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Liturgical ministry is an excellent opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call of service to one another. Our liturgies utilize the talents and gifts that God has given this community to the fullest extent. Whether participation is through “behind the scenes” preparation and planning or through a public role of service within the Mass, parishioner contributions help our liturgies to be truly life-giving celebrations. Please prayerfully consider joining one of these ministries.
Prayer for Liturgical Ministers As They Serve
Heavenly Father, please pour your blessings upon our ministry today.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Lord at His table,
to proclaim His Holy Word, and to welcome God's holy people!
Please guide our hands, our steps, and our hearts,
that we may fulfill our duties with grace and devotion
We ask this in the name of Jesus, whom we serve with joy!
Amen -
Portage North Liturgical Ministry
Retreat & Renewal Day 2023
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Virtus Training &
Background Checks
Diocesan Virtus Compliance and background checks are not just for those working with children anymore. Any adult who is an altar server or anyone bringing communion to or visiting the homebound, needs to be Virtus compliant. Training is done online at your convenience. Please contact Jennifer Berczik (330-274-2253- T,W,TH) to find out how to get started.
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Documents
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Liturgical Ministry Resources
General Principles of Liturgy
for All Liturgical Ministers
Order for Entrance Processions
Procedures for Cleaning Sacred Vessels
The Ministry of Reader (Lector)
Extraordinary Minister
of Holy Communion
The Ministry of Hospitality - Greeters
The Ministry of Hospitality - Ushers
Altar Server Guidelines
The Ministry of Music (Instrumentalist, Cantor, Choir)
Church Documents Pertinent to Liturgy
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Lay Leaders of Prayer
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Leaders of Prayer are lay persons commissioned to lead the faithful in the following acts of worship, which in the past were most often led by ordained clergy. Services that they may provide include:-
Liturgy of the Hours (Morning and Evening Prayer)
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Liturgy of the Word
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Rites from the Order of Christian Funerals, such as the Wake Service and Rite of Committal
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Public devotions, such as the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, and novenas
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Minor rites within the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
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Sunday celebrations and Holy Days of Obligation when, in an emergency, a priest cannot be present
Leaders of Prayer are to be selected by their pastors, in consultation with parish staff and/or appropriate members of pastoral council, and should be persons who exhibit the following traits:
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A living appreciation for Scripture and a deep reverence for the Eucharist.
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An active prayer life and an exemplary moral life.
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A spirit of cooperative involvement and leadership with the laity and clergy of the parish community.
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Both a strong desire and an ability to foster liturgical participation.
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Skills in public speaking.
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A commitment to ministry and the time to minister.
Formation for Leaders of Prayer is provided by the Diocese, and persons who have successfully completed formation are commissioned by the Bishop for service in their parishes. The commission last for three years and is renewable.
St. Joseph's is fortunate to have Terry Murphy, Mickee Murphy, Joanne Sawyer, and Don Engelhart who are commissioned to serve as Leaders of Prayer. -
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NEW LAY LEADERS OF PRAYER COMMISSIONED
11/15/23Don Engelhart has recently completed formation to become a Leader of Prayer for St. Joseph Parish. A Leader of Prayer is a lay person commissioned to lead the faithful in acts of worship which in the past were often led by ordained clergy but which are not reserved exclusively to them.
The formation for this ministry consists of an eight-week series conducted by the diocese. The course addresses the verbal and non-verbal elements of presiding at prayer as well as the structure of the various forms of prayer they may be called upon to lead.
In our parish Don may be asked to lead Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Liturgy of the Word, Wake Services, the Rite of Committal, devotions such as novenas and Stations of the Cross, minor rites within the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Sunday celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion when in an emergency a priest cannot be present.
It is the hope that through this ministry, parishes will be able to more easily gather for prayer when a priest is not available and that the opportunities for communal prayer may eventually be expanded.
According to diocesan directives, Leaders of Prayer are to be vested in an alb for all services conducted within the church building. The alb is a white garment, a baptismal garment. It is traditionally the garb of the people and not specifically clerical vesture. When the baptized put on the alb to minister in the liturgy, it becomes clear that they are doing so in virtue of their baptism and their share in the priesthood of Christ.
Don is to be commended for the dedication and enthusiasm with which they have responded to the call by the parish to take part in this ministry. When you have the opportunity you might thank him for the service given to our parish.
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Altar Servers
This ministry provides members of the parish with a true opportunity to function as lay ministers by reverently assisting the celebrant and/or deacon during Sunday Mass and at special liturgies throughout the year.
Serving the priest during Mass is a very special privilege. Servers help everyone at Mass to pray better by the way they perform their duties and are setting an example for others to follow. Boys and girls 4th grade or older may become altar servers. Training, typically coordinated by the Worship Committee and and parish staff, is usually held once a year and includes a helpful Altar Servers' booklet.
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Adult Altar Servers
We have a team of adult men and women who serve for funeral Masses. We rely on these caring, compassionate individuals who believe that serving on the altar during funerals is a quiet yet meaningful way to assist our priests and help comfort those who mourn. You should have flexible schedules and be able to serve weekdays and Saturdays on short notice (these ministers often learn about funerals just days before they have to serve). Interested individuals are asked to please contact the Parish Office (330-274-2253).
