cleaning and setting of the Altar for Services, caring for the vestments, Altar cloths, etc. The Alter Society also decorates for special occasions and cares for the plants and flowers. The coordinator for this ministry is Peggy Hyland. If you would like more information, please contact the parish office. The purpose of this guild is to unlock, the two front doors, the ushers room, emergency door to ramp, side door, across from the rectory and all those in the sacristy, including the cupboard and vault. This is done every day for preparation of the daily Mass. The lights are turned on at the altar and the front of the church. The lights in the body of the church are turned on at 7:50 a.m. Also a check that the eternal candle lighting is done. The doors of the church are opened at 7:30 a.m., from Monday to Friday and at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday. Ministry Activities Read Ordo. This book is placed on the counter in the sacristy and gives the appropriate colour for the pall and tabernacle, also proper Mass for the day. The plastic cover is taken from the altar and the sacramentary is placed, arranging it at the proper Mass for the day. Also, putting both an English and Italian missal at the proper Mass for the day. The lectionary is placed on the ambo (green book – week day, red book – Sunday). The Ordo is checked for the proper reading and page number. The ribbon is arranged to the right place. The key is taken from the vault to the tabernacle and a visual check is made to make sure there are enough hosts. Take the chalice and paten from the vault. Prepare the chalice with a purificator over it, put the paten with a large host and use the appropriate colour pall, making sure that a corporal is inside. Prepare the cruets – one water, one wine. Place cruets on the credence table along with the chalice and paten. Place a towel and dish for the washing of hands on the credence table. Take out the microphones for the altar and ambo. Microphones should be plugged in before putting the switch on in the panel. Light candles on the altar. Every 3 weeks, check the candles to see if they need replacing. When Mass is finished, turn off the switch for the microphones and return them to their places. Take away chalice, cruets, dish and towel. Wash everything and put away. The soiled purificator and towel go to the box in the far cupboard to be cleaned. Take the plastic cover and put it back on the altar. Turn off all lights when everybody has left the church and lock all the doors. From time to time, check that the supplies are adequate. If getting low, send a list to the secretary asking her to re-order. During the last week of the month, put out ‘daily missals’ for the next month, on sale. These are put on the little counters at the front of the church, near the inside doors. Keep the front of the church clean by removing all the outdated magazines and papers for recycling. Also, putting back all the hymnals, left on the counters, in their rightful places.
St. Monica's Parish