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Altar Servers
- This group of young men and
women, from grades 6 through college, assist the Parish
Community in its liturgical prayer. Being an altar
server is an honor and a privilege which provides the
opportunity to participate in the liturgy in a special
way. Other goals of the Altar Server Program are to
deepen the server's faith, helping the server to
appreciate the Mass more deeply, and to inspire young
men and women to consider a religious vocation. The
altar servers also participate in an annual day of
recollection. |
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Bishop's Servers - are high school or
college students who expressed their desire to be
involved with our parish ministries by serving episcopal
liturgies at the Cathedral. Their ministry
includes not only serving at the bishop’s Masses but
also all major diocesan
celebrations at St. Agnes. Volunteers for this ministry
do not have to have previous experience of serving.
Training is provided for assisting at various liturgies.
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 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- The Extraordinary Ministers
of Holy Communion fill a great need in helping to
distribute Holy Communion at Mass on Sunday and
weekdays. The ministry of extraordinary ministers is
open to both religious and lay men and women over the
age of eighteen. These men and women bring Communion to
the sick and homebound offering spiritual nourishment
and comfort during times of illness and infirmity. They
also visit nursing homes, health-related facilities and
hospitals within the parish providing a much needed
service to those who cannot come to church.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion receive
intensive diocesan training and are commissioned at St.
Agnes Cathedral in a special ceremony.
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Family Mass Committee -
The Family Mass Committee works to create an inspiring
atmosphere where children and families can participate
at the Family Mass held on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the
Cathedral and 10:30 a.m. in the Lower Hall. The
committee offers all families the opportunity to
participate by proclaiming the
readings; leading the responsorial psalm; carrying the
offertory gifts and preparing the altar. Families also
serve as ministers of hospitality by distributing the
liturgy programs and children’s bulletins before and
after Mass.
This committee also supports the Cathedral’s annual
Christmas Pageant, where the celebration of the birth of
Jesus is reenacted. It involves our Children’s Choir as
well as children ages 5 - 14 who bring to life the
Christmas Story.
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Lectors
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Many men and women and
youth of the parish proclaim the Word of God at Sunday
and weekday liturgies. Lectors receive training at
parish and diocesan workshops. In addition they
participate in special recollection sessions to promote
their spiritual growth and to maintain and improve the
skills needed to properly proclaim the Word of God. |
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Ministry
of Consolation - The loss of a loved one often
requires grief stricken families to make decisions about
unfamiliar details at a time when they are least able to
do so. The Ministry of Consolation consists of St. Agnes
volunteers who assist family members as they plan the
funeral liturgy for their loved ones. These companions
offer consolation and help the families select
appropriate scripture readings and music and guide them
through the Liturgy of the Mass of Christian Burial.
They accompany the family to the church and are
available to assist them during the Funeral Mass. |
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Ministry
of Hospitality-
The Ministry of Hospitality welcomes parishioners and
visitors who gather at St. Agnes and helps to make them
feel that they are an integral part of our Eucharistic
Celebration. Ushers and greeters set an example of
hospitality for the rest of the assembly. Even beyond
giving an example, the very act of welcoming someone
often enables that person to be more hospitable to
others as well. The gift of
welcome that greeters and ushers give is passed on, like
the ripples created by a stone tossed in a pond. The
ushers and greeters are the initiators of a climate of
hospitality that should spread throughout the assembly.
The activities of the Ministry of Hospitality help to
make real our parish mission statement where we “affirm
the sanctity of each person.” In addition, their active
and visible participation in the liturgy encourages
other to do the same.
Greeters welcome people s they arrive and hand them a
liturgy program to encourage active participation. At
the end of Mass, they distribute the parish bulletin, so
people are informed about parish activities. They may
also assist the ushers in taking up the collection.
The Greeters have instituted monthly “Hospitality
Sundays,” where people can gather after Mass in the
Parish Center to enjoy coffee and cake while getting to
know their fellow parishioners.
Ushers also welcome parishioners to the liturgy. In
addition, they assist worshippers to find seats,
organize the Offertory procession and take up the
collections. Each month they take a count of those in
attendance to assist in determining the correct number
of hosts to be consecrated for each Mass. They are also
available to provide assistance and attend to
emergencies if they arise.
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Music
Ministry
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It is said that singing hymns is like praying twice. St.
Agnes Cathedral Parish is blessed with many talented
members who share their gift of song in praise of the
Lord. Their voices raised at Mass and other liturgies
enrich our spiritual life and encourage us all to
participate more fully. The many singing choirs and
other ensembles take part in concerts, seasonal music
services and performances outside the Parish. Our choirs
have performed at Shea Stadium, the Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. and in concert
with the South Shore Symphony.
The choirs and ensembles are: Children's Choir, Junior
Girls, Senior Girls, Choir of Men and Boys, Cathedral
Chorale,
Schola Cantorum, Cathedral Singers, Spanish, Contemporary Music Ensembles, and
Resurrection. In addition to these groups selected
choristers attend additional rehearsals and sing at some
11:00 a.m. Masses and special liturgies.
MORE...
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