ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NELSON
HOLY CHILD PARISH
Box 369, 14010 Rosedale Avenue, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0
Email: holychildparish@shaw.ca Tel: 250-494-3110
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
CHILDREN'S CATECHISM
MINISTRIES
AT HOLY CHILD
Children's Catechism
The Parish runs a Catechetical Education Program from grades one through seven. Its goal is for our children to be equipped with the necessary knowledge about the catholic faith while they are still young and to experience the beauty of knowing the catholic faith in their own community. The catechism program also prepares the children who will receive the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist (First Communion) and the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is very necessary to prepare our children through faith catechism, especially in this secular world. However, we should not forget that parents are the first catechists of our children.
For more information, please contact Shirly McPhedran.
Youth Ministry
Parish Youth Ministry is beginning a new initiative. This is an important ministry precisely because the youth are an integral part of our parish life. Young generations will continue the parish endeavours and will take of the Church into the near future. St. John Paull II said the youth is the backbone of our Church.
To participate or volunteer please contact our Youth Ministry Coordinator, Maggie Rathjen.
Lectors/Commentators
Lectors are laypersons commissioned to proclaim the Word of God. They undergo adequate preparation and become suited to perform the responsibility so that the lay faithful, by listening to the sacred readings may develop in their hearts a warm and active love for Sacred Scriptures (See GIRM, no. 101).
This ministry has three components on Sundays: Lector 1, Lector 2 and the Commentator who does the Prayers of the Faithful. A monthly schedule of Lectors can be found on the bulletin board in the foyer and the Sacristy. During the weekdays, and on Saturdays, Lectors are chosen by the Sacristan who is assigned that particular day. For more information or to sign-up email nmcphedran@gmail.com.
Sacristans Ministry
The Sacristan is another form of ministry to serve God through his people. The sacristan is responsible to prepare the sacred vessels for Mass celebration, water and wine, lavabo (water and towel) and sets the sacred books (Missal, Lectionary) and sets the altar cloth according to the liturgical season and feasts (white, red, green or violet). The Sacristan looks over the opening procession and the offertory procession during Sunday Mass. The sacristan is attentive to the needs of the celebrant and provides any assistance he may need.
Further, the sacristan is responsible to see that there are lectors, commentators and servers who shall connect with the sacristan before Mass especially on Sunday celebrations. The sacristan may also assist in baptisms, funerals, weddings.
The sacristan ministry is a noble service to God and there is always joy in doing service for the sake of Jesus and his Church.
Music Ministry
Music is an integral part of Liturgical celebrations. It is another form of prayer as well. The primary minister of music is the assembly itself. Ministers of music lead the assembly in singing to give praise to God. The Choir must encourage the faithful to actively participate in the celebration through music.
Music is an integral part of community worship. We are blessed with a number of volunteer groups who lead us in singing during Saturday and Sunday Masses.
For more information or to sign-up, please contact Imelda Kedge, mikedge@hotmail.com
Extraordinary Ministers
St. John Paul II in “Redemptionis Sacramentum,” chapter VII, no 155-156, instructed; “The ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are the Bishops, Priests and Deacons in virtue of their ordination. Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are laypersons who have been instituted and delegated by the Ordinary Ministers to help in distributing Holy Communion to the faithful. Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are laypersons who have been instituted as acolytes or dually commissioned as ministers of Holy Communion. They assist the “ordinary” ministers by distributing Holy Communion. They act in the name of Jesus and follow the example of service that He gave at the last supper. (GIRM no. 98)
For more information or to sign-up, please contact Marianne Boerboom, marianne@mountainviewgrowers.com
Altar Servers
Altar Servers’ model Jesus who came to serve and not to be served. The responsibilities include carrying the thurible, cross, and candles in procession, assisting at the chair (especially with the Missal) and assisting at the altar by bringing the bread, wine and water to the celebrant during offertory. (GIRM no. 100). We especially encourage the children’s parents of our parish to volunteers their children to become altar servers. St. John Paull II said that the children are the backbone of our Church. Let us encourage them to participate actively in our celebrations and activities that would also hone their God given talents as well.
For more information or to sign-up, please contact Denese Espeut-Post, deneseanddonny@shaw.ca
Greeter Ministry
Greeting is an essential component of our parish. It is always good to feel welcome into a community with a smile and warm hospitality. It is an essential element of our parish celebrations.
Greeters are parts of building up the community. They are ambassadors of the parish by welcoming fellow parishioners and visitors who come to celebrate in the community. Be a part of this joyful ministry of greeting the people of God!
For more information or to sign-up email meharrington7@gmail.com
Homebound Ministry
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers who bring the Eucharist to the catholic faithful who are sick and can no longer get to the church for the eucharistic celebration and receive the Holy Eucharist. This task is usually carried out on first Fridays of the month. Thus, we encourage the faithful to become Extra ordinary Ministers of Communion to reach out to those who need to receive the Eucharist especially the sick parishioners.
Please contact Terry Werbeski to volunteer or Roy MacYntire.
Prayer Ministry
Greeting is an essential component of our parish. It is always good to feel welcome into a community with a smile and warm hospitality. It is an essential element of our parish celebrations.
Greeters are parts of building up the community. They are ambassadors of the parish by welcoming fellow parishioners and visitors who come to celebrate in the community. Be a part of this joyful ministry of greeting the people of God!
For more information or to sign-up email meharrington7@gmail.com