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Altar Server Training Fall 2024
It is an honor and privilege for children to serve at the altar at St. Thomas Aquinas and also young adults at St. John Student Center. Serving at the altar is a wonderful and inspiring experience that will inspire young people to grow more in love with our Catholic faith; Our Lord, Jesus Christ and the beauty of our sacred liturgy. Liturgical Ministry can also be a great family-based ministry. Parents, while your child are Altar Servers, consider serving as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister or Sacristan.
School children at the Parish School who wish to serve need to fill out a permission slip to complete and return to your child’s home room teacher.
The permission slip serves three purposes. One is permission to serve at weekly school Masses during the school year, second is permission to serve on the weekends and third is permission to serve at funerals during the week.
If able to serve on the weekends, a profile will be created in Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP) for
your child. You will receive a username and password to access your account. Scheduling is done
in two month increments. Opportunity is given to submit dates of unavailability prior to publishing
the schedule. If your child is unable to serve on the assigned date, please submit a sub request
through MSP.Training will take place after school, 3:00pm to 4:00pm, in Church on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 17 | Wednesday, September 18 | Thursday, September 19. Attendance is only needed at one of the training opportunities.
Your child will receive an Altar Server guide with all the ins and outs of being an Altar Server
at the time of the training. Please take some time to read and review it with your child. If you
have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for giving permission to
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Praying with Body, Mind and Voice
This document from the USCCB was distributed on 11/19/23.
In the celebration of Mass we raise our hearts and minds to God. We are creatures of body as well as spirit, so our prayer is not confined to our minds and hearts. It is expressed by our bodies as well.
When our bodies are engaged in our prayer, we pray with our whole person. Using our entire being in prayer helps us to pray with greater attentiveness. During Mass we assume different postures— standing, kneeling, sitting—and we are also invited to make a variety of gestures. These postures and gestures are not merely ceremonial. They have profound meaning and, when done with understanding, can enhance our participation in the Mass. Continue Reading... -
MSU Students Welcome!!
For more information or questions reachout to Patrick Paddock at [email protected]
If you are a current liturgical minister, you may view and make changes to your schedule using Ministry Scheduler Pro.We encourage you to watch this short video to learn how to use the tool. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick at 517-337-9778 ext. 130 or [email protected]
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Prayerfully consider serving your parish and the beautiful liturgies at St.John/St. Thomas.
Contact Patrick Paddock for more information on volunteering in the following ways:
Lectors
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Altar Servers
Ushers
Sacristans
Environment & Liturgical Decoration
Please contact our Director of Liturgy Patrick Paddock at [email protected]
or 517-337-9778 ext. 130For training dates and meeting times click here
LectorsThe lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Universal Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings. It takes practice and prayer to be an effective lector. Lectors need to be able to have public speaking skills. Training is provided.Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
EMHC ministry is open to Catholics who are confirmed, faith-filled, and practicing men and women who assist the the priest, with the distribution of Holy Communion at all of the liturgies (daily, weekend and holy day Masses). Training is required.
Altar Servers
Altar Serving is a dedicated service provided by youth in grades 4-12. Altar Servers serve at all Masses and may assist at Funerals and Weddings as well.
Ushers
The primary duties and responsibilities of the usher are those of hospitality and service; always conscious of Christ’s words: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” They welcome and seat parishioners, if necessary, direct traffic flow as needed, and take up the collection. Ushers are knowledgeable of the liturgy and in dealing with safety and emergency issues. We invite anyone interested in helping in this important area to let us know which Mass you normally attend.
Sacristans
The Sacristan is charged with the responsibility of preparing the altar for the celebration of Holy Mass and other liturgies, caring for the sacred vessels and vestments of the parish, and attending to all other needs of the Sacristy. A good sacristan is a gift to the parish, fulfilling an essential but hidden liturgical duty.Environment and Liturgical Decorators
Our beautiful worship space is decorated according to the rhythm of the liturgical year. Throughout the ebb and flow of fasts and feasts, we express the spirit of the season by the way our sanctuary is adorned. Artistic-minded disciples assist to creatively convey the appropriate tone, but there is also plenty of room for disciples who are interested in tasks such as watering the plants and assisting with the important feasts of Christmas and Easter.