Parish Structure
(View or download a PDF of our parish structure)
Leadership
- Parish Life Coordinator
- Sacramental Ministers
- Administrator of Religious Education
- Director of Music
- Administrative Assistant
- Pastoral Council
- At-large members
- Chair of Finance Council
- Chair of other Parich Commissions (see below)
Parish Commissions and ministries:
- Christian Formation Commission
- Bible Study: An opportunity to develop an understanding of Scripture through analysis and interpretation.
- Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Adult volunteers preside while children leave Sunday Mass to listen to the Scripture and homily at their own age level.
- Christ Renews His Parish-Men: Retreat environment to deepen spirituality and encourage parish community for 18 men each spring.
- Christ Renews His Parish-Women: Retreat experience for 18 women each fall. Volunteers lead sessions, prepare rooms, provide food, offer prayers and support.
- ICAN (Indiana Catholic Action Network): Keeps interested parishioners informed so that they can influence social justice issues being considered in the legislature.
- Marriage Preparation: Each couple completes a six-month preparation period that involves reflection on the couple’s relationship, the importance of faith and the role of the Church, as well as planning the celebration of the sacrament.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults): A process by which the unbaptized and non-Catholics who are considering membership in the Catholic Church grow in the understanding of Christianity and the Catholic Church as they prepare for the sacraments. Volunteers are needed to sponsor candidates and assist with hospitality and prayer support.
- Religious Vocations: Men interested in the permanent deaconate, the priesthood or religious life and women interested in the religious life as sisters.
- Retreat/Spirituality Enrichment: Opportunities to assess the spiritual needs of the parish and to challenge its faith life.
- Sacraments-Anointing the Sick: Call the parish office to arrange.
- Sacramental Preparation-Baptism: Call the parish office early to schedule a meeting.
- Sacramental Preparation-Communion: Classes are held for second grade students several months prior to reception of the sacrament in May. Parental involvement and parish support are important.
- Sacramental Preparation-Confirmation: This ministry is for teenagers—and adults to teach and encourage them—for a lifetime of full membership, since this is the last step of initiation into the Church. Four to six months of weekly meetings and service projects, usually after Sunday Mass, to prepare for the fall liturgy with the archbishop.
- Sacramental Preparation-Reconciliation: Preparation, giving children an opportunity to grow in conscience formation and experience of God’s mercy, usually in second grade prior to First Communion. A family workshop is held prior to reception of the sacrament.
- SPRED: Trained one-on-one volunteers are needed for Special Religious Education for children and adults.
- Whole Community Catechesis: Faith formation for children, teens and adults that involves gathering all members of the faith community to focus on the same subject but aimed at their own learning level.
- Youth Ministry: Fellowship activities of teens accomplishing spiritual growth, service and social goals. One-hour meetings after Mass on first Sundays. Youth prepare to provide leadership for monthly Sunday Masses. Parental team offers guidance, transportation and help with fundraising. Goal is to work with North Deanery and other parishes for additional youth ministry experiences.
- Stewardship Commission
- Arts & Environment: Volunteers educate parishioners about liturgical symbols and enhance the worship space to support spiritual growth.
- Eucharistic Ministers: Ministers are trained, select members who distribute the Eucharist during liturgies.
- Homebound Ministers: Eucharistic ministers bring Holy Communion to those confined to their homes, hospitals or nursing homes.
- Lectors: To proclaim the Word of the Lord for the assembly, lectors need to arrive early for Mass, be able to read and comprehend well and to speak distinctly. Practice manuals are available. Future goal is to provide more training.
- Liturgy Committee: At monthly meetings, members plan for seasonal liturgical celebrations, environment and training of cantors, lectors, ushers, altar servers and eucharistic ministers. Plans are based on parish tradition, archdiocesan directives and creative ideas within these guidelines. Goals: at least one more member; greater communication between committee and leaders of liturgical ministries and all parishioners.
- Music Ministers—Choir/Cantors/Instrumentalists: For the musically gifted who enjoy leading the assembly in prayerful song. Ability to sing in tune, follow directions and attend regularly. The Gospel Choir has Wednesday practice and sings at two or three Sunday liturgies per month. Cantors commit to two hours per month. Goals: more male choir voices; more volunteers to cantor Saturday night; and more instrumentalists to share their talents.
