Stewardship: September, 2026

During this month, we will all dedicate ourselves to walking by faith in the coming year. The four-week initiative includes:

• Kick-off Weekend (Sept. 12–13): Distribution of stewardship materials to assist in our prayer & reflection.

• Time & Talent Weekend (Sept. 19–20): Ministry Fair after Mass and opportunities to share our Time & Talents.

• Treasure Weekend (Sept. 26–27): Reflections on the ways we strive to share our treasure in a proportionate and consistent way each week. Commitment Weekend (Oct. 3–4): Our first “All Are Welcome” weekend including a pancake breakfast following Masses at which time we all bring forth our commitment cards as a sign of our commitment for the coming year

You are invited to BE A PART of our Sacred Heart

Parish Website & Facebook:  Help us keep parishioners and visitors informed! Publish parish events, post photos and share information and news. No experience necessary – all are welcome!  Publicity: Publicizing parish activities and events by means of Bloomfield Public Access TV, WJMJ Radio, newspapers, notices to other parishes, posters, mailings, etc. Photographers: Chronicle parish events by taking pictures for the archives, parish website and Facebook. Breakfast Ministry:  Provides a pancake breakfast once a month October through April.  Social Activities: Seeks to bring people together in a social setting such as a Whist, wine tasting, etc. Book Club: Meets monthly on the last Wednesday at 1:30 pm, September through June. Members choose a variety of genres to read throughout the year. Membership is open to any book lover interested in reading and participating in lively and thought-provoking discussions.  PRAYER AND WORSHIP: Adoration and the Rosary:  Come spend time with Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist.  Spend a few minutes, or longer if you like.  Join us for Adoration and the Rosary, Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30.  Altar Servers: Children 10 years and older serve at weekend Masses and special services throughout the year. Adult servers are also needed for masses. Music Ministry: Works with the choir 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.   Extra Ordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist: Assist the priest and deacon with the distribution of Holy Communion (about twice a month) at Sunday and special Masses. Some also bring Holy Communion to the sick and homebound each week. Training is given. Lectors: Proclaim the Scriptures at Mass and special liturgies about twice a month. Training and special preparatory materials are provided.  Liturgical Hospitality Ministers: On a rotating basis serve as greeters to welcome people to Mass, as ushers when needed, collectors, selectors of gift bearers, distributors of bulletins.  Ministers of Liturgical Environment: A)Assist in making the décor within the church appropriate for each liturgical season and feast; B) Teams of 2 or 3 people see to the dusting & polishing of the furniture, statues etc. once a month. Lazarus Ministry: Volunteers represent the Sacred Heart Community by providing support to family members of the deceased by: Serving at the Funeral Liturgy as greeters, lectors, and altar servers as needed.  They also assist the priest with incense, holy water, and presenting of the pall.   If a Wake is held in the church, volunteers will be asked to help visitors with the sign-in, family receiving line, restrooms, etc. When requested, post-funeral Receptions/Luncheons can be held in Fr. Picher Hall.  This group of Lazarus volunteers sets-up the hall, serves the food provided by the families, and cleans-up after.  Sacred Heart BAKERS provide desserts for these luncheons. Liturgical Threads Ministry:  Members prepare simple baptismal garments for infants as well as older children and adults; help to make banners, and altar linens; mend vestments or altar cloths; B) On a rotating basis, members launder altar linens. Prayer Shawl Ministry: Our shawls provide comfort to friends and relatives who are sick, homebound, recuperating from surgery, have lost a loved one as well as hospice patients and families of Fallen Soldiers.  Members gather at the church every other Monday from 10:00 to 11:30  AM.   CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Sacramental preparation: Works with the Deacon on programs for preparing parents for the baptism of an infant or young child; preparing older children for baptism, preparing adults for the sacraments through the Order Rite of Christian Initiation of  Adults (OCIA). Youth Alliance: Provides activities, outreach projects, social events, and faith development opportunities for teens both pre-and post- confirmation.  Standard Religious Education (CCD) teachers/Aides: Provides 25 weekly instruction sessions. These groups meet for an hour on Sunday mornings beginning at 8:45. Training is provided.  HUMAN CONCERNS: Feeding our community: Four times a year, we offer a meal to the residents of Interfaith Housing. This group provides a meal by: A) preparing food which they deliver to Sacred Heart during the day; and/or B) serving the dinner at the center. OTHER GROUPS: Dinner Club:   This is one of the more important revenue generators for the parish.  The members of this social organization pay dues and participate in cash prize drawings throughout the year.  The Dinner Club reports its results to the Finance Council following its annual dinner/ dance gala. Grounds keeping:   Our church grounds should present a welcoming appearance to worshippers.  The maintenance of our gardens depends solely on the work of volunteers who during the summer months periodically mulch and weed the flower beds and trim shrubs, PASTOR APPOINTED GROUPS:  Finance Council:  Advises the pastor when making financial decisions on behalf of the parish. Parish Council: Reviews committee reports, addresses concerns, discusses issues and makes recommendations that fulfill the needs of the parish.