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ADULTS |
Parish Groups and Committees |
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Altar Guild – The Altar Guild was established in 2003. Its service arises out of the words of Psalm 26: “O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, the tenting place of your glory.” Altar Guild members ensure that everything used in our liturgies to give praise and honor to God is ready for use, in pristine condition, at all times. Regularly, a core group cares for the altar linens and vestments, the shrine areas, planes and flowers, holy water fonts, the pews, and the vestibule. Twice a year, parishioners are invited to a Saturday morning work-fest of washing, polishing and buffing the entire nave and vestibule. More than 40 parishioners (individuals and families) sign up for this day of service to the glory of the Lord, claming a bit more “ownership” of the church and meeting new friends. On two similar days, the sanctuary and the chapel are cleaned. New members are welcome in all aspects of the Altar Guild’s service. Anyone wishing to serve in this ministry should contact Mary McLoughlin or Marie O’Connell care of the rectory.
Altar Servers - The Altar Server Ministry is an important opportunity for our young people to participate in the liturgical life of our community here at St. Francis. Altar servers assist the priest at Mass. We also offer this opportunity to interested adults. Children need to have finished 3rd grade to be eligible to serve. If you are interested in joining this ministry, please call Jeff Vieira at: 718-788-3198.
Catechists – Catechists are members of the parish community who have shown a special interest in teaching children the Catholic faith and Christian values. The Director of Religious Education works closely with the Catechists, provides necessary training and assists in any needs that arise. The Catechists are prayerful, faith-filled, active members of the church community who strive to grow in their own personal relationship with God and are willing to help nurture the faith life of the children in our parish family. If you are interested in this important ministry, contact Sister Helene at (718) 857-2903.
Catholic Young Adults - We’re a diverse and enthusiastic group who strive to grow in faith every day, serve our community whenever we can, and get together as often as possible! Our base is in the Park Slope “Cluster Churches” of St. Augustine, St. Francis Xavier, St. Saviour, and St. Thomas Aquinas, but we’re made up of people from all over Brooklyn, Manhattan and beyond. If you’re interested in meeting this energetic and vibrant group of individuals, if you’re single or married, just moved in, have been here all your life, or even just want to find out more about us…Call us at (718) 783-3132 ext. 26 or give us a click —we’d love to hear from you!
Children’s Liturgy of the Word – Our Children’s Liturgy of the Word Program takes place every Sunday at the 9:30 am Mass. God has indeed blessed us with much success over the past several years; our parish children are coming to hear the Good News in truly impressive numbers. Our catechists help make the Scriptures come alive for the children, and find their own faith being renewed and strengthened. Though the commitment of the heart is great, the time commitment is minimal – about an hour of preparation and twenty minutes one Sunday a month. Training is provided and lesson materials with all the ideas needed are given. All that’s required is a desire to enrich the liturgical experience of our children and be enriched in return. If you would like more information, speak to anyone on the Children’s Liturgy Committee or call Sister Helene at (718) 857-2903.
St. Francis Xavier Choirs – The choirs add beauty and solemnity to our liturgies here at St. Francis Xavier. Music in Catholic Worshipstates, “The choir leads the people in sung prayer by alternating or reinforcing the sacred song of the congregation or by enhancing it with the addition of musical elaboration.”
Disciples in Mission – The parishioners of Saint Francis Xavier participate each Lent in this Catholic Scripture program. This program is a spiritual endeavor designed to help you grow in your faith. Small groups will meet once a week during Lent to reflect on the readings from Sunday Mass. Through these meetings, the Word of God will come alive as you relate it to your everyday life. Please watch the bulletin for information on signing up each year as the Lenten season approaches.
Elizabeth Ministry – Our Elizabeth Ministry is an outreach to women in special times of motherhood. The purpose of the ministry is to affirm, support, encourage, and assist women in response to their needs during the childbearing years. We offer an Anonymous Prayer Partner program where parishioners pray for both expectant moms-to-be as well as those trying to conceive. We also offer home cooked meals for new parents. The Elizabeth Ministry Parents Group for parents and their young children meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1:15PM in the Rectory. We explore how to make our faith come alive to our children and share tips and advice on child rearing. To sign up for any of these programs please call the Rectory office at (718) 638-1880 or contact Theresa Seabaugh.
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – The Extraordinary Ministers of Communion assist in the distribution of the body and blood of Christ during the celebration of the Mass. We also bring communion to the sick and homebound. To give communion to the faith community is very rewarding, both to those who give and to those who receive. We encourage anyone who is interested in this ministry to please contact either Edna Fialo at (718) 622-6043 or Diane Shaffer at (718) 399-8828.
Golden Age Club - Our parish seniors meet for social and recreational events on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1pm in the Senior Citizen Center located in the school building. For more information, contact the rectory.
Holy Name Society – Holy Name Society is a society for the men of the parish, the purpose of which is to promote and encourage reverence for the Holy Name of Jesus. The society members attend the 9:30 Mass on the second Sunday of every month and a meeting follows. For more information, leave your name and phone number at the Rectory and someone will get back to you.
Hospitality Group (Hospitality Committee) – The Hospitality Committee provides free coffee and light refreshments after Mass about five times a year. The committee is responsible for setting up and organizing the tables, replenishing them and cleaning up after the 12:15 pm Mass. Parish volunteers contacted prior to the designated weekend bring juice, home-made or purchased goods to the vestibule prior to Mass. Anyone interested in joining our committee or becoming a food contributor should contact Ursula Kugler at (718) 573-8860 or uandmkugler @ msn.com.