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The proclaiming of the Word of God
and the distribution of Eucharist are
important ways parishioners may minister.
Discerned by the pastor,
parishioners are asked to serve
and informational training sessions
are held annually or as needed. -
Serving As A Reader
When you answer your Baptismal call to be a minister of the word or Reader (one who proclaims Bible readings to assembled faith community), you enter a deeper relationship with the word of God as revealed in sacred scripture. You take upon yourself the duty and privilege of bringing the printed word to life - making it flesh, so to speak. This ministry, as a reader gives voice to God's healing and strengthening word as it goes forth, achieving the purpose for which God sent it. In every sense, you become a prophet - one who speaks for God. If you share the passion to want to know more about God's word and want to share your time and talent of "speaking" God's word, please consider becoming a Reader!What are the rewards of becoming a Reader?
As a Reader/Commentator you will…- engage in active participation of your faith,
- strengthen and reinforce your faith by learning more about the Word of God,
- experience fellowship among your brothers and sisters of our Ministry and the greater faith community,
- establish a closer relationship and understanding of God, yourself, and the community,
- and obtain personal growth within our faith.
Those having received the sacrament of Confirmation are eligible to serve. You are also required to be a registered parishioner and a Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church (practices their faith regularly, by attending Sunday Mass, Holy Days of Obligations, church and community service, participant of a church ministry). Our ministry offers a workbook of readings for the current liturgical year and advance schedules.
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Serving As A CLOW Liturgist
Held weekly during Sunday's 9 a.m. Mass (typically September-May), the Children's Liturgy of the Word Program is designed for children in Pre-School (4 years) through 2nd grade. If you would like the opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Sunday readings, share your faith with young children, and meet your Sunday obligation ALL at the same time, then you might consider becoming a Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Catechist. All materials are provided. The children and their Catechist are called to the altar steps following the opening prayer. They then go to the Conference Room or All-Purpose Room where the children will actively participate in activities related to the readings. The children will return to their parents in the pews just before offertory time. If you are interested in becoming a CLOW catechist, please contact the Office of St. Joseph & St. Ambrose Parishes (330-274-2268).
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Serving As An ExtraordinaryMinister of the Holy Eucharist
In this ministry, you must be examples of Christian living in faith and conduct; you must strive to grow in holiness through this sacrament of unity and love. Remember that, though many, we are one body because we share the one bread and one cup. As Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion be, therefore, especially observant of the Lord’s command to love your neighbor. For when he said to them: “This is my commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.”Your willingness to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist, reflects not only response to your Baptismal call to serve the people of God, but a commitment to Christ as you share in the preaching, teaching, and leading aspects of the church. A suitable candidate should have a devotion to the Eucharist and possess the time, health, and willingness to serve in this capacity. The individual must be a practicing Catholic, having been Baptized and Confirmed in the Catholic Church, and have an on going relationship with the parish as a registered, active participant. Your willingness to commit to a monthly schedule, to prepare properly for your service, and to arrive on time dressed appropriately for your assigned Mass, further reflects that commitment.
After candidates have completed the basic requirements for commissioning as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, they are commissioned according to the Rite. On behalf of the bishop, the pastor commissions all extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the lay men and women who assist the clergy in distributing Communion. The Church uses the terms extraordinary and ordinary to distinguish between lay people and clerics, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The Church depends on extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to distribute Communion at Mass and to bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. The pastor of each parish nominates men and women he knows to have a deep love of the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Bonnar reviews the list and asks the pastor to commission them in the bishop’s name. Each commission lasts for up to three years.
"The Eucharist constitutes the very life of the Church,
for the Lord said, I am the bread of life.
No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry,
no one who believes in me shall ever thirst."
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Music Ministry
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from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 1157:"Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected . . . with the liturgical action," according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful:
How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears, distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face -- tears that did me good. (St. Augustine, Convessions 9:6, 14)
Please click here to learn more about this ministry.
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Ushers & Hospitality Ministers/Greeters
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Being a welcoming community is very important to us. Ushers are the first face of the parish. They greet those coming into our church, offer assistance to those in need, distribute parish bulletins and other materials as needed, handle the collection, and assist in other special duties whenever necessary. Some also serve at funerals. If you would like to be an usher/hospitality minister/greeter or need more information, please contact Parish Office (330-274-2253).
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Mass Set-Up
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T
here are dozens of small details that go into the preparation of each weekend Mass including arranging the altar linens, selecting the Eucharistic service pieces, checking the bread and wine, and other numerous duties. This requires knowledge of the liturgical calendar and close coordination with the Worship Committee.
Church Linens
It is easy to overlook many of the basic, unheralded activities that are needed to keep a parish running smoothly. The church linens including altar and communion cloths, need regular and expert laundering.
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Sacristan
In parish life, one of the roles that is rarely seen by parishioners is that of a sacristan. It is a “behind-the-scenes” volunteer position that makes the priest’s job on Sundays less stressful. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal explains, “The following also exercise(s) a liturgical function: The sacristan, who carefully arranges the liturgical books, the vestments, and other things necessary in the celebration of the Mass” (No. 105). At St. Joseph's, Mary Ann Feddor is our sacristan and takes care of keeping the sacristy in order, that items for Masses are available, giving the members the tools that they need, and keeping a watchful eye on the house of God and the liturgical environment.
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