Parochial Administrator: Rev. Fr. David Finn (ffinn@newmancchs.org)
Director of Religious Education: Dawn Harrielle (dharrielle@comcast.net)
Coordinator of Music: Allison McCawley (shpmusic@comcast.net)
Permanent Deacons: Ron Szakatits (r.szakatits@comcast.net)
and Larry Zitkus (ljzitkus@essex1.com)

202 Communion to Hospital
Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to the Catholic patients at CGH Hospital. This ministry takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays during the morning hours.

310 Art & Environment
These volunteers carry out the plans of the Liturgy Planning Group to maintain a welcoming and prayerful environment by means of banners, pictures, symbols, flowers, and other mediums in our liturgical celebration space. People of all talents and skills are welcome and needed to prepare, install, and remove decorations.

315 Extraordinary Minister
These volunteers assist the priest with the distribution of Holy Communion at all Masses. They also may be called upon to participate in special blessings and ceremonies. This ministry is open to all who are 16 years and older and Confirmed. After training and commissioning, a two to three year commitment is asked.

320 Lector
These volunteers proclaim the Word of God at all Mass liturgies and on special occasions. They lead the Prayers of the Faithful. This is open to those of high school age and older who are Confirmed. After training, a two to three year commitment is asked.

330 Sacristan
This ministry is open to adults who volunteer by preparing the sanctuary with the vessels needed for Mass and the gifts to be brought up at the Offertory. Work is rotated on a team basis.

335 Liturgy Planning
These volunteers work with the Pastor and Liturgy Coordinator to assist in planning seasonal themes and liturgies. They will assist in planning for Sunday Mass, Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter liturgies, prayer services and special events. Additionally, they plan the decorations, prepare the Prayers of the Faithful, and coordinate with the Religious Education and RCIA programs.

340 Ministers of Hospitality (Ushers)
These volunteers exemplify hospitality as they greet and seat all who come for the Eucharistic Liturgy or other special services. They will select people to be the gift bearers and take up the collection. They will attend to lighting and doors and be ready to respond to any emergencies. This is open to all who are 14 years or older.

341 Sacristy/Sacred Vessel Upkeep
This ministry involves cleaning the sacristy one month out of the year, usually one day during the week on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. A list of instructions is provided and mainly involves cleaning the cruets, the sacred vessels, the holy water font, baptismal font, and washing the soiled linens, etc.

342 Sew Vestments, Launder Altar Linens, etc.
If you have a talent for sewing and would like to use your talents to make new altar cloths, stoles, or help with costumes on occasion for children's programs, please consider this ministry. The altar servers' robes, Fr. Finn's vestments, and altar cloths need to be cleaned on a regular basis. If you like to work at home and wouldn't mind taking home extra laundry, please consider this ministry.

351 Adult Choir
The adult choir sings at the three weekend Masses on a rotating basis. Various times of practice and opportunities for the choir to sing at Mass will be determined by the Coordinator of Music. This is an opportunity to praise God in song and share your talent with the assembly.

352 Cantor
The cantor leads the assembly in sung prayer proclaiming the psalms and leading the responses of the assembly. The cantor's voice must be pleasant, audible, and enunciation must be distinct and clear. Training is provided. Volunteers commit a faithful service on a rotating schedule for all weekend Masses.

353 Instrumentalist
We are in need of musicians to come forward and assist at various liturgies throughout the year. Accompanists will work with cantors and/or other musical groups.

354 Children's Choir
The first Sunday of the month (October-March), the Children's Choir leads the parish in praise and worship. Children in preschool through fifth grade are invited to participate. Times of practice and opportunities for the choir to sing are determined by the Coordinator of Music.

355 Children's Choir Assistant (teen or adult)
This person would help direct, teach, and practice with the Children's Choir.

402 Women�s Ministry
Women's Ministry is composed of women of Sacred Heart coming together to pray, plan, and minister to the needs of our parish and community. They help orchestrate a Mass/picnic in September; coordinate Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas gifts for people of the community who are in need; and organize a �Mothers at the Well� program for women of the area. They have also worked with the Youth Group to provide Christmas cookies for the elderly of our parish. All women are welcome to participate at any time. Meetings and gatherings are announced in the bulletin as needed.

