The Mass is the primary place of intimate encounter with the Risen Jesus here at St. John’s. Why does the Church ask those who make up the Body of Christ to gather at least once a week to receive his living Presence in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Because “without me, you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). This is the humble recognition of those who seek to love the Father by “keeping Holy the Sabbath” every Sunday.  The 10:30 Mass on Sunday is live streamed for those who are not able to join in person.

Fourth Grade children and older who are registered parishioners and have received First Communion are allowed to join the Altar Server ministry after attending two training sessions with the parish clergy.  Time commitment is serving at Mass twice a month and at special holiday/Holy Day Masses.

Reminders:

• All servers are to be at Mass 15 minutes before the scheduled start. 

• New servers are asked to introduce themselves to the priest and the other servers.

• Please have servers dress appropriately (no flip flops).

• If your child cannot serve as scheduled, it is your responsibility to find a replacement prior to Mass.  If you are replacing an experienced server, please find another experienced server so that the new servers can get "on the job" training and guidance from the older servers.

The ushers make St John’s a welcoming place by greeting parishioners and visitors to St. John the Evangelist at Mass each week.  The ushers serve the congregation at each Mass by collecting the offerings and distributing the parish bulletin; ensure that the Church is tidy before and after each service.

Ushers serve at one Mass per weekend; arriving 20-30 minutes before Mass begins and staying to tidy up after. An additional time commitment is required for special feasts (e.g., Holy Week, Holy Days of Obligation) and for Masses celebrating parish/school events such as First Communion, Confirmation, SJE School Graduation.

We need help at all Masses, so if you would like to share your time and  talent by participating in this ministry at St. John's, please contact us at [email protected].

A lector serves as the channel through which God’s Word is made present to the faithful. Just as the Lord is present sacramentally in the midst of the congregation during the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, so too is God present in the reading of the Scriptures in the Liturgy of the Word.
The Ministry of Lector is rooted in the power of the Word of God. Prayerful proclamation of Scripture makes the presence of God alive in our midst, stirs hearts, challenges, comforts and moves the community to work for the Kingdom of God. Those who serve as lectors agree to make the Word of God an integral part of their lives by entering in regular prayer and study of Scripture.
When a lector shares the Word of God passionately, even if not perfectly, it can inspire Catholics in the pews to explore scripture as well.  Contact the parish office if you are interested in this ministry.   
 

All Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be trained and commissioned by the Pastor.  Eucharistic Ministers must be adult Catholics in good standing, which means -- baptized and confirmed Catholic and, if married, married in the Catholic Church. 

At Mass –Extraordinary Ministers assist in the liturgy by distributing the Eucharist along with a presiding priest. Our goal is to enhance the personal experience of each individual receiving Jesus Christ while serving a large number of communicants at each Mass. Serving as a Eucharistic Minister heightens our own personal encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist and allows us to add a new dimension to our devotion by both receiving Him and acting as His hands for others to receive Him.

Homebound – Commission is to care for the faithful who through illness or infirmity are unable to take their accustomed place in the Eucharistic community.  In bringing communion to them, the Extraordinary Minister represents Christ and manifests faith and charity on behalf of the whole community toward those who cannot be present at the Eucharist.  For the sick, the reception of communion is not only a privilege but also a sign of support and concern shown by the Christian community for its members who are ill.
 

Sacristans are men and women who are called to serve in preparation for the Mass.  Jesus instructed some of His disciples to go into the town to prepare for the Passover [Matt 26:17-19, Mk 14:12-16, and Lk 22:7-13]. Their task was to precede Christ into the town and arrange for a "room" where Jesus would celebrate the Passover with His disciples. It was at this Passover meal that Christ consecrated bread and wine into His body and blood. Those disciples, who went ahead and prepared the room for this most sacred and special event, were the first "sacristans" of the Church.

Like the first sacristans, today’s sacristans arrive early at Church to prepare the "room" - that is, the sanctuary - for the re-presentation of that Passover - the celebration of the Eucharist - the consecration of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ through the action of the priest.

Before the start of Mass, this work of preparation includes:   making ready the bread (hosts) and wine to be used at Mass; preparing the sacred vessels - paten and chalice; preparing extra ciboria, if needed; placing water for the washing of hands, and generally seeing that all is ready in the sanctuary for the reverent and orderly celebration of the Eucharist. After Mass, the sacristan assures that the sacred vessels - chalice, paten, and ciboria - are cleaned and returned to the safe. In addition, the altar linens are rinsed and hung to dry in the sacristy.
Sacristans need to arrive about thirty minutes before the Mass for which they are assigned. Tasks after Mass usually require ten to fifteen minutes time.

On Sundays the sacristan should coordinate work with the duties of any servers who will assist at Mass.