ALPHA:
Alpha is an 11 week course that creates a space where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about Jesus. Currently Alpha is offered twice a year—January and September. There are 3 elements to ALPHA : 1.) CONNECT (over a meal), 2.) WATCH (a 30 minute Alpha film), and 3.) DISCUSS (share and hear what others think about the video topic). It takes a lot of volunteers to put on the course. If you are either interested in attending or if you have attended previuosly and would like to help, click on the following link : Link to more details on ALPHA
Altar Servers: are a group of young men and women of our parish in the 4th grade or above, who assist the priests at all liturgical services: Sundays & weekday Masses, novenas and special parish liturgical celebrations. After a training session, new Altar Servers are installed at a special celebration each May. The Knights of Columbus sponsors Installation Banquet & Christmas Party for the Altar Servers each year. Adult helpers are also encouraged to volunteer. If you are interested in joining this particular ministry, please call the Parish Religious Education Office at 733-8980 for further information.
Altar Society: The goal of the Altar Society is to keep the church, especially the sanctuary clean and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. The ladies of this special ministry are on teams that rotate every week. The teams meet on Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM where they dust and clean the sanctuary, the confessionals and the sacristy. They also work hard creating wonderful flower arrangements throughout the year for the Altar and for the Blessed Mother. Especially beautiful are their Christmas and Easter decorations. If you are interested in joining this wonderful group of dedicated ladies, please call the rectory for further information. If you desire more details click the following link : Link to more details on Altar Society
Arms Wide Open (AWO): The Arms Wide Open (AWO) Bereavement Ministry ministers to families as they cope with the loss of a loved one. Our members contact the family of the deceased to assist with planning the funeral Liturgy, and, if possible, attend the funeral. We also keep in touch with the family of the deceased to offer prayers and spiritual support for the year following the funeral. We are seeking compassionate parishioners to join us in this Ministry. If you can help or would like more information, email the parish office. mailto:smmchurch@arch-no.org
Baptism Seminars: are presented monthly by a team of lay instructors. They teach on the development of our current celebration of this special Sacrament of Initiation and the importance of the role of parents and godparents in raising their children in the Catholic faith. First time parents & godparents are required to attend a one-time seminar which are held monthly. Pre-Registration is REQUIRED by calling the Office of Religious Education (733-8980) . Baptisms will now be held the second Sunday at 10:30 AM, including the 11AM Mass and the third Sunday at 12:15 PM. Requirements for becoming a Baptism Seminar Instructor are: must like people; have a warm and welcoming spirit; have a desire to commit to this ministry; and be willing to be trained and be open to taking Adult Education courses on the Sacrament of Baptism. If you are interested in becoming a Baptism Seminar Instructor, please call the 733-0922 for further information.
Come, Lord Jesus Bible Study Group invites you to join them. Presently there are 2 Come, Lord Jesus Prayer Groups meeting at SMM, on Tuesday & Thursday evenings. For more information contact Buzzy at buzaloni@cox.net.
Evenings of the Engaged Programs: This ministry is for married couples specially trained by the Family Life Apostolate to guide engaged couples through the Pre-Cana process over a period of six weeks. Engaged couples have three options regarding Pre-Cana: Day for the Engaged, Weekend for the Engaged and the Couple/Sponsor Program (not offered in every church parish). We are fortunate to offer this particular program at SMM and presently we have one couple dedicated to this program. There is a desperate need to train more couples for this ministry.
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion (EMC‘s): are recommended by the pastor and delegated by the Archbishop to distribute the Holy Eucharist at weekend and Holy Day Masses or Prayer Services. This unique ministry presently includes over 70 parishioners who are committed to distributing the Body of Christ on a rotation basis. EMC‘s, who are at least 18 years old, a baptized, practicing, confirmed Catholic and in good standing with the Catholic Church, are required to attend a training workshop and must be re-delegated every five years. If you are interested in joining this particular ministry, please call Maria at the Parish Religious Education Office at 733-1433 for further information.
Homebound Ministry: involves delegated EMC‘s visiting and distributing Holy Communion to those parishioners who are physically or mentally unable to attend Mass. If you are interested in joining this particular ministry,please call the office at 733-0922 for further information.