404 P.A.D.S. Program (Shelter)
There are a variety of ways for Sacred Heart parishioners to help the homeless shelter-through prayer, volunteering to clean at the shelter when the residents are not there, cooking, or taking a shift. Sacred Heart is responsible for providing the evening meal and manning the three shifts, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., 11 p.m.-3 a.m., and 3 a.m.-7 a.m., on the fourth Tuesday of the month from October through April.

405 Prayer Chain
Prayer Chain requires only a short amount of time to answer the phone, listen to the prayer request, pass the request to the next participant on the list, and remember the request in your daily prayers. After you join, you will receive a calling list, a special prayer, and your name will remain on the list until you request to have it deleted.

406 Rides to Church
With the completion of the drive-up portion of the new, one-level entrance into church during the summer of 2004, this new ministry is being established in order to assist those who have been unable to join us in the Eucharist because of their difficulty getting into the building. Since this is new, flexibility is important while getting established. Volunteers may be on a weekly, monthly, or occasional basis. Anyone who would like to assist with rides are asked to sign-up. The coordinator will organize a volunteer schedule based on the needs of those who request transportation in conjunction with those willing to offer rides to church.

501 Building and Grounds Committee
Small group to evaluate the maintenance needs of the church and rectory, then, with Fr. Finn, suggest a 3-5 year plan. A second group of volunteers is needed who are willing to help with specific jobs in the buildings (i.e. carpentry, plumbing, electrical). This would be a 2-3 year commitment.

502 Landscaping Maintenance Committee
Assistance is needed throughout the spring, summer, and fall months to prune, weed, and fertilize annual and perennial flowers and shrubs on an �as needed� basis in order to maintain a well-manicured appearance of the church grounds. Our Building & Grounds Coordinator would provide guidance to committee members. Depending on numbers, volunteers could be divided into several groups and perform duties on a rotating schedule.

Library Helpers
Leaders of the library ministry will be revamping during the fall of 2004. Volunteers are needed to help with typing, filing, computer entry, and assisting with check-outs and returns (before and after weekend Masses). Flexibility is the key word in scheduling volunteers of this ministry.

Office Assistance
At various times throughout the year, extra assistance is needed in the parish office to assemble programs, stuff flyers in bulletins, and help with special mailings. This commitment usually entails an hour or two on a weekday. Workers will be called as needed from the list of volunteers, and can accept or decline the request based on their personal schedule.

Sacred Heart Religious Education Program provides instruction in the basics of the Catholic faith for children preschool through high school. This includes sacramental preparation for students receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Many parish members are needed as catechists, aides, and substitutes. Training is provided.

Catechists for Religious Education are persons of faith who pray, teach others about God, the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and walk with their students on their journey of faith. The material used to teach is approved under catechetical guidelines of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

601 Grade School Office Assistant
This person would be responsible for picking up attendance, passing out the weekly newsletter, assisting the children when needed, being available on Sunday mornings during religious education for grade school. Other assistance needed would be volunteers to come together to help get mailings out (attach labels and stuff envelopes). On occasion there are times when calls have to be made to parents or students because of program needs, retreats, snow days, refreshments, etc.

602 Catechist Pre-K through Fifth Grades
Grade school children meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30-l0:45 a.m. at Newman High School; pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students meet in the Joy Room in the Parish Hall. Classes meet 20 times a year, approximately three Sundays a month between September and April.

603 Catechist Middle School
Middle school students in the 6th through 8th grade meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

604 Substitute Catechist
This adult would cover a class session when a catechist is absent. Substitutes have the same responsibilities as catechists for the time they are teaching.

605 Chaperone/Transportation
Adults who would like to chaperone events and are willing to be diocesan approved to be chaperones. Drivers could be needed for events that would not require a bus (i.e. Taking students from Sacred Heart to the nursing home for activities.)

