Other Ministries
Worship Ministries
Altar Servers
Persons who have received their First Communion and are 10 yrs to adult, may serve as acolytes. Altar Servers assist the priest at Mass on Sundays, Holy Days and other sacramental celebrations. Training is provided.
Altar Linens
This ministry seeks individuals who would like to serve this faith community by cleaning and maintaining the altar linens used throughout the week at Mass. This task is rotated with the other members of this ministry.
Art & Environment
Members of this ministry provide a scriptural environment for the interior and exterior of the church to inspire the sanctity of the faithful. This ministry provides art, props, banners, and seasonal support for liturgical celebrations, such as, Christmas and Easter. It could also include sewing, painting and construction of props.
Communion To Home Bound And Nursing Homes
Individuals eligible to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, who would like to serve the spiritual needs of the home bound and those in our local nursing homes, are invited to serve in this ministry. Ministers bring communion and friendship to those who are unable to leave their homes, assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Visits are on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the minister’s availability or the parishioner’s request. Training is required.
Extraordinary Minister Of Holy Communion (Emhc)
Training Information
Did You Know?
Any registered member of the parish who is a confirmed Catholic and able to participate in the sacramental life in the Church is eligible to serve in this ministry. Training is provided quarterly. Once an individual receives training, he/she will be scheduled for 2 to 3 Masses during each three month scheduling period.
Hosptiality Ministry—Usher
Any registered member of the parish who has received Penance and Eucharist and is in high school or older may serve as a hospitality minister. Their task is to welcome and greet those persons arriving for Mass, to assist them in finding seating, to help with the collection and to direct the assembly in approaching the altar for communion. Straightening the pews after Mass and handing out the weekly bulletin are included as well. Training is provided quarterly with periodic updates. After being trained, a hospitality minister will be added to the scheduling list.
Lector
This ministry is open to all registered members of the parish who have received Penance and Eucharist and are in high school or older. Their ministry is to proclaim the Word of God through the Sunday Scripture readings. Training is provided quarterly with periodic updates. Once a person is trained, he/she will be scheduled for Masses approximately twice during the three month scheduling cycle.
Music Ministry
More information here.
Community Building
Coffee And Donuts Committee
Volunteers take turns hosting a time of fellowship on certain Sunday mornings. Duties include setting up coffee, juice and donuts before Mass and clean-up afterwards. This event runs year round following the 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am Masses.
The Gathering (55+)
Parishioners, aged 55+, meet monthly to develop community, friendships and spiritual growth. This group begins with Mass at 11:30am on the third Friday, September thru May. Mass is followed by a luncheon in the parish hall. An activity or speaker usually accompanies this event.
St. Francis Mom’S C.L.U.B. (Chat, Learn, Unite, Bond)
Mom’s C.L.U.B. meets twice a month to support and encourage each other in their vocation. They meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9:30-11:00am. Speakers, fieldtrips with other families, activities, such as, line dancing, date nights, and gift making could be on the agenda. Pre-school children are cared for in the nursery by adult volunteers.
On the 4th Monday evening at 7:00 pm, this group meets for a Craft Night—bring your own or a joint venture.
Supper Club
Over a six month period of time, adult parishioners, 21 years and older, build new friendships. Small groups of 6-8 people share a meal hosted by one of the members of that group. Get-togethers could be in homes, restaurants, BBQ’s or wherever plans are made. Large group socials are held in January and July to sort into new groups and add new members.
Spiritual Enrichment And Prayer Devotion
Adoration Of The Blessed Sacrament
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is each Monday following 9:00am Mass. Adoration continues until 1:OOpm. Those who would like to participate in this ministry are asked to commit to one hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament each Monday. All parishioners are welcome to stop in at any time for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
That Man Is You
What would inspire 50+ men to gather Friday mornings at 5:45 AM at the church? Believe it or not, it our newest men’s program, That Man Is You! The program, which kicked off its first semester on September 11th, ran for 13 weeks leading up to Christmas. The program originated in Houston, Texas and has quickly spread across the nation and into Canada. It’s a program designed to help men become better husbands, better fathers or grandfathers, better leaders, and better Catholics. Designed to allow men to meet before work, they gather for breakfast at 5:45 on Friday mornings and the hour long program begins at 6:15 AM.
Twenty five minute video presentations are followed up with small group discussions challenging men to examine their personal lives and discuss their experience. Men learn from each others experiences how to live a better catholic life and how to lead their families, friends, and colleagues. The sessions combine lessons from the Bible, examples from real people, and the best social science to help men with their formation. Men who travel or have schedules that make weekly attendance difficult have found it easy to jump in from week to week without feeling left behind.
If you have not been able to attend one of our sessions, make join us one Friday and see how it impacts your life! For more information contact Don Billings by email or at 303-916-0887.
Bible Study
A Quick Journey through the Bible will begin once a week, on Tuesday’s at 7:00-8:30pm, June 8 and end July 27. Calls to register should be received in the Parish Office by May 26th. Cost of materials $25.00.
Matthew, a 24 week study on Wednesday mornings, will begin in late September and end in March. Watch the bulletin in August, for more details.