Marian Servants® is a community based Public Association of the Christian Faithful. The founding community formed in 1987 in Clearwater, FL, with our local community established in 2007. Our Mission is to bring Catholic Christians to a deeper understanding of their vocation and mission in Christ, in the Church, and in the world. Our spirituality is Marian—seeking to emulate Mary’s virtues of holiness, obedience, and service; it is also charismatic—with a special devotion to the Holy Spirit, with openness to His gifts. Membership is open to Catholics in good standing with the Catholic Church. The chapter located at SMM is the Marian Servants® of Our Father's Love which meets on Tuesdays from 9:30AM-12Noon. Anyone interested in learning more about the Marian Servants® may contact Patsy Ricau at pricau@cox.net. Link to more details
Ministers of the Word (Lectors): are delegated by the Archbishop to proclaim the Word of God at weekend and Holy Day Masses or Prayer Services. This unique ministry presently includes over 30 parishioners who are committed to proclaiming the readings on a rotation basis. Lectors, who are at least 18 years old and in good standing with the Catholic Church, are required to attend a training workshop If you are interested in joining this particular ministry, please call Maria at the Parish Religious Education Office at 733-1433 for further information.
Parish Adult Library - The St. Mary Magdalen Church Library, in accordance with the parish mission statement, seeks to provide the families of St. Mary Magdalen Parish with information, inspiration, and spiritual guidance through books and media.
Parish Pastoral Council: this is a consultative body of appointed and elected parishioners who assist the Pastor in ministering to and serving the present and future needs of the parish. This group is challenged to promote intercommunication between clergy and laity of the parish and among the parishioners themselves.
Parish School of Religion (PSR) Program: offers religious education and sacramental preparation to children in public and private schools, grades 1 thru 12.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Staff prepares those of other faiths or no faith interested in being received into the Catholic Church; those baptized Catholic but not practicing their faith; and those practicing Catholics wishing to enrich their faith. The Staff instructs the Catechumens/Candidates during a nine month preparation time beginning in early August, concluding at the Easter Vigil Mass where they are baptized and/or confirmed and received into full membership in the Catholic Church. The Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church, textbook, along with numerous other reference materials are used to help the Catechumens/Candidates on their faith journey. The classes are taught by the Parish Pastoral Staff (priests and deacons) and several lay teachers on a rotating basis. If you are a certified catechist, lay minister or have any experience teaching adult education courses and are interested in becoming an RCIA instructor, please call the Parish Religious Education Office for further information.
Social Apostolate: This dedicated group of parishioners was formed to help the needy of our parish. The Social Apostolate opens the Social Services building year-round on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30pm to those who need food or financial assistance. They also give special Thanksgiving & Christmas baskets to needy families during these holidays. If you are interested in joining the Social Apostolate, please visit them in the Social Services Building on Wednesday evenings or call the rectory for further information.
St. Anthony Nursing Home Volunteers: meet every Friday morning at the nursing home to bring spiritual comfort to the residents living there. SMM Parish priests celebrate Mass one Friday per month for the residents of the home with the assistance of the Volunteers. On the other Fridays, a team of Eucharistic Ministers and Volunteers hold a Rosary and Communion Service. Their generous dedication of ministering to this particular and sometimes forgotten group in our community is greatly appreciated by the residents and their families. If you are interested in joining the St. Anthony‘s Nursing Home Volunteers in this special ministry, call the rectory for further information.
Usher Society: The purpose of the Usher Society is to maintain good order in church during liturgical services, to seat parishioners, to help in the collection of monetary offerings and to serve as a welcoming or greeting committee at all Masses. There is always a great need for people to join this ministry. If you are interested in joining the Usher Society, please call the rectory for further information.
Vocations Ministry – this ministry involves doing something special one day out of the month for increased vocations to the religious life, priesthood, sisterhood or brotherhood. You can sign up for any day and do one of the following on that day: say special prayers for vocations (suggested prayers are given), go to Mass, say the rosary or do an hour of adoration. Other activities will include having a Holy Hour for Vocations periodically. This is a good way to increase your prayer life. Contact Joe Dicharry at gdicharry@cox.net if interested in joining.
Wedding Ministry: This ministry consists of teams of two trained coordinators to assist engaged couples marrying at SMM Church with Pre-Cana Process, Rehearsal and Wedding. The wedding coordinators assigned to an engaged couple contact them approximately 6 months before the wedding to assist them with any questions they might have in regard to their preparation and wedding. Most wedding ministry teams are assigned 3 to 4 weddings per year. If you are interested in joining this ministry, If you like working with children and are interested in joining this special ministry, please call the Parish Religious Education Office for further information.