There's Always a Place For You at St. Mary's...  So says our parish web site.  We welcome everyone. 

Our mission statement says, we are a worshipping community called to proclaim the Good News of salvation and celebrate the liturgy.  Strong words, proclaim and celebrate. They call for action - they call for people.  They call us to life as a community. 

We worship well together.  We are a happy people in the Lord’s presence.  We proclaim the Word faithfully and we celebrate energetically. 

Could our spirit come more to life if we were just a little more demonstrative about it?  If our doors were wide open for Mass and our disciples and witnesses standing there saying Welcome!, would our web site come more to life?

Our faith offers and calls us to full, active and conscious participation in its liturgies.  Our participation begins the moment we step out of our cars, the moment we first make eye contact with our brother and sister and smile, the moment we cross the threshold of the church.

St. Mary Parish is going to ensure that is the experience of everyone who comes to us for Mass.  Will you help?  Will you join our new Ministry of Welcoming?  Will you be present to greet our saints and visitors as they approach that threshold?  Will you be that first brother of sister to make eye contact and offer the smile?  Will you help a stranger find the rest room or a new worship aid?  Will you welcome us to continue Eucharist on leaving, saying goodbye with a bulletin or a copy of the Dialog?

Please ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in considering whether this might just be your call.  If you find it is, phone the parish office and let us know.

MINUTES – LITURGY COMMITTEE

December 6, 2010

I.                   Opening Prayer – Offered by George Vojteck

II.            Attending – George Vojtech, Pat Nugent, Jenny Nugent, Carol Griffith, Barbara Bilconish, Bob Hammorton, Laura Weldon

III.             Minutes of the past meeting-.  The minutes were approved

IV.             Old Business

A.    Altar flowers for Christmas – the parish and the Spanish speaking community provide Christmas flowers.  There will be envelopes at the back of church for parishioners to help with donations

No one from the Altar Guild was present so there was no report on the cooperative effort for altar duties between the English and Spanish communities..Margarita and Jill need to meet to coordinate the altar duties with both communities.

B.     Carol Griffith brought a proposal for discussion related to parishioners donating funds for altar flowers in memory of a loved one.  The cost and procedure will be developed in conjunction with the Altar Guild.  Carol will discuss with Jill Clark. (See attached proposal) Announcements of the process will need to be made at all masses and in both languages and in the bulletin.

V.                NEW BUSINESS 

A.    Hospitality Ministry – Related to the Christmas liturgies

The 5:00PM Mass on Christmas Eve is usually the most crowded.  Lee Weldon will head up the hospitality for the 8:00 PM Mass Christmas Eve.  Bob Hammorton will continue to work at finding ministers for the other Masses.

B.     Prayer Intention Book – The Bosleys have donated funds to get a Prayer Intention book for Star of the Sea.

C.      Laura said that the altar servers need new cassocks.

D.     It was decided to move the bulletin boards to just above the magazine rack.  If they are hung vertically there is room for both.  Building and Grounds will take care of moving them.

E.      Our Lady of Guadalupe – 7:00 PM Mass on 12/11

The Mass will be bilingual and all are invited.  There will be a fiesta after aand all are asked to bring a dessert.  At 11:30 there will be prayers in the church and a re-enactment of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Posada will begin 12/16 and end 12/25.  Margarita will supply the addresses of the homes being used for the Posada.

VI.             Christmas Liturgy

A.     Call for volunteers for decorating the church.  Mark Windmiller has volunteered to coordinate this process.  The decorating may take place any time after the 19^th of Dec.  The crèche can be set up, but without the Infant.

B.      Evelyn will be contacted to find out if there will be caroling before the 5:00 and 8:00PM Masses on Christmas Eve.

C.     Altar servers need to arrive 15 min. early.

There will be a blessing of the crib before the 5:00 PM Mass

Extra chairs will be set out

VII.          Evaluations – These will be necessary for the on-going functions of the committee, to help us improve, to discern needs.  We need to develop an ongoing process for evaluating.  At the next meeting we will evaluate Advent and Christmas and the changes that were made.

NEXT MEETING:  JANUARY 3, 2011

MINUTES – LITURGY COMMITTEE

October 5, 2010

I.                   Opening Prayer – Offered by Barbara Steiner

II.                Attending – George Vojtech, Barbara Steiner.

 Pat Nugent, Jenny Nugent, Mark Windmiller, Fabiola Marquez

(This was the pot luck meeting.  Though we were few in number the food and fellowship were wonderful!)

III.             Minutes of the past meeting-.  The minutes were approved

IV.             Thoughts from the Liturgy Committee book.

Sunday worship is first and foremost a celebration, a celebration of the Church as community.

There are rituals, words, prayers and songs that make it a celebration.  The purpose of which is to draw people in, welcome them so much so that missing even a single Sunday would mean missing a crucial and encouraging time with the Lord and with each other.

We may rate the “goodness or badness” of a liturgy usually based on the feelings the liturgy engendered in us.  But we should evaluate it based on our actions, not just feelings.