Ministry of Mothers Sharing – M.O.M.S. Spiritual Journey
Ministry of Mothers Sharing (MOMS) is an outreach ministry of the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul’s Monastery and focuses on:
- Gathering mothers of all ages together to form a network of mutual spiritual support.
- Providing group experience of learning, praying and ministering to each other.
- Introducing mothers to opportunities for personal and spiritual growth in a faith sharing group.
- Increasing communication skills and the use of prayer rituals in the home.
MOMS is a national ministry that sponsors an eight week affirmation of motherhood to awaken in women an awareness of their inner sacred self. It serves as an introduction to Ministry of Mothers Sharing, a parish-based peer ministry that has reached over 500,000 women and their families in over 100 dioceses since 1992. It was co-created by Sister Paula Hagen OSB, Vickie LoPiccolo, and Patricia Hoyt based on the theology of Called & Gifted.
Using the book MOMS: A Personal Journal, each of the eight sessions begins and ends with a prayer ritual designed to enhance the Christian perspective on each of the following topics:
- Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance
- Stress, Worries and Anxiety
- Everyday Spirituality
- Feelings
- Personal Goal Setting
- Expressing Values in Friendship
- Discernment of Gifts
- Celebration of New Beginnings
The MOMS Spiritual Journey is held 3 times a year at our parish in fall, winter and spring.
The cost is $35 which will include all materials needed. If you’re interested in attending this session, future sessions, are interested in facilitating (individuals must have taken the 8-Week Session either here or at another parish to be eligible to facilitate) or would like more information please contact AnnMarie Ursetta by email or call the parish office at 303.688.3025.
Funeral Ministry
As support to the family grieving the loss of a loved one, St. Francis of Assisi Parish provides the family with a luncheon in the parish hall following the funeral Mass. Members of the parish are invited to help with the preparation of food for this luncheon. Salads and desserts are provided by funeral ministry members.
Other volunteers help with the setting up and cleaning up the hall. This ministry serves as needed.
Parish Outreach
Vocations To Religious Life
This Ministry promotes prayer for vocations within the Parish and builds awareness of the need for more priests and sisters.
They are a resource for those interested in entering religious life and offer support for those in the seminary or entering religious life.
If you are concerned about the shortage of priests, this is the Ministry for you.
Christmas Outreach
A volunteer Committee coordinates and implements the yearly process of putting donors and recipients together. Volunteer families of the parish are grouped to provide another family in need with gifts, food, and other necessities from a list provided. This committee organizes three months prior to Christmas. Delivery by donors takes place immediately before Christmas.
Love Chain For Expectant Moms
This ministry is two fold. Prayer partners in this ministry will pray for the mother-to-be and her baby throughout her pregnancy. Following delivery, each pray-er will take a meal to the family’s home.
If you are expecting a baby, please contact the parish office to be the recipient of prayer and meals.
New Parishioner Welcome Committee
Once a month, this group of volunteers welcomes new parishioners at Orientation when they Register in the Parish, enroll in Children’s Religious Formation and join a Ministry. Members of this group present information about the parish ministries, finances and up-coming events.
Respect Life Ministry
The goal of this ministry is to educate the parish on current issues involving the dignity of life from “womb to tomb.” Members explore and discuss issues such as, genetics, abortion, capital punishment, modern warfare and the care of the terminally ill. Programs will be developed for parish participation addressing these areas of concern.
Thanksgiving Baskets Committee
This seasonal committee serves the needy in this community. Families identified in need of assistance receive a Thanksgiving Basket. Non-perishable food donations are provided by the faith community. Volunteers also sort and pack the “baskets” for distribution on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.
Non-Parish Organizations
Cub Scouts Of America
Cub Scout Pack #260 is affiliated with St. Francis of Assisi and meets at the church each month for activities, special events and awards ceremonies.
English As A Second Language
Information available here.
Knights Of Columbus
Council #8909 of the Knights of Columbus is a charitable cause, faith based men’s organization. The group meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm for companionship and service projects. The Knights support such events as Communion Breakfast, Lenten Friday Fish Fries, youth projects, and parish events.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
The St Vincent de Paul Society continues to remain actively involved in meeting the community outreach needs of St Francis of Assisi Parish. A revised mission statement was completed in March of this year: “ With the goal of social justice, the mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is to serve those in need, in the geographical area of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, through community outreach following the “Way” taught by Christ”. That being said the following identifies how we have been able to meet this goal with the generous help of our volunteers and the parish.
The Society has been able to help approximately 10-15 families a month with financial assistance ranging from rent, food, and utility bills. Through an application process and working in conjunction with area resources, evictions and utility shut offs have been avoided. This is an ongoing service that we provide and we hope that in the future we can meet the needs of more families through our fund raising efforts.
The big news for the St Vincent de Paul Society is that we are going to be starting a food pantry within the parish. There is a great need for one in the area and after much research and planning, as well as the support of the parish, we are planning on starting the pantry this summer. Through an application process clients will be able to pick up food at the church. The pantry will be located downstairs and will be open twice a month on Saturday mornings. We are at this time looking for volunteers who would want to “work” the pantry. As always we would appreciate any nominal donation towards the pantry supplies. Already food collections have started at the masses during the offertory. In the near future we will focus on a specific need and request this from the parish through collections. Any questions please contact us at 303-847-2606.
