Ministries and Outreach - Worship and Liturgy

 

Altar Servers - This group of young men and women, from grades 6 through college, assist the Parish Community in its liturgical prayer. In addition to the special opportunity afforded to the server to participate in the liturgy, other goals of the altar server program are: deepening the server's faith, helping the server to appreciate the Mass and inspiring him/her to consider a religious vocation. There are two full group meetings each year; outside activities include: a day of recollection during the winter months, an Islanders game during the spring and a day at Splish Splash in the summer.  MORE... 
 
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion - This group of men and women distribute Communion at Sunday and weekday Masses as well as bring Communion to the sick and homebound. Service to the homebound includes bringing the Eucharist to nursing homes and health- related facilities within the parish as well as Mercy Medical Center.  MORE... 
 
Family Mass Committee - This committee, which plans the 9:15 Mass in the Cathedral and the 10:30 Mass in the Lower Hall on Sundays, works to create an atmosphere in  which families and children of all ages can attend and celebrate. Liturgical participation includes: proclamation of the first two readings, leading the singing of the Responsorial Psalm, bringing up the offertory gifts and dressing the altar and,  singing in the children's choir. 
 
Funerals - At a time, which is generally sad and emotional for the family and friends of the deceased, the parish is ready and anxious to assist in any way possible. Arrangements, including details of time, music and reading selections are made through the Funeral Director. Funeral Masses are not said on Sunday, Holy Days or during the Holy Week Triduum. Information regarding Memorial Gifts in memory of loved ones can be found below under Memorial Remembrances.
 
 
Ministry of Hospitality - In an effort to make everyone feel welcome in our parish, especially at our Sunday liturgies, the Liturgy Committee of our parish has initiated a Ministry of Hospitality.  Hospitality Ministers, also called greeters, serve once a month at a Mass of their choice. They arrive about 20 minutes before Mass begins to greet people as they arrive, and remain about 5 minutes after Mass to ready the church for the next service.  Since there are many doors to our Cathedral, we are in need of many ministers. If you are interested in becoming a part of this simple, but important ministry, or you would like more information about it, please e-mail us at hospitality@stagnescathedral.org or contact the rectory. 
 
 
  
Lectors
- This group of men and women proclaim the Word of God at Sunday and weekday liturgies. Lectors participate in parish and diocesan workshops, function at all weekday and Sunday Masses, attend day and evening sessions of recollection for spiritual growth and seek to maintain proper skills and qualities needed for the proclamation of the Word.  MORE... 
 
Liturgy Committee - The purpose of our parish Liturgy Committee is to foster full and active participation in the Liturgy, as was envisioned at Vatican Council II.  Working toward this goal, the members of the committee study liturgical documents and other publications pertaining to the Liturgy.  The committee assists the priest presiders in preparing the Sunday liturgies, especially during the primary seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. In addition, this year the committee has focused on the training of the liturgical ministers, in particular: extraordinary ministers, lectors and ushers/hospitality. MORE... 
 
Memorial Remembrances - Those who wish to remember a loved one are able to arrange for masses to be celebrated at St. Agnes or by a missionary. each week the Wine and Hosts used at mass are memorialized. Monetary gifts for vestments and sacred objects used in the Liturgy and adorning the Cathedral may also be memorialized as well. All these are arranged in person at the rectory office.
 
Music Ministry - There are many singing choirs and various other ensembles. Besides singing at the liturgies of the parish, the singing choirs occasionally produce special projects such as concerts, services of music and singing trips. The choirs and ensembles are: Cathedral Chorale, Senior Girls, Junior Girls, Men and Boys, Children's, Spanish, Contemporary Music Ensembles, and Resurrection.  MORE... 
 
Ushers - These men and women take counts of those in attendance when required, take up collections and attend to emergencies as they arise. They also help the Ministry of Hospitality in welcoming people to the liturgy.
 
 
Weddings
- Arrangements for weddings are made by meeting with a priest at least six months prior to one's wedding. It is generally after this meeting that a date and time can be set for the wedding. These arrangements need to be done prior to making reception plans.

 
Please contact the Church Office at  (516) 766-0205, unless noted, if you are interested in learning more about these ministries and their activities.

 


Holy Agnes, pray for us

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