SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMISSION

Contacts—708-447-1020

Altar Servers—John Chavez
Art & Environment— Fr. Michal Lewon
Divine Mercy Chaplet —Kate Boharic
Eucharistic Adoration—Kate Boharic
Lectors—Susan Wawzenski
Liturgy Committee—Susan Wawzenski
Liturgy of the Word for Children—Barbara Outly
Ministers of Care—Mary Michaliska
Ministers of Communion—Michelle Boyce
Music—William Coble
Our Sorrowful Mother Novena: Via Matris—Dolores Tedesco
Ushers—Bob Keehn

ALTAR SERVERS
Alter Servers are dedicated boys and girls (grammar and high school age) and adult men and women.
The Altar Servers actively assist the priest in the celebration of Mass and other liturgical functions. They manage objects used in liturgical rituals, i.e. cross, candles, water, wine, incense and parayer books and provide an example of reverence and prayerful service.

ART & ENVIRONMENT
To create a prayerful environment in church especially during the high Holy Days; Christmas season, Lent, Holy Week and Eastertime.

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
Every Thursday afternoon, in the Eucharistic Chapel, (when Holy Hour Devotions are not held), the Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited at 3:00PM.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a form of prayer which was given to St. Faustina to petition Our Lord to have mercy on the whole world, especially the sick and the dying.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Every Thursday afternoon, in the Eucharistic Chapel, Adoration (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) begins immediately following the Holy Hour at 1:30PM or after the Divine Mercy Chaplet Service at 3:00PM and lasts until 10:30PM.

A vigil is held on the Thursday evening before the First Friday of every month and continues through the night until the 8:30AM Mass on Friday. All-night adoration offers a quiet time for prayer, reflection, meditation and recitation of the Rosary. This contemplative time is valuable and meaningful to all in the parish community.

LECTORS
Lectors are proclaimers of the Good News.
The function is to communicate the Word of God at Mass.

LITURGY COMMITTEE
The Liturgy committee prepares Liturgies for the parish for each ‘season’ of the Liturgical calendar.
The purpose is to provide opportunities for parishioners to share in liturgical development and promote prayerful and meaningful worship.

LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
St. Mary’s believes in the right of all children to hear the Word of God in a language that enables them to understand the story. This leads to fulfillment in the Eucharist.
Children, ages 5 through 12, are encouraged to join in this liturgical experience immediately following the Opening Prayer during the Saturday, 5:00 p.m. or Sunday 10:00 a.m. and
11:30 a.m. Masses.

MINISTERS OF CARE
Ministers of Care bring the Blessed Sacrament to home-bound members of St. Mary community and the Scottish Nursing Home.
The purpose is to serve as liaison between the home-bound and the Church.

MINISTERS OF COMMUNION
Ministers of Communion assist presider in distribution of Communion.
Ministers of Communion distribute Communion on Sundays, weekdays, holidays and Holy Days of Obligation and provide witness of lay service.

MUSIC
Music Ministry supports the assembly in song, promote community among members and encourage the continued development of musical gifts.
Description of Music Ministry Groups:
Cantor: Lead the assembly in song at parish liturgies as scheduled; 6 rehearsals a year.
Choir: Weekly rehearsals; sing for 10:00 a.m. Sunday mass (except summer)
Contemporary Ensemble: Semi-monthly rehearsals; prepare some music on their own; sing for 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass (except summer)
Resurrection Choir: Help the bereaved family pray the funeral mass.
Children’s Choirs: Graded program for elementary school singers; weekly rehearsals during the school year; sing for parish liturgies and other activities as scheduled.

OUR SORROWFUL MOTHER NOVENA: VIA MATRIS
Every Friday during the year, at 1:30PM in the Narthex, the novena to Our Sorrowful Mother, Mary is recited for PEACE. Latin: Via Matris.

The Novena includes the recitation of the "Way" in the form of seven stations.
1) The Prophecy of Simeon.
2) Flight into Egypt.
3) Lost in the Temple.
4) Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary.
5) The death of Jesus on the Cross.
6) Mary receives the body of Jesus in her arms.
7) Jesus is placed in the tomb.
Various short prayers are also included.

USHERS
A group of members welcomes parishioners and visitors at Masses.
Ushers extend welcome, hand out items; take up offertory and other collections. They also direct lines at Communion time and assist parishioners during Mass.