Programs & Workshops

Also known as the Ministry of Consolation, our mission is to provide bereaved parishioners and their families with hope and consolation during the period of mourning following the loss of a loved one. The goal of a parish bereavement ministry program is that no member of the faith community grieves alone. The compassion of a loving God should be experienced by all who lose a loved one through the concern and caring of the parish members.

This ministry promotes and supports the ongoing formation of catechists, and serves as a resource for those involved in sacramental preparation. It also supports and encourages adult faith formation by assisting parishes with relevant resources. Finally, this ministry promotes handing on the faith through the six tasks of catechesis (GDC 85-86): knowledge of the faith, liturgical education, moral formation, teaching to pray, education for community life, and missionary initiation.

"The future of humanity passes by way of the family" Familiaris Consortio (#86), Pope John Paul II. We assist in the development and support of parish family ministries so that families become the domestic churches they are called to be, where the Lord gathers us, forms us, and acts in the world.

The ministry of LPA is wide-ranging, relating to all aspects of parish life, but with designated responsibilities, such as sacramental preparation, faith formation, and evangelization, liturgy, pastoral care, or social outreach. The Lay Pastoral Associate (LPA) is a professionally-trained lay person, employed by a parish to work alongside the pastor for the overall care of the parish. He or she is usually a full-time member of the pastoral team.

"From the liturgy, therefore, and especially from the Eucharist, as from a font, grace is poured forth upon us; and the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God, to which all other activities of the Church are directed as toward their end, is achieved in the most efficacious possible way." (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #10)

This ministry supports the spiritual growth and faith development of men and women in the second half of life (50+). This is a genuine parish ministry with and for maturing adults, not just a social club for seniors. Its primary aim is growth in Christian maturity.

"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace" 1 Peter 4:10. Stewardship is not a program or a "new thing" we should do in addition to what we are already doing. Stewardship is a profound disposition of the heart and mind that transforms everything we do.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the way that a non-baptized person is brought into full communion with the Catholic Church. It provides the ritual actions for all the stages of initiation as well as, guides those who might not participate in the full Rite, but who are not yet in full communion with the Church.

The goal for the Ministry to the Sick and Homebound is to provide compassionate presence, pray and sacrament to parishioners who are confined to their home, hospital, or nursing homes due to illness or old age. This ministry provides the sick and homebound a sense of community and belonging.