PARISH ORGANIZATIONS



PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED to share their TIME and TALENT with the parish and each other. All of the following ministries are open to all parishioners. We offer the following for your participation:

In WORSHIP
Worship/Spirituality Committee This group meets four or five times a year to plan parish Sunday and Holy Day liturgy as well as to educate themselves about the Church's liturgy.They also research other spiritual events for parishioners. Father Len
 534-2319
Music Ministry The choirs are scheduled so as to allow participation by those in Family Ministry and those involved in other liturgical ministries. 
	Cantors
	Adult Choir
	Youth Choir
	Children's Choir
	Advanced Handbell Choir
	Youth Handbell Choir
	Instrumentalists
Jim Cole 534-6585
Ministers of the Eucharist assist in distributing the Holy Eucharist at Mass. These people are trained and appointed by the Bishop through nomination from the parish. Father Len
 534-2319
Readers or Lectors proclaim the scriptures at Mass and receive some training beforehand. Strong voice, good expression and a willingness to serve at liturgy are pre-requisites. Father Len
 534-2319
Altar Servers are trained to assist at Mass. The child should be going into the fourth grade to be trained. Many of our servers do so until they leave for college. Father Len
 534-2319
Ushers serve the liturgy by collect- ing the financial gifts of the people. They also try to assist in seating and welcoming worshipers. Father Len
 534-2319
Video Ministry provides a medium for worship for those who are not able to be present at mass. Evangelization is another goal of the ministry. Joe Systo
 534-2319
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered at the 9:30 mass most weeks from September through May. Children process to the Old Church Hall during the Liturgy of the Word, returning to mass at the preparation of the Gifts. 534-2319

CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Religious Education of children from Grades 1 to 8 meet from September to May on various days for formal classes in the Catholic faith. Lay catechists are the backbone of this program.
 Liz Systo 534-9292
Family Ministry is a program for total family religious education. Sessions are conducted monthly after Sunday Masses.
 Liz Systo 534-9292
Adult Religious Education is periodically made available to parishioners. Sister Rosanne 534-2319
R.C.I.A. is an acronym for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults . This is a process of faith development and catechetical instruction which culminates in full membership in the Christian Roman Catholic community - the reception of the "sacraments of initiation": baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist. Sessions are held on Sunday mornings. Sister Rosanne 534-2319

SEMI-PARISH ORGANIZATIONS THAT BUILD COMMUNITY
Knights of Columbus The Our Lady of Lourdes Council #6930 meets every first and third Wednesday. Though the Council is open to men who are parishioners and non- parishioners, most are parishioners here and serve the parish through social and fellowship events.
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets every second Friday evening at 7:30. Some of our parishioners lead up this general public group and bring this dimension to our parish sense of caring.

IN CARE OF THE LESS FORTUNATE
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The Social Concerns Committee looks to the needs of the poor in our community. Monthly food collections are sponsored as well as semi-annual clothing drives. Many other activities are handled through the committee whose members meet five or six times annually in the ministry of caring. 534-2319
Interfaith Hospitality Network is a county and parish group that houses the homeless. Our parish provides hospitality about five weeks annually in our Old Church Hall. Volunteers are always needed. They meet only when some planning has to be accomplished.
Peace and Justice Committee is concerned about low income housing for the poor. One Saturday a month they help Martin House in Trenton to refurbish homes for the poor.They meet only when necessary. Dennis Renna 534-4314
Developmentally Handicapped Religious Education and socials are sponsored the first Sunday of each month in Old Church Hall. Ann Parsons 534-4281
Bereavement Group does not usually conduct formal meetings, but it supplies a collation for bereaved families on the day of burial and are available to console anyone who has lost a loved one. 534-2319
Pro-Life Committee is concerned about the threats to life from the child in the womb to the terminally ill. Parishioners are invited to participate in pro-life activities including a life chain, march in Washington, etc. 534-2319

In FORMING COMMUNITY
Small Church Communities have developed over the years.Parishioners in groups of eight to twelve meet in homes a number of times a month to develop community through discussion of the Sunday scripture readings and support of each other. Sister Rosanne 534-2319
Welcoming Committee aids the parish in trying to make new parishioners feel at home. They participate in the Evenings of Welcome for new parishioners and welcome newcomers on Fellowship Sunday. Sister Rosanne 534-2319

In OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDING
The Rosary-Altar Society is devoted to Our Lady's rosary and care for the altar linens and good order of the sanctuary of the church building. They meet the first Monday of the month for prayer at 7:10 in the evening followed by a meeting. Lorraine Krizenawski 534-4634
Lourdes Players present a stage production each May and at other times. Rehearsals for the May production begin in February. Parishioners involved in acting, staging, directing, back stage chores find them- selves forming community spirit. 534-5783
Charismatic Prayer Group gathers each Tuesday evening at 7:30 in the Church narthex for scripture, song and prayer. They build up the community with their prayerfulness. Barbara Kearns 534-2422
Lourdes Seniors meet at 1:00 in the afternoon each second Tuesday of the month. They support each other, socialize, and experience informative programs related to their period of life.
Moms,Tot and Pops are young moms, dads and their pre-school children who gather each Tuesday morning at 9:30 am to support each other and share a morning out of the house. They build up parish community in getting to know each other better.
Pre-Cana Team are married couples who help engaged couples to prepare for the community of a Catholic family. Pre-Cana sessions are held in February and October.
Pre-Baptism Team are married couples who help parents to prepare for their child's baptism into the community of the Church. Pre-Baptism sessions are conducted semi-monthly though team members only serve a few times yearly. 534-2319
Divorced and Separated are served through a few parishioners who have been trained by the diocesan Family Life Office.They meet periodically to help parishioners who are experiencing this kind of loss of a spouse. Pat Leyden 534-1573
PARISH LEADERSHIP - 2006-2007
	    Advocate for the Disabled		Peggy DeRossett
            Bereavement	
            Charismatic Prayer			Barbara Kearns
	    CLOW				
            Developmentally Handicapped		Anne Parsons
            Divorced and Separated		Pat Leyden
            Interfaith Hospitality Network
            Knights of Columbus		  
            Liturgy Committee			Fr. Len
            Lourdes Players			
            Lourdes Seniors		
	    Ministry to Sick & Elderly	
            Moms, Tots and Pops			
	    Music Ministry			Jim Cole
	    Peace and Justice Committee		Dennis Renna
            Pre-Baptism                         
            Pre-Cana Team			
            Pro-Life				
	    RCIA				Sister Rosanne
	    Religious Education			Liz Systo
            Rosary/Altar			Lorraine Krizenawski
            Small Church Communities		Sister Rosanne
            Social Concerns		
	    Spirituality / Spiritual Direction	
	    Video Ministry			
            Vocation Awareness                  Peter Pomposello
            Welcomers & Fellowship		Sister Rosanne
            Youth Ministry                     	Debbie McKenna