Our Sunday worship is meant to affect us, even change us.  It implies active listening and participation because the celebration is public and communal.

As a committee we want to help the assembly feel a part of what is going on

V.                Sharing question: How is the Eucharistic liturgy a celebration for you?

There were varied answers:  one felt closer to God and to fellow parishioners, and it felt like a family celebration.  Another felt a sense of celebration in that they were able to remember God’s goodness to us.  One felt a profound sense of love after Communion and saw it as a “big thank you”.  Another felt that the sense of celebration was enhanced by a welcoming greeting coming in and the music added to that.  A sense of mystery and reverence and participation made the liturgy seem a celebration.

VI.             Old Business

A.         The question of the recessional hymn was raised.  People missed it.  Fr. Bill’s explanation the Sunday following the meeting explained clearly why we are not using one.

B.         Corrections to the ministry lists are given so committee members can correct their copies.  – George “Voytech’s name is spelled with an “h”.  Please add Betty Kowitski to the Altar Society list.  She is also listed as a Minister of Holy Communion.

C.         The list of altar servers and their duties is not ready yet

D.        Altar Society – There were no members from the Altar Society present so their duties were not discussed.  Held over until the November meeting.

E.         Ushers – There was a comment that for the last two Sundays in September the ushers were at the doors to greet everyone and they had selected ushers before Mass began, so there was no disruption during the prayers of the faithful.  There was general agreement that this was an improvement.

F.           There was a brief discussion of Healing Masses and what was meant by that.  It was decided that for now we would plan for anointing at Mass.  Fr. Bill had suggested previously that we would need to look up the readings and see which Sundays had one or more readings pertaining to healing, that these would be ideal times to have anointing at Mass.  Someone will be asked to take this on.

VII.           NEW BUSINESS 

A.         Morning of Reflection -  There will be a Morning of Reflection, hopefully before Advent but dependent on when the speaker is available and what type of format she would prefer.  Fr. Bill will contact the speaker to find if she is available and when.

B.         Prayer Intention Book – The members present thought the idea for such a book was good.  A lectern, with such a book, could be placed behind the last pew in the Church on the left.  It would be easy to access without blocking traffic in the vestibule.  Star of the Sea could choose their own best site.  Pat Nugent will get the books from a religious goods store if possible.

It was also suggested that this book with prayer intentions could also be part of the Offertory procession and placed on one of the steps below the collection and food baskets during the remainder of Mass.

C.          Liturgy Planning -  There was a question raised related to forming a mission statement for the liturgy committee to clarify what we are to be about.   It was suggested that we use the Diocesan guidelines as a starter.  And to use a brainstorming format with as many people as possible, not just committee members

.

D.         There is much planning to be done at the November meeting because Advent begins the last Sunday in November.

E.          There was a consensus at the meeting that the meeting night should be changed to the first Monday of the month.  That will be Nov. 1^st.  Because the holy day falls on a Monday, it is not a holy day of obligation but Fr. Bill said there would be a Mass, time to be determined. He suggested 6:00 PM may be a good idea.

F.          There was a discussion of church décor.  After Jenny and Pat visited another church, they were struck by the warm and welcoming note that wreaths on the church doors and window wreaths in fall colors made.  There were also 2 simple banners of fall colors behind and above the altar.  The members wondered if we might consider such for our church.  Altar cloths or strips could be used using the seasonal colors such as green for ordinary time, purple for Lent, etc.  We could also use ribbons on the candles with the seasonal colors as was done for Pentecost.  Any recommendation for this will be arrived at after discussion with a larger group.

G.        As was stated in the bulletin, minutes will be emailed to those with email and snail mailed to those without email who regularly attend the committee meetings.  There will also be a copy of the minutes on the website and posted on the bulletin board at the back of church.  If anyone wishes a copy, they can request one by calling the church office and one will be sent.

H.        Mark Windmiller brought up the subject of the tabernacle needing some kind of renovation.  He also said there is another tabernacle that was used before the current one.  If it can be found, it might be installed in the chapel.

I.           Revised ministry duties will be sent to everyone.  We will need to add to one of the ministry’s duties how to set up when there is a Baptism as Mass.  We will discuss this at the next meeting.

Next meeting:  MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010

Closing prayer – Pat

Discussion of a Morning of Reflection/Workshop with a guest speaker was inadvertently omitted.  Fr. Bill has suggested a guest speaker on liturgy.  When we know the available dates, we will schedule such a morning and let you all know.

MINUTES – LITURGY COMMITTEE

September 7, 2010

I.                   Opening Prayer – Offered by Carol Griffith

II.                Attending – George Vojtech, Jeff Cornwell, Barbara Steiner. Alvenia Madera

 Jill Clark, Carol Griffith,  Margarita Y Marquez, Pat Nugent, Jenny Nugent, Bob Paolucci, Maria Lopez, Luis Lopez, Fernando Sanchez, Maricela Sanchez, Wm Lawler

III.             Minutes of the past meeting- Alvenia questioned usher hospitality.  This will be discussed later in the meeting.  The minutes were approved

IV.             Sharing question:  What is the most memorable liturgy I have experienced?  What made it so?  What can I do to make our liturgies as memorable?  Many good sharings: finding community, a sense of warmth and welcome, simplicity, sense of belonging, strong sense of God’s Presence.  Fr. Bill reminded us that it is our responsibility to find the Lord in the liturgy by our attention and participation.