606 Youth Ministry Planning Team
This ministry is for those interested in helping plan youth events and activities for our parish.

607 High School Youth Group Participant
Young people of high school age who would like to be involved in activities with their peers.

608 Grade School Classroom Assistant or Aide
This adult or high school student would assist the work of the catechists and interact with the children, assisting with materials and providing attention to students as directed by the catechist.

R.C.I.A. is the process by which the Church and its members welcome individuals who would like to inquire about the Catholic faith. After the inquiry, if the person so desires to become a member of the Catholic Church, they are instructed about the faith traditions of the church such as scripture, sacraments, and liturgy. This process helps to prepare persons to receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. R.C.I.A. also prepares those already baptized Catholic or baptized in another Christian faith for reception into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

610 R.C.I.A. Breaking Open the Word
This ministry involves facilitating discussion about the Sunday readings after the R.C.I.A. candidates have been dismissed from Mass.

611 Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Sponsor
R.C.I.A. sponsor provides support to another adult, who after inquiring about the Catholic faith decides to continue with the process of becoming a member of the Catholic Church. The sponsor must be available to meet with the team on Sunday mornings and attend the liturgical rites that take place.

612 Middle School Youth Group Participant
Young people of middle school age (grades 6-8) who would like to be involved in activities with their peers. New in 2003, participants came up with the name, �LOOC� (Light Of Our Church). They meet on the first Wednesday of every month during the school year, and special activities are planned during the summer.

613 Children's Church Leaders (adults and teens)
This new ministry was established during the fall of 2003 and replaces the babysitting service previously offered during the l0:00 a.m. /11:00 a.m. Mass. One adult leader and two teenage students provide an already prepared, age-appropriate bible reading and related activities for 2- to 4-year-olds during the Liturgy of the Word. Children can be taken to the Joy Room on the lower level before Mass begins, and will be escorted upstairs to join their families during the Offertory. This allows parents to be attentive to the sacred readings and homily while their small children begin their religious education away from the domestic church (the family). Leaders and teens are assigned to the ministry schedule on a rotating basis and are responsible to get a replacement from their volunteers if they are unable to fulfill their commitment any given weekend.

702 Parish Dinners (October & February)
Parish dinners take place twice a year, usually the last Sunday in February and October. Enjoy fellowship with others as people come together to cook, set tables, wash dishes, and serve others.

704 Funeral Dinners Workers
A funeral dinner is a ministry of bereavement and compassion. This group of volunteers assist by preparing the main course, set the tables, serve the meal, and/or clean-up following dinner.

705 Funeral Dinners (donate salad/dessert)
Many are unable to work on-site, but can assist by bringing food for a funeral dinner. This ministry is for those who would like to be called to donate a food item now and then.

706 Parish Picnic (September)
The parish annually hosts an Outdoor Mass and Parish Picnic the first Sunday after Labor Day. On that Sunday, the late Mass time changes from the summer schedule (10 AM) back to 11 AM until May. Help is needed to set-up chairs and tables outdoors, grill the meat, and clean-up after the picnic.

707 Lenten Soup Suppers
On the Wednesdays of Lent (except Ash Wednesday and the Wednesday of Holy Week), simple soup suppers are served between daily Mass at 5:10 p.m. and the Stations of the Cross at 6:30 p.m. Volunteers would pick up the soup and bread (from a local vendor), prepare it for serving, arrange place setting, and clean up following the meal. With enough volunteers, groups could rotate responsibility.

708 Adult Dance (Mardi Gras)
A core group is needed to plan and implement the annual adult dance the Friday or Saturday night before Ash Wednesday. This event was new in 2004, and organizers asked participants to bring an hors d'oeuvre to share. Ideas are always welcome.

801 Stewardship Committee
The goal of this committee is to learn and implement ways to increase participation in time, talent, and treasure for the parish as a whole. The term is two year, and they would meet quarterly.

The ministries above do not include all the ministries that are possible for the parish of Sacred Heart. This is a starting point from which to begin. If you have a passion for something not listed, please share it with us.
Thank you!