Lectors – Lectors are prophets and heralds of the Word of God. Their duty is to bring the printed Word to life by their voice, their attitude and their physical bearing at Masses and special Liturgies. In bringing this Word to life, Lectors provide the assembly with an opportunity to encounter God’s healing and strengthening Word as it goes out to the ends of the earth, accomplishing the purpose for which God sent it. Training is provided. Meetings are held 4 – 5 times a year for scheduling, practice and instructions. If you desire more information on this ministry, please leave your name and telephone number at the Rectory, and someone will contact you.
Lending Library – The Lending Library opened in June 2004 to help serve the spiritual needs of the SFX community. Its shelves contain diverse works – from the classics to the current – on prayer, spirituality, and the saints, as well as books on social and church issues. Recently, the Library expanded into video offerings. Helping out at the Library is simple in that you assist parishioners in finding and checking out materials. The time commitment is minimal: no more than once per month, ten minutes before and after the Mass you generally attend. Please consider lending a hand. You can fill out a volunteer slip at the library table or call Julie Cornely at (718) 789-7150.
Liturgy Committee – The volunteer members of the committee devote their efforts to enriching the parish community's experience of its worship of God through the liturgy. We assist the pastor and other liturgical ministers in the planning and organization of special liturgies and events. Also, our focus is very much on the environment, both spiritual and physical, that surrounds the liturgy. From fence signs to bulletin announcements to church décor, all are within the reach of the Liturgy Committee. For instance, the prayer vessel near the tabernacle altar that contains the private petitions of the faithful is a fruit of the liturgy committee. We also have the great joy of decorating the church for all the major church holidays. If your talents include organization and planning skills, creative writing, artistic flair and design, the Liturgy Committee could use your help. The committee meets on the seconds Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM in the Rectory. we welcome fresh faces and new ideas. If you are interested in joining the is committee, please contact Sister Helene at (718) 857-2903,
Ministers of Welcome (Ushers) – Ministers of Welcome/Ushers greet members of the gathering assembly and provide a welcoming environment for Masses and special liturgies. They assist people in finding seats, take up the Sunday offering and invite parishioners to participate in the Offertory procession. A sincere, helpful attitude and a warm friendly smile are necessary. If you are interested in joining this ministry, leave your name and phone number at the Rectory and someone will contact you.
Parish Prayer Group – The Prayer Group meets at 7:30 pm on the third Tuesday of each month from September through June in the Rectory. The prayer meeting offers a structured opportunity to share prayer, Scripture, and fellowship in an informal setting. A prayer meeting is neither a support group nor a Scripture student program. Rather, there is time to share various forms of prayer: silent prayer and reflection, hymns, and praise. Scripture is read and sometimes discussed. The hour ends with prayers of petition and intercession for the needs of the Parish community and for the friends and loved ones of those present. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
Rosary Society – In November 1952, St. Francis Xavier Rosary Society was established for women parishioners to give honor and praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Rosarians meet on the first Sunday of the month from October to June. The Rosary is said before the 9:30 am Mass followed by Mass and a meeting. Our meetings include guest speakers, videos, prayer services, parties and planning for our religious, social and fund-raising activities. You are most welcome to join us and for further information, please leave your name and telephone number at the Rectory, and someone will contact you.
Secular Order of St. Francis – The Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi is an association of people, married and single, living in the world, as a family or brotherhood committed to witnessing the Gospel of Christ in their own lives. Lay Franciscans assemble in small groups called fraternities, usually attached to a parish or religious unit and enjoying the spiritual direction and assistance of Franciscans. The Lay Franciscan branch of the Franciscan family is called the Third Order only because it was founded in 1221 after the First (Priests and Brothers) and Second Order (Cloistered Poor Clare Nuns). Our Fraternity here at St. Francis Xavier is called “Peace on Earth Pope John XXIII Fraternity.” If you would like to know more about us, please call Millie Crowley at (718) 622-7413.
Scouts – St. Francis Xavier has been the home of wonderful scouting programs for many years. Currently, only Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are meeting on a regular basis. The Cub Scouts meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the Lyceum and the Boy Scout meetings are also held in the Lyceum on Wednesdays at 7 pm. For more information about our scouting programs, leave your name and phone number at the Rectory for Jack Murphy. Be sure to check out their web site.
Sports - SFX Youth Sports is an All-Volunteer program that has served Park Slope & the neighboring communities since 1968, providing Co-ed Baseball & Soccer in Prospect Park at an instructional level. It's fun for the entire family! Our teams compete with teams from our neighboring Parishes: Holy Name, Immaculate Heart of Mary, & Sacred Heart/St. Stephen. (Javier Rosario, President)
St. Vincent de Paul Society – The work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is the Gospel message in action: I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was a stranger, I was naked, I was sick. And you cared. If you would like to know more about the St. Vincent de Paul Society or perhaps are interested in becoming a member, please leave your name and telephone number at the Rectory (718) 638-1880, and someone will contact you.
Website Committee – The Website Committee is dedicated to updating and improving the St. Francis Xavier Parish website. If you are interested in joining the group or would like to comment on the website, please contact Ian McGrath in care of the Rectory, or email webmaster@stfxbrooklyn.org. (Beware; comments could be taken as promises to join the Committee.) |