Ministries

The role of altar servers in the Catholic Mass is often taken for granted, yet it is a vital ministry that enhances the beauty and reverence of the liturgical celebration. Altar servers assist the priest and deacon, ensuring that the Mass flows smoothly and that the sacred rites are conducted with grace and dignity. This ministry is not just a functional role but a profound way to participate in the worship of God and to serve the Church community.

Altar servers are integral to the celebration of the Mass, performing various tasks that support the priest and deacon. These responsibilities include:

• Carrying the Cross and Processional Candles: At the beginning and end of Mass, altar servers lead the procession by carrying the cross and candles, symbolizing the light of Christ entering and leaving the assembly.

• Holding the Book: During the Liturgy of the Word and other parts of the Mass, servers hold the Roman Missal for the priest, allowing him to read the prayers and blessings.

• Assisting with the Preparation of the Gifts: Servers present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts, and assist in the washing of the priest's hands.

• Handling the Incense and Censer: On special occasions, servers manage the incense, adding a sensory dimension to the liturgy that signifies the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.

• Ringing the Bells: During the consecration, servers ring the bells to draw the congregation's attention to the most sacred moment of the Mass, the transformation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

• These tasks, while seemingly simple, are performed with great reverence and attention to detail, reflecting the sacredness of the liturgy.

Altar serving is more than just a series of tasks; it is a ministry that fosters a deeper connection with the liturgy and a greater understanding of the Mass. By serving at the altar, young people are given a unique opportunity to witness the mysteries of the faith up close and to participate in the sacred rites in a meaningful way. This ministry teaches important virtues such as:
Reverence: Altar servers learn to approach the altar with a sense of awe and respect, recognizing the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Responsibility: Serving at the altar requires commitment and reliability, as servers must be punctual and prepared for their duties.
Humility: Altar servers are reminded that their role is one of service, not of status. They follow the example of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

The presence of altar servers enhances the liturgical celebration for the entire parish community. Their participation allows the congregation to focus more fully on the prayers, hymns, and readings, knowing that the practical aspects of the Mass are being handled with care. Altar servers also serve as role models for other young people, demonstrating the importance of active participation in the life of the Church.

Finally, altar serving has been historically connected to encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life. By serving at the altar, young people are given a firsthand experience of the liturgy and the life of the Church, which can inspire them to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. This ministry provides a foundation for a deeper discernment of God's call and a greater openness to His will.

Who can be an altar server?
Students who are between grades 3 and 12 can serve at the altar. They must have received their First Holy Communion and be properly trained by the parish

When does training take place?
Training takes place twice per year: in the fall time as religious education classes are beginning, and in May, after First Communion
Students in our religious education program will be encouraged to sign up and participate. However, any student who is a member of the parish, is encouraged to sign up when training is announced.
Contact the parish office for more information 

It is the goal of the Apostleship team to help form parishioners who can ago forth inside and outside of our parish community to share their faith experience. 

The group will regularly develop a wide range of initiatives that call all parishioners to grow in a culture of welcome, encountering Jesus, learning our faith and confidence in bringing Christ to others. 

If you are interested in joining this new endeavor, please email Bonnie Miller at [email protected].

The purpose of the Buildings & Grounds Committee is:

• To help identify areas of need for our buildings and grounds for the properties of St. John Bosco Catholic Church

• To work with the pastor and business manager in facilitating the work to be done to the property

• To obtain quotes for different project areas and to coordinate with contractors, once a quote has been approved, to begin work and to give final approval of the work once completed

• To volunteer to fix and assist with fixing or repairing basic needs around the parish that we would not necessarily need a contractor for 

This committee meets quarterly with the pastor, and members are expected to be present at these meetings. Anyone who has a background in, or knowledge of construction, project management, handyman services, maintenance, engineering, architecture, carpenters, etc. is invited to attend! 

If you wish to be a part of this committee, please contact the parish office 260-693-9578 to obtain more information.

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion assists the priest at the Divine Liturgy of the Mass to help distribute Holy Communion. By virtue of their sacred Ordination, the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the bishop, the priest, and the deacon, to whom it belongs to administer Holy Communion to the lay members of Christ’s faithful during the celebration of the Mass.