- Prayer Service: Gather for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday communion prayer service.
- Sacristans: Prepare vestments, candleholders, and other liturgical materials before each Mass. Also, care for church linens, candles, etc.
- Servers: Volunteers from fourth grade through adulthood, prepare liturgical items before the liturgy, assist the priest during Mass and return items to the sacristy after.
- Ushers: Friendly and helpful people needed to arrive before Mass to greet and sometimes seat people, gather collections and distribute bulletins—for one weekend Mass a month at a time.
- Welcome Committee: Plans and sponsors events that welcome new members to the parish community.
- Liturgy Commission
- Andy’s Gift and Thrift: Provides used clothing and other items at low cost. Volunteers collect, sort and price donated items one day a week, staff the shop once a month; and help with the rummage sale twice a year.
- Collection Counters: Team scheduled to count weekly donations.
- Evangelization: This group sets outreach goals for the parish and focuses on small group Scripture sharing during Lent.
- Finance Committee: Volunteers selected by parish life coordinator and council; chair reports to the pastoral council.
- Fund Raising: Committee that organizes fundraising activities.
- Grant Writing: Those who have expertise to research and apply for grants.
- Growing Stewards: A program educating members of the parish about the concepts of giving, developing opportunities for all parishioners to share their gifts to accomplish the parish goals of the parish.
- Parish Office Volunteers/weekday, Saturday: Weekday volunteers provide extra office services. Saturday volunteers fold bulletins for Mass and for mailing to homebound parishioners; one to two hours.
- Maintenance Ministry: a volunteer group that meets to help take care of many maintenance requirements of the parish with the leadership of the maintenance advisory committee.
- Reach Out/Bulletin/Communications: Contributions to the bulletin and Reach Out newsletter are welcome from parish committees and individual members. The Reach Out is published in February, May, September and December.
- Reach Out-Mailing: Copies are mailed to parishioners, parents of children in St. Andrew & St. Rita Catholic Academy and others.
- Rummage Sale: May and October events provide low-cost, clean used clothing and household furnishing to raise funds for the parish. Collections are accepted monthly. Volunteers needed to set up, clean, up, sort, collect, especially prior to twice-a-year sales.
- United Catholic Appeal: Annual pledge to support ministries administered by/for the entire archdiocese.
- Christian Service Commission
- Christmas Outreach: Volunteers collect and distribute clothing and toys for needy children.
- CYO: Provides teamwork experience through youth athletic competition; adult coaches and other volunteers support with organizational, award and fundraising activities. $5,000 budget; needs $10,000 for quality equipment.
- Half-Century Club: A group of parish friends over age 50 who meet the second Sunday of the month to socialize during games, meals or entertainment outings.
- Knights of Peter Claver: Members support and participate in parish programs, encouraging civic improvement, academic scholarship, lay Catholic action and youth recreational facilities.
- Ladies of Peter Claver: Women’s auxiliary for Knights of Peter Claver with same goals of parish support.
- Parish Night Out: A monthly meal, usually meeting in a restaurant the third Sunday evening, to socialize with fellow parishioners and friends of all ages.
- Phone Tree: Contacts parishioners about parish deaths and other vital news between weekend Masses. Add name to list and/or help make calls.
- Pro-Life: A desire to help women in need motivates this group that raises funds by selling Roses for Life and helping at the state fair Right to Life booth.
- Social Committee: More “younger legs and minds” would help this group continue its ministry to create Christian fellowship in serving food at parish celebrations and funerals.
- St. Vincent de Paul: Help the needy in our neighborhood receive food, clothing, home furnishings and furniture by making phone calls, scheduling and home visits. More teams needed to make weekly 2-3 hour home visits; the Food Link distributes a truckload of food twice a year from our parking lot. Special collection on fifth Sundays.
- Thanksgiving Outreach: Volunteers help gather and assemble food baskets for the poor.
- Web Site: Goal to update parish site with involvement of parish youth.