For information on the Liturgy Project to prepare for the new Missal in 2011, click here.
The Liturgy at St.Joe's strives to reflect the communities relationship with God in the Roman Catholic tradition.
On this page you will find:
- Description of Liturgy
- Liturgical Ministry Descriptions and contacts
- Liturgy Committee
- Seasonal planning
- How to get involved
Description of Liturgy
We greet one another prior to mass as we gather as one to be lead into our identty as the Body and Blood of Christ, so we may be blessed, broken, shared, and poured out for one another and for the communities in which we live, work, play and serve.
Silence is becoming more and more important to us as a community as we are being called more and more to be plugged into God and perhaps challenged to be unplugged from our mp3's, phones, texts and emails.... silence is another medium of God. You will notice this more and more as we grow more deeply with the meaning and medium of silence for prayer and liturgy.
We sing and are encoureaged more and more each Sunday to pray through singing by joining with the music ministry.
We dance at times, or are invited into prayer and reflection through the dance ministry.
Liturgical Ministry Descriptions
Presiders Assistant; This ministry can best be described as a Master of Ceremonies.
Lector: This ministry treasures the Word of God, they reflect on the word, practice proclamation then with great care – proclaim the good news at each mass.
Eucharistic Minister: serve communion during mass to the assembly with reverence and grace.
Greeters: welcome people as they enter.
Welcome Desk: The ministry of the welcome desk is to help people get the information and connect with the right ministry or person. They also accept registrations and register people for donations.
Collection: This ministry collects the offering and gifts of the people at mass.
Liturgy of the Word with Children: leaders for this ministry guide the children in prayer and ritual as well as facilitate faith sharing on the readings for the children.
Prayers of the Faithful; Parishioners prepare the prayers of the faithful each week, reflecting on the news, events, scripture and the needs of the community.
Funeral assistants – prepare the needs for the funeral mass and serve.
Sacristan : This minister prepares for the weekend masses on Saturday prior to the 5pm mass. They get the little things done that make all the difference.
Decorators; create prayers and reflective environment for worship using banners, fabric and other materials.
Dance; through movement, and gesture this ministry leads the assembly in reflective prayer and whole body prayer.
Music: this ministry leads the assembly in prayer through song and instrumentalists.
Children’s Procession; our youngest members lead the 9:30am mass assembly into prayer by processing with the peace doves in the opening hymn every Sunday.
Gospel Drama Group: A teen ministry at the 9:30am mass that help to proclaim the gospel on the third Sunday of each month.
My Little church ; is a ministry for toddlers and parents. The little Church is a safe place that allow parents and children to celebrate the mass. The children are provided with toys that are bible and church based along with weekly colouring themes and prayers based on the Sunday readings.
Other ministries that are more adhoc- collectors for food and people who present the gifts of bread and wine are invited during the mass by various ministers to take this on.
Liturgy Committee
The Liturgy committee is currently being re-built as we take on a new project for the parish - which is the study and preparation for a the implementation of the new General Instruction to the Roman Missal which has been revised for the English speaking countries of the world. The Liturgy Committee will begin by studying the
Seasonal planning
This comittee is made up of minsitry heads and other representatives from liturgy who will reflect and create and choose the seasonal prayers, gestures, environment for the community. This committee meets as necessary.
How to get involved
Contact the ministry head of the ministry you are interested in or the pastoral associate ( especially if you ar not sure where you would like to serve)