However, when the size of the congregation is such that the liturgy would otherwise be unduly prolonged, or if available ordinary ministers are somehow incapacitated, then lay members of the faithful may be designated to assist in the orderly distribution of Holy Communion as necessary.  These laypersons must be properly commissioned, and they are referred to as “extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.”  In this context, “extraordinary” implies an exception, or an extraordinary measure in unusual circumstances.

Who can be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion? 

• Men or women of high school age or older who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Holy Mass, sacred vessels, proper procedures, etc.

• Demonstrate a mature spirituality, and be “of sound doctrine and exemplary moral life. Catholics who do not live worthy lives or who do not enjoy good reputations or whose family situations do not conform to the teaching of the Church may not be admitted” to the exercise of functions such as the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

• Undergo formal training each year to become an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and to be commissioned, annually, on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. 

How do I become a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?
During the Lenten season each year, we are asked to pray and discern how we can assist our parish ministries. At the conclusion of Lent, parish sign ups take place and training follows. Outside of Lent, please contact the parish office for more details. 

This ministry provides an extension of the parish community to those unable to gather for the celebration of the Eucharist when homebound in the nursing home or hospital. This is a wonderful ministry of keeping the faith of Jesus Christ strong with the parishioners who cannot attend Mass due to illness, injury or age. This ministry allows these parishioners to receive Jesus Christ through Scripture and Holy Communion. This ministry reassures the homebound and the sick that they are valued members of our faith community. 

This ministry, through volunteer effort, visits residences, nursing facilities and other home situations of parish members and provides a social connection to individuals who would benefit from a visit from a fellow parishioner. 

What Homebound Ministers Do

• Visits on a regular basis with opportunity to receive Eucharist.

• Bring the parish Sunday bulletin to them.

• Assist at Masses in area nursing homes and hospitals.

Who can be a Homebound Minister?
Anyone who meets the qualifications of an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion can participate in the life of this ministry.
If you desire to visit and minister to the homebound, please contact the parish office for more information. 

Kingdom Builders inspires women to discover their unique design through laughter, learning, and love of the Father, revealing their path to peace and joy. All women of any faith are welcome to join us to be transformed by their heavenly father. Come and see what the Holy Spirit has in store for you.

MEETING INFORMATION

Come join us!

• Must be a fully participating Catholic in good standing
• Duties include—monthly charity work, fundraising, donations to local charities
• Looking to add new members
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The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) is the process established for the universal Church for individuals to become Catholic and receive the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. This initiation process also involves a parish community experiencing a renewal in faith as it prepares and welcomes new members into the Church. The Rite speaks of conversion as a “spiritual journey.” Centered on fostering a deep relationship with Jesus and the Church he founded, this journey takes place through distinct stages over a period of time suitable to bring about a thorough catechesis, significant experience of the parish community, and commitment to the liturgical and moral life of the Catholic faithful. The OCIA process is a restoration of the ancient catechumenate, arising within the first three centuries following the era of the apostles. It waas the early Church’s way of Christianizing the pagan Roman Empire. The Second Vatican Council called for the restoration and use of this venerable and powerful method of initiation for the worldwide Church.
Who is OCIA for?
1. Persons in need of Baptism.
2. Persons baptized in another Christian tradition who desire to become Catholic.
3. Persons baptized Catholic in need of First Communion and/or Confirmation.

Lectors read the designated passages from the Old Testament, New Testament (except for the Gospel, which is typically read by a deacon or priest), and, sometimes, the Responsorial Psalm during the Liturgy of the Word. This proclamation is a sacred act, as it makes present the living Word of God to the assembly. The lectors also proclaim the Prayer of the Faithful, also called the Universal Prayer, in which the Church gathers the prayers of the world together and beseeches God to hear and answer them in accordance with His Will. 

Effective proclamation requires thorough preparation. Lectors should practice the readings beforehand, understanding the context and meaning of the texts. This preparation involves prayer, study, and reflection, allowing the lector to internalize the message and convey it with authenticity. Lectors are called to approach their ministry with reverence and dignity. This includes dressing appropriately for their role and maintaining a prayerful disposition while serving during the Mass. The way a lector carries themselves can enhance the congregation's reception of the Word.

