Within St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Faith Community, there are countless ways for you to contribute your talents to encourage others to participate fully in Parish life, and to deepen your own faith. Review the Liturgical Ministries below and prayerfully consider how you can serve your Church.
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SACRISTANS
Sacristans assist the Priest in his presiding duties and help God's people worship each week. Their main role is setting up the altar before Mass and cleaning and putting vessels/linens away after Mass.
We seek those who recognize the sacredness of the Real Presence in the Eucharist. We welcome both adults or young adults (middle or high school) that are willing to receive training and proper catechesis for this important behind-the-scenes role.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact:
Kim Kendall
kimkendallsta@gmail.com
MASS SERVERS & ACOLYTES
Acolytes assist the Priest in his presiding duties and help God's people worship each week. They may assist the Priest and/or Deacon in several areas: lighting/extinguishing Sanctuary candles before & after Mass, carrying the cross in both entrance and exit processionals, moving vessels and/or linens throughout the Mass, and the ringing of the bells during consecration, to name a few.
Those who assist with this ministry are seated in special first row seats to the left of the Priest to remain close to assist. Interested Adults (anyone Confirmed can serve in this role) act as mentors to our youth servers. Youth servers can begin their service in 3rd grade or later. Training to develop these skills over time as well as mentoring is offered to ALL interested individuals. The intent is to have a few individuals serving in this role at every Mass.
If you have questions or to schedule training, please contact:
Kim Kendall
kimkendallsta@gmail.com
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Eucharistic Ministers play an exceptionally important role in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, as they help the Priest serve the body and blood of Christ to Parishioners.
For information, training or scheduling, please contact:
Terry Ritchey
terry@tritchey.com
LITURGICAL LINEN CARE
Volunteer opportunities are available to wash linens used for Mass on a regular basis, typically weekly or bi-weekly depending on usage. Additional responsibilities include other liturgical linens, as needed. A few volunteers can alternate tasks. If you're interested in helping in this area, please contact:
Mass Linens: Carol Harry at caroljharry@gmail.com
Altar/Table Linens: Katherine Amann at katherine.amannstc@gmail.com
MUSIC (Choir, Cantors, Instrumentalists, Special Music)
Please visit the LITURGICAL MUSIC page.
READERS/LECTORS
Do you have a special desire and talent to bring God's word to life during Mass? If so, we invite you to become a reader or lector within the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Faith Community.
If you have questions or to schedule training, please contact:
Terry Ritchey
terry@tritchey.com
USHERS & GREETERS
Ushers and Greeters are a ministry group of men and women who arrive at church before Mass to greet parishioners as they enter the Gathering Space on their way to Mass. Ushers also help find seats for parishioners, if necessary. In addition, ushers take up the collection, select a family to take the gifts to the altar, direct traffic flow during communion distribution, hand out bulletins after Mass, and prepare the pews for the next Mass.
This ministry is different from others, in that it requires no meetings or fund-raising events during the year. The ushers and greeters are assigned a Mass of their choice, if possible. Teenagers are welcome to serve.
If you have questions or to schedule training, please contact:
Dominic Novy
dominicpnovy@gmail.com
Phone: 414-550-2323
ART & ENVIRONMENT
We're always looking for creative and artistic talent to help us highlight our beautiful worship space during the many liturgical and natural seasons of the year.
If you would like to contribute to the beauty of our worship space, please contact:
Jane Soiney
janesoiney88@spectrum.net
AV MINISTRY
The addition of cameras, screens, and monitors to our Church and Gathering Space provides plenty of opportunity for those who enjoy working with audio/visual equipment to share their talents to spread the word of God.
To learn how you can contribute your technological skills to St. Thomas' Faith Community, please contact Carol Ewald by email cewald@saintthomaswaterford.org or phone 262-534-2255.
HOLY DUSTERS
A group of men and women, known as the Holy Dusters, cleans our church every Monday morning. It normally takes about an hour and a half to complete the job with many dedicated helpers.
Our duties include, but are not limited to, washing windows, vacuuming, cleaning the kitchen, minister’s room, vesting sacristy, and the sacristan’s room. We empty wastebaskets and clean the bathrooms. All tile floors in the church are dusted and mopped. The pews are dusted, polished and the books re-arranged. We also take care of the plants in the interior of the church.
People who visit other churches say that we have the cleanest church around, and we are very proud of that.
If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a Holy Duster, please contact:
Sue Anton
antons@tds.net
262-534-3843
HOMEBOUND
With the goal of bringing Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass and to keep their connection to the Parish active, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish offers a ministry to the homebound. Activities include weekly visits to the homebound, weekly ministry at elder care facilities, and visits to rehab facilities and nursing homes in the area.
If you know anyone who is unable to get to church and would like communion brought to them at their home, please contact:
Deacon Jim Nickel
buffnick@tds.net
Phone: 262-534-4234
St. Thomas Aquinas Rectory Office
starectory@saintthomaswaterford.org
Phone: 262-534-2255