The Prayer and Worship
Committee is in touch with the spiritual needs of the parish and finds ways to
nurture the spiritual growth of the parish; oversees the planning of seasonal
and special liturgies; supports the various liturgical ministries. It sees
to the planning of the Parish Mission, Reconciliation Services, Vesper Services,
the Monthly Holy Hour, the liturgies of Baptism First Communion, Confirmation,
Anointing of the Sick, the Annual Mass of Remembrance, Sacred Heart Weekend,
Thanksgiving Liturgy. The Committee also evaluates the various aspects of
our parish liturgical life and is attentive to the concerns of parishioners.
Subcommittees
Altar Servers:
Children 10 years and older are needed to serve at weekend Masses and special
services throughout the year. Training is provided. [Visit
the Alter Servers' Web Page]
Music Ministry:
Works with the music director to provide music leadership such as cantors,
guitarists, choir members, small groups of singers, etc. for weekend Masses and
for special services throughout the year. [Visit
the Music Ministry Web Page]
Communion Ministers:
Assist the priest and deacon with the distribution of Holy Communion at Sunday
and special Masses (about twice a month). Some also bring Holy Communion
to the sick and homebound each week. Training is provided. [Visit
the Communion Ministers'' Web Page]
Lectors: Proclaim
the Scriptures at Sunday and special liturgies about once a month.
Training and special preparatory materials are provided. [Visit
the Lectors' Web Page]
Retreat Ministry:
In conjunction with Holy Family
Retreat House, retreat weekends are provided for men (first week in
November) and for women (first week in January). [Visit
the Retreat Ministry Web Page]
Ministers of Liturgical
Environment: Assist the Liturgy Director in making the decor within the
Church appropriate for each liturgical season and feast; Teams of 2 or 3 people
see to the dusting & polishing of the furniture, statutes, etc. once a month;
Teams of 2 people see that potted plants are watered and that floral
arrangements are prepared for Sundays in Ordinary Time. [Visit
the Ministers of Liturgical Environment Web Page]
Lazarus Committee:
Members serve as greeters for wakes held in the Church, and provide light
refreshments in Fr. Picher Hall. They assist at the funeral Mass as
servers, lectors, pall carriers, etc. according to need. They also serve
the food provided by the family if a post-funeral luncheon is given in the
parish hall. [Visit the Lazarus
Committee Web Page]
Children's Liturgy of the
Word: Provides an opportunity for children age 6-12 to hear the Sunday
readings in a format they can more easily understand and to dialog with an adult
leader about the lessons to be gleaned from the Scripture readings. This
takes place during the 10:15 a.m. Sunday Mass while the adults remain in church
for the standard liturgy of the word. The children rejoin their parents
after the prayer of the faithful. [Visit
the Children's' Liturgy of the Word Web Page]
Prayer Shawl Ministry:
Members knit or crochet shawls that are given to those in need of prayers for
healing and comfort. The group meets monthly to knit/crochet. [Visit
the Prayer Shawl Ministry Web Page]
Liturgical Threads
Ministry: members prepare simple baptismal garments, help make banners,
make purificators, mend vestments or altar cloths; in general, help with any
sewing that is needed. [Visit the
Liturgical Threads Ministry Web Page]
For more information about this committee
or any of its subcommittees,
please
contact the office at (860) xxx-xxxx.
Meets quarterly to set goals, policy, and programs in religious
education, faith enrichment and spiritual development for parish youth and
adults.
Subcommittees
Sacramental Preparation:
Oversees the programs for preparing parents for the Baptism of an infant or
young child; oversees the preparation of older children for Baptism through the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC); oversees, through the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the preparation of adults for reception
into the Catholic Church; oversees the preparation of children for first
Reconciliation and first Communion; and oversees the preparation of teens for
Confirmation. [Visit the Sacramental
Preparation Web Page]
Adult Faith Enrichment:
Provides enrichment experiences by way of guest speakers, videos. etc. in
response to expressed needs/desires from parishioners. [Visit
the Adult Faith Enrichment Web Page]
Youth Ministry:
Provides activities, outreach projects, social events, and faith development
opportunities for teens both pre and post confirmation. [Visit
the Youth Ministry Web Page]
Standard Religious
Education (CCD) Classes: Provide 25 weekly instruction sessions in a
classroom setting with a competent catechist. These groups meet for an
hour on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00. [Visit
the CCD Web Page]
Meets periodically to organize opportunities for parishioners to serve
those in need and to advocate for social justice.
Subcommittees
Friendly Visitors Program:
Trained volunteers of all ages enjoy sharing their company with parishioners who
are essentially homebound. [Visit the
Friendly Visitors Program Web Page]
Housing:
Volunteers help with construction, repair, and refurbishing projects to improve
the housing situation of those in need. [Visit
the Housing Ministry Web Page]
Adopt-a-Social Worker:
Parishioners provide help to foster children and their parents by fulfilling the
requests of the social worker assigned to our parish by the Village for Families
and Children. [Visit the
Adopt-a-Social Worker Ministry Web Page]
Birthright: An
emergency pregnancy service which gives help--free of charge--to any pregnant
woman/girl who calls. Volunteers at the Birthright center perform a
variety of tasks on a day-to-day basis as well as sell Christmas cards and
flowers to raise funds. [Visit the
Birthright Ministry Web Page]
Outreach Gift Shop:
Parishioners staff an Advent gift shop selling articles hand made by artisans
from third world countries. Proceeds go to help needy artisans in
developing countries. [Visit the
Outreach Gift Shop Ministry Web Page]
Feeding the Homeless:
From October to April, this group provides a monthly meal to men of the
Immaculate Conception Shelter in Hartford by preparing food which they deliver
to Sacred Heart during the day and/or serving the food at the shelter. [Visit
the Feeding the Homeless Ministry Web Page]
Meets monthly to advise the pastor
regarding the financial income, expenses and investments of the parish as well
as the ongoing upkeep of the physical facilities and properties of the parish.
Subcommittees
Maintenance:
Oversees the physical condition of parish buildings and property; is attentive
to what needs repair or renovation; researches qualified contractors for a
particular project; makes recommendations to the pastor and finance committee.
[Visit the Maintenance Subcommittee
Page]
Fundraising:
Proposes/facilitates, together with other committees, various fundraising
activities aimed at funding improvement projects to grounds or building. [Visit
the Fundraising Web Page]
Dinner Club: A
social organization contributing to the support of the parish and of the
parish's charitable outreach. Members pay monthly dues; participate in the
drawing of monthly cash prizes and the annual dinner-dance at which larger cash
prizes are drawn. [Visit the Dinner Club Web
Page]
Subcommittees
A Gathering: A
quarterly/seasonally published newsletter. Volunteers help, at the
direction of the editor, to provide articles, take pictures, conduct interviews,
etc.
Parish Website:
Keeps the site attractive, current and accurate.
Publicity:
Publicizing parish activities and events by means of Bloomfield Access TV, WJMJ
Radio, newspapers, notices to other parishes, posters, mailings, etc.
Archives:
Collecting and organizing articles, reports, photos of parish events.
Photographers:
Chronicle parish events by taking pictures for the archives.
Library: Help
organize/codify parish books, videos, recordings into a system that can make
them available for use by parishioners.
Seeks to bring people together
in a social setting in celebration of various feasts, parish anniversaries, etc.
The committee also helps other groups with the social dimension of their
activities. [Visit the Social
Activities Committee Web Page]