Who can be a lector?
A person who is in full communion with the Church
At least of High School age
Who has completed their Sacraments of Christian Initiation 
Is able to read and pronounce with a clear voice
Completes an annual training, formation, and recommissioning provided by the parish

How do I become a lector?
During the Lenten season each year, we are asked to pray and discern how we can assist our parish ministries. At the conclusion of Lent, parish sign ups take place and training follows. Lectors, both current and new, are asked to attend a training session hosted by the parish. Upon completion of the training session, the new and current lectors are then commissioned at a Mass, typically in May around the Feast Day of Venerable Bede, who is the patron saint of lectors. Outside of the usual Lenten sign-ups, please contact the parish office for more information. 

• Assisting the pastor with preparation of the parish budget.
• Reviewing the income and expenditures of that budget quarterly.
• Reviewing the parish school budget and the actual expenditures and income quarterly.
• Advising the pastor concerning the parish balance sheet.
• Advising the pastor regarding school tuition and all other parish charges.
• Advising the pastor regarding fundraising activities within the parish.
• Advising the pastor regarding financial feasibility of proposed building projects.
• Advising the pastor regarding salaries and hourly rates of pay for employees.
• Advising the pastor regarding review and repayment of any parish debt.
• Advising the pastor on all contracts which are not cancelable within thirty (30) days of notice and which exceed a total payment of $5,000.
• Advising the pastor prior to the acquisition or alienation of any parish property with an estimated value in excess of $5,000.
• Being available as a resource to the parish pastoral council.
• Being familiar with and advising on all diocesan guidelines for banking, fundraising, building and accounting.
• Helping the pastor establish and manage a parish endowment program.

If you would like to add prayer intentions to this group, or to be a part of the prayer team, please call the parish office at 260-693-9578. 

The Quilt Club invites parishioners and non-parishioners to join the group monthly on the third Thursday of the month in the church basement at 10:00 a.m. We sharing quilting ideas and together create beautiful pieces to donate to various ministries. 

All women of our parish are invited to come to our monthly Rosary meetings.  Our goal is that we may all grow spiritually and socially as we encounter other women of faith in our parish family.  At our meetings, we come to know each other better through fellowship and fun and is an excellent opportunity to create new friendships.

Sue Gilbert, President 260-693-2429

Rosary Society meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the church basement

The sacristan works behind the scenes at church, to set up for the liturgical celebration and for clean up afterwards. The sacristan is asked to arrive early to the liturgy, and stay afterwards in order to complete their assigned duties. 

What are some of the duties of a sacristan?

• Lights the altar candles, turns on the lights, sets up the church, and basically performs a little housekeeping before Mass begins. 

• Under the general direction of the Pastor, the sacristan undertakes the overall preparation of liturgical celebrations, including all that is needed for special days such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.

• The sacristan arranges the books needed for the celebration, marking all of the divisions.

• The sacristan lays out the vestments and anything else needed for the celebration, such as cruets, chalices, ciboria, linens, oils, processional crosses, candles and torches.

• The sacristan prepares the Holy Eucharist for the celebration of the Mass. This includes readying the wine, water, and bread and putting them in place before the start of Mass.

Who can be a sacristan?
Any adult, who is a parishioner, can become a sacristan as long as they are willing to make a weekly commitment to assist at a Mass that they regularly attend. They must be an active Catholic who is in full communion with the Church 
Contact the parish office for more information.

We are Catholic men who seek to Rekindle the Fire of Christ's love within us and become better leaders, friends, husbands, fathers and sons; the men God calls us to be, through prayer, fellowship, faith and spiritual service to our family, parish and community.

Ushers play a vital role in ensuring that liturgies are conducted in an orderly manner and of hospitality by welcoming people to worship with us
This ministry is vital in creating an inviting and respectful atmosphere during Mass and other church events, helping to enhance the worship experience for all attendees.

Being an usher includes a variety of responsibilities. Ushers are often the first point of contact for parishioners and visitors as they enter the church, responsible for greeting attendees, assisting with seating, facilitating the offertory collection, and providing guidance during Communion. They also help with practical tasks such as distributing bulletins, answering questions, and maintaining order during liturgies. 

Who can be an usher?
Anyone, who is a parishioner, of high school age or older can join
If you are interested, please contact the parish office for more information.

At this time, St. John Bosco does not have an active youth group- but we would like one! If you would like to help get this group started here at St. John's, please contact the parish office at 260-693-9578.