V.                Old Business

A.         Lists of ministers – revised lists will be sent to all.

B.         Altar Society – Jill Clark presented a list of Society members as well as a list of duties. (See attached)

C.         Cantors responsibilities – The list of duties for the cantors will be reviewed and amended, if necessary when they meet.  Carol Griffith has set up a meeting for Sept. 17 at 10:00 AM.

There was also a request for clarification as to when the Offertory Processional hymn should begin as well as when the Communion Processional should begin.  Fr. Bill said the Offertory hymn should begin after the second collection, if there is one, as the ushers gather baskets, etc. at the back of the church.  The Communion hymn is to begin when the cantor and organist are back in place after receiving Communion.  This will be reviewed with the cantors at the Saturday meeting.

D.         Usher responsibilities -  The question was raised as to how to motivate the ushers to be organized and scheduled.  Confirmandi could function as ushers.  Fr. Bill questioned whether we need to recruit a new set of ushers.  The ushers now serving have not responded.

There was agreement by the committee that new ushers need to be recruited.  The recruitment should take place by personal contact and possible contacts need to be asked if they are willing to make a commitment to be scheduled.  It was also agreed to recruit women as well as inviting younger parishioners.  There will be a bulletin announcement as well as a sign-up poster at the back of church for parishioners to sign up.  It was also decided to change the name of this ministry to “Ministers of Hospitality” because that is the primary purpose and focus of  this ministry.

There will be an effort made to get “captains” to be in charge for each Mass.

People will be invited to stay after Mass for an orientation and to see what is involved in this ministry.

                                        George asked if people could lector at one Mass and then usher

                                        at another Mass.  That is permissible as long as it isn’t at the

                                        same Mass.

E.         Altar servers – Lisa Flynn has given a list of duties for altar servers to Fr. Bill for approval.  There were some changes.  All of this will be discussed at the October meeting.

F.          Music selection subcommittee – There were some good and valid concerns raised by Mary Jo Bosley about having too many committees and subcommittees and the time commitment involved, especially when meeting can be ineffectual.  Pat responded by email because Mary Jo was unable to attend the meeting.

The music selection subcommittee will be Evelyn and the cantors and they will discuss this when they meet on the 18^th.

VI.             NEW BUSINESS

A.    Mary Jo also raised the question of the new missal which will be coming in 2011 and getting ready for its use.  Fr. Bill said that the diocese will be having many workshops about it and that it is 15 months away so we don’t need to act on this now.

Mary Jo did suggest that people save the Dialog that had the articles about the new missal.

B.      Liturgy Planning -  There was a question raised related to forming a mission statement for the liturgy committee to clarify what we are to be about.  Fr. Bill stated that the process of writing a mission statement is the real value of the statement.

Pat suggested that a standing subcommittee for planning liturgies be established.  That it’s make up would be a groups of “professionals” trained in liturgy and would include music and all other elements of celebration.  He also suggested that there be a separate subcommittee to evaluate liturgies and that its make up would be a cross section of the parish to do an overall evaluation of liturgies, not of the planning committee

.

C.      There were suggestions for liturgies from Laura Era and Jenny Nugent.

Laura requested a healing Mass.  Fr. Bill asked what was meant by a healing Mass.  Did it mean a charismatic healing Mass?

He suggested that we look at the readings for the year and look for ones that dealt with healings.  That  would be an appropriate time to have the annointings at Mass as we did this past year.  We need to coordinate and do “homework” to do this properly.

Jenny raised the question of milagroes (Sp?)  The use of small symbols of what individuals are praying about and for and that these symbols be placed on a table near the vigil lights.  Fr. Bill suggested that we needed to think about the logistics of this and that it might be better if we had a prayer intention book, maybe on a small lectern, where people could write in their prayer intentions.  This could also be done at Star of the Sea.

D.     There was a suggestion that because  many committee members were unable to attend the liturgy committee meetings because of meeting conflicts on Tuesday evenings that we should think about possibly changing the meeting night to a Monday or Wednesday.  The committee is requested to think about this and we will discuss at the October meeting.

E.     The October meeting will be a pot-luck meeting.  We will meet at 6:00 P.M.  Bring food to share.

F.       Revised ministry duties will be sent to everyone once there is final approval.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, October 5, 2010.

                          Opening prayer for that meeting:  Barbara Steiner

Closing prayer – Pat

Discussion of a Morning of Reflection/Workshop with a guest speaker was inadvertently omitted.  Fr. Bill has suggested a guest speaker on liturgy.  When we know the available dates, we will schedule such a morning and let you all know.