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Parish Organizations
Vibrant liturgy is dependent on the volunteers who are involved. An exciting way to become involved in our parish is to spend just a little extra time at weekly Mass in one of the following ministries. Call the Parish Office for more information regarding any of our liturgical opportunities. These important ministries, while requiring a minimal commitment of time, are vital to our liturgies. Worship Commission-This committee plans for the spiritual development of the parish community, working with the Pastor to provide meaningful liturgies and other related programs helping parishioners to pray and to worship God. Lectors-As Minister of the Word, the Lector proclaims the Word of God to the community gathered in worship. Those members of our parish, 7th grade through adult, who are blessed with the gifts necessary for proclaiming God’s Word are encouraged to share their gifts through this ministry. Eucharistic Ministers-People in this ministry help to distribute the sacred Body and Blood of our Lord to the community within the celebration of Mass and/or by visiting parish shut-ins and area nursing homes. Anyone 7th grade through adult, who has been blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Confirmation, is invited to take part. The Pastor gives formal instruction. Greeters-At each Mass, parishioners act as our hospitality ministers by offering a warm welcome to those who attend our weekend liturgies. Gift Bearer-The gifts of bread and wine, are presented at the altar by parishioners, on behalf of those present. Usher-Parishioners of all ages, male and female, are invited to help with seating at Sunday Mass and collection of offertory envelopes. Choir- Singers and musicians are always welcome to help spread the Word through song. Here at St. John’s the saying ‘music is the prayer of the soul’ is taken seriously. The parish choir practices each Thursday evening at 7:30pm and sings at the 9:00am mass on Sundays. Sanctuary & Sacristy clean up-These dedicated people meet in church once a week to straighten, water plants, tend to candle stands, take care of vestments and servers robes, along with any other necessary chores. Church Environment-This group ‘decorates’ the sanctuary for the holidays of Christmas and Easter. FOR CHILDREN ERE-Elementary Religious Education-This program is designed to foster spiritual growth and give spiritual instruction to children of the parish, grades 1 thru 8, not attending a Catholic elementary school. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings, 7-8pm September thru May. The program provides for community prayer by planning seasonal prayer services. Sunday Liturgy attendance is expected. Parish adults and teens serve as Religious Education Catechists (teachers & aides). Various programs are offered periodically in the parish and throughout the Archdiocese to further the knowledge of the catechist in the Catholic faith that, in turn, allows them to better educate and share faith with their students. Anyone interested in this ministry should contact the Parish Office. Sunday Preschool-The goal of this program is to give our children ages 3, 4, and 5 their own special opportunity to learn about God’s love. Classes are held on Sunday mornings during the 9:00 am Mass, October thru May. RCIA-Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for children-Provides an opportunity for unbaptized and uncatechized children who have reached the catechetical age of 7 to be initiated into full Communion with the Catholic Church and our community by preparing for the reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation. Depending on the readiness of the child this process may take from 1-3 years. Children’s Liturgy of the Word-Children ages 6-12 yrs. are offered the opportunity to hear the Word of God proclaimed from the Children’s Lectionary, to listen to a homily geared to their level, to take part in appropriate age level prayer and song. CLW takes place on the first and third Sundays of the month alternating between the 9:00 and 11:00 am Masses. Watch the parish bulletin for the exact date and times. FOR HIGH SCHOOL Youth Group-This active organization of the high school youth of our parish focuses on providing continuous Christian spiritual development in relation to their personal growth, family, church, community and world. Spiritual, social and service work activities are planned and implemented throughout the year. The group meets on the first and third Sundays of each month from 7:00-9:00pm in Garden Ct. FOR ADULTS Scripture Study-Several groups join together to explore the meaning of the Scriptures and how it applies to our daily lives. There is a group who meets on Thursday mornings, 10:00-11:00 am, September thru May in Garden Ct. Another group meets on the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month at 7:00pm in the rectory. RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults-An opportunity for those who approach the Catholic Faith for the first time to experience and learn Catholic beliefs and the Catholic sense of community. This faith journey is nurtured by the community where participants come together to learn, to share, and focus on faith. The process is ongoing and may take 1-3 yrs., depending on the individuals readiness to participate. Catholic Men’s Fellowship-This group of men meet on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 7:30 am. Meetings are open to any man in the parish, high school age and older, who would like to spend some time with their fellow brothers in Christ for prayer, faith sharing, and to encourage one another in their responsibilities as Catholic men. Baptism Preparation Class-This monthly program offers instruction for parents prior to the Baptism of their first child. The goal of this class is to deepen the parents and godparents understanding of and participation in the sacrament, enabling them to more fully accompany their child on their journey of faith. Classes are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm in Church. Adult Faith Formation Team-These interested and faithfilled adults meet on an ‘as needed’ basis. They are the core team who come together to share faith in Scripture, plan, implement & evaluate the adult opportunities for spiritual growth in the parish. OTHER PARISH COMMISSIONS & MINISTRIES Bereavement Ministry-Members of this ministry assist the family in planning the Mass of Christian Burial for their loved one, making sure that the liturgy reflects their wishes and needs. All parishioners are invited to take part, training will be provided for anyone interested in assisting with this vital parish ministry. Brownies and Girl Scouts-St. John's has several Brownie and Girl Scout troops that are divided by age or grade. They are all affiliated with the National Girl Scout Program which provides training and activity books. Each troop has at least 2 adult leaders and usually meets on a weekly or biweekly basis. Building & Grounds-Members of this group have experience in the fields of maintenance and construction. Their function is to assist the Pastor and Pastoral Council in establishing guidelines and specifications of proposed projects and to assist in the long term planning of the parish facilities. Dad’s & Men’s Club-This group of men is dedicated to providing athletics for the children of our parish at no cost to the athletes. Money is raised for these activities through member dues and various fundraisers. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month except July and August to plan and socialize. All men of the parish are welcome to the meetings. Education Commission-The Education Commission is a group of elected parishioners who meet once a month, August-May, with the Pastor, School Administration and Director of Religious Education, to provide counsel and advice in the operation of the various education programs sponsored by the parish. Members of this Commission serve a two year term. Finance Commission-As with any family or institution, fiscal responsibility is a necessity. The Finance Commission is charged with the upkeep of our monetary health by serving the Pastor as an advisory board, preparing and approving the annual budget. Grocery & Gift certificate Program-This program is a year round fundraiser. Certificates are available for many local grocery stores, merchandise stores and restaurants for parishioners to buy and use toward their own purchases or for gift giving. The parish purchases these certificates at a discount and in turn sells them at face value. This is an easy way to donate to the church, with no extra out of pocket expense to you. Market Day-This parish fundraiser provides parishioners a way to purchase groceries that is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First: Once a month pick up an order form in church or through the school, Second: Select the items to order and return by deadline, Third: On the designated date pay for and pick up groceries in the school cafeteria. Offertory Money Counters-The purpose of the group of collection counters is to tally the offertory contributions of Sunday and holy days and to prepare the monies for deposit in the bank. The group meets every Monday morning in the basement of the rectory for 1 to 2 hours. Parish Library-The parish has a mobile cart of excellent Catholic reference and reading materials available to the parish community, which is located in the parish office. There are opportunities available for organizing and servicing the library and opening it to the parish community. Parish Festival-The St. John Parish Festival is the largest fundraiser contributing to the parish general fund. One of the main objectives of the Festival is to bring the Parish Family together to build community and have fun. The Festival runs the second weekend in June, Friday evening through Sunday evening. The Festival Board begins planning nearly a year in advance on a monthly basis. Volunteers are needed for booth chairpersons and for working two-hour shifts in the booths at the Festival. Pastoral Council-Members of the Pastoral Council are elected to serve a three-year term. The Council advises the pastor, assisting in the discernment of parish needs and reflecting on the issues of the parish at large. The Council focuses on promoting the spiritual growth of the community. Council assists the pastor in developing a pastoral plan to carry out the church's mission. It helps the pastor set priorities among broader issues, and in evaluating the parish's actions in light of those plans and priorities. Pastoral Council meets on the fourth Monday of each month August through June. Prayer Chain- The St. John's Prayer Chain is a group of people who answer prayer requests in times of special need or for emergency situations. Anyone may call the Parish Office or any prayer chain member with an intention. There is no set form on how one is to pray or which prayers to say. The benefits are numerous, not only to those prayed for, but also for those who do the praying. We are always anxious to have more people as part of the chain. Senior Ladies –Formerly the Altar Sodality, this group meets on the third Monday of each month, Sept. through May, to socialize and play bingo/cards. Silver Eagles-This group is open to all adults 55 years or older. They meet on the first Tuesday of the month September through June at 7:00pm in the cafeteria. The group comes together to enjoy informative speakers, liturgical opportunities, games and laughs. Other activities that are scheduled periodically include one-day bus trips to local historical sites. St. Vincent de Paul-This Society assists the needy and less fortunate living within our parish boundaries. Calling the Parish Office and leaving a message can provide a person in need with assistance. The Society operates according to the "Rule" of the Society and those of the Archdiocesan Council of the Society. Social Justice- The Social Justice Group brings to the attention of the Parish, needs for social change and addresses social justice issues in the community at large. They strive to reach across social boundaries, to stand by the poor and vulnerable in our community, to protect human life and care for creation. To accomplish these goals several programs are sponsored throughout the year, including Christmas at Washington Park, monthly Care and Share Barrels, aluminum can collection, and the Soup-er Bowl of Love. They coordinate all parish activities concerning our sister parish in Haiti. The group meets the first Tuesday of the month October through May. Welcoming Committee-This recently formed group makes contact with newly registered parishioners, sharing information and offering a helping hand in getting acquainted with the parish. This ministry is an important one because it sets the tone for how welcome a newcomer feels in their new parish. ‘Building a Better World, One Student at a Time’ Mission Statement: Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Elementary School exists to nourish the soul, educate the mind, train the body, inspire the heart, celebrate diversity and in so doing live the Gospel message. There are many opportunities for members of the parish to assist the school in its mission. The way we see it, the most precious asset you place in our trust every school day is your child’s relationship with God. At St. John’s, we nurture this relationship in an environment of gratitude for all that He has blessed us with. Students not only attend but also help plan and participate in weekly Mass and regular prayer services. The religion curriculum includes preparation for First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. St. John school is fully accredited and offers a comprehensive curriculum with special programs for Reading, Math, Art and individual exploration. Our computer lab features 16 networked PCs, all with Internet access. Each classroom is wired for phone, data and cable.
St. John the Evangelist School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)-The St. John PTO is a service organization dedicated to improving the overall quality of education at St. John school and in promoting a better understanding between teachers and parents. The PTO sponsors several major fundraising events, such as the Magazine Sale, to help secure materials and equipment needed to improve the school and to provide extracurricular programs for the students. PTO meets on the second Thursday of the month September through May. For more information on any group, please contact the Parish Office at 513-791-3238. |
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St. John The
Evangelist
513-686-2727
(school) St. Nicholas Academy |
