Ministries
Liturgical Ministries
Greeters
Greeters Ministry is a wonderful way to ensure that our parish is a welcoming place. Greeters’ duties include: arriving at church 20 minutes before Mass is scheduled to begin, welcoming people at the main entrances of the church, and handing out bulletins at the end of Mass. This is a great ministry for the entire family! All it takes is a smile and a few kind words! If you are interested in joining this ministry, please contact Connie Ertel at connieertel@gmail.com.
Ushers
Ushers are the ministers of the Church and servants of the faith-community. They provide a service when we all gather to celebrate the Eucharist and fill many responsibilities by helping our Church and the parishioners. Duties include arriving at Mass early, seating people when crowded, taking up the collection, cleaning pews after Mass, turning off the lights and locking the doors of the church. Ushers generally serve a month at a time, and no more than 4 months out of the year. Contact Chuck Mathias from St. Anne at chuckmathias@gmail.com for more information.
Sacristans
The duties of the sacristans are to ensure that everything is ready for the clergy and other ministers. We prepare liturgical books, vestments, vessels and all items needed for Mass, the Sacraments, funerals and other liturgies. It is also our responsibility to secure the sacristy and the church at the conclusion of Mass and other liturgies, and to return properly cleaned items to their designated places. We ensure the cleanliness and organization of the Sacristy by keeping it fully stocked with necessary supplies. For more information, contact Sandy Dyer from St. John at branherc@frontier.com. For St. Anne's please contact the parish office.
Altar Servers
The purpose of this ministry is to enable young men and women to assist the priest at Mass. Servers also are leaders of the assembly, helping the assembly to know the correct postures and responses at Mass. Any young person 10 years of age or older is welcome to join. Training is generally held once or twice a year. Altar serving is an opportunity to become closer to the Lord as you participate in a very special way at each liturgy at which you serve. Altar Servers are scheduled for weekend Masses and have opportunities to volunteer for special liturgies and for Holy Days. If you would like to become an altar server, contact Connie Ertel at connieertel@gmail.com.
Lectors
Lectors welcome parishioners and guests to St. Anne. They help the priest and deacon proclaim the word of God presented in the weekly readings. Lectors are scheduled for the Mass they prefer to attend, rotating on a weekly basis. Lectors are also needed for special Masses held throughout the year. Additional time is necessary to prepare for reading each week. We ask that you practice before Mass. There may be training sessions held that you would be asked to attend. If you would like to volunteer, contact Connie Ertel at connieertel@gmail.com.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
We are commissioned to serve our church and community and show special reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist as we assist our priest and deacon in sharing the gift of the Precious Body and Precious Blood. This is a spiritual and rewarding ministry that not only strengthens our faith but allows us to bring the Eucharist to our fellow parishioners. We serve at masses and some ministers will bring the Eucharist to those who are homebound, in nursing homes and in the hospital. Please contact the parish office to get involved.
Musicians
The musician ministry consists of a music director, cantors and musicians. It is the role of the music director to work in collaboration with other parish staff to help coordinate and schedule musicians and plan music for liturgical celebrations. Contact Gail Paarmann-Nikulski at glp4notes@aol.com for more information.
Parish Ministries
Prayer Chain
Members of the prayer chain are parishioners who are willing to pray for someone who has a serious illness or problem and are in need of God’s help. The time commitment is up to each individual person. Each member prays in their own way for the requests for 30 days, unless we are asked to keep them on the list longer. If you would be interested in being part of the chain or have a prayer request, please contact Nancy Swanson at nancyswanson70@gmail.com.
Homebound
The persons in this group visit parishioners who are unable to attend Mass. We take Holy Communion to them and spend some time visiting. There are no meetings. Homebound members are visited once a week with a rotating schedule of volunteers throughout the month. This ministry is a monthly commitment. If you are interested, contact Sandy Thomas at sthomas519@gmail.com for St. Anne please contact the parish office.
Funeral Lunch Servers
Our group prepares luncheons for funerals held at St. Anne or St. John Church. We order the food, call and get volunteers to serve, and then clean up. Depending on the size of the funeral, we need about 5-7 people per funeral to assist with the luncheon. If you would like to volunteer, contact Rosie Meyer from St. Anne at dennynrose@gmail.com or Georgia Miller from St. John at rgmillerranch@yahoo.com.
Rosary Makers
Rosary Makers welcomes everyone to join us on the 1st and 3rd Mondays from 9:00 to 11:00 am at St. John’s Hall for some creative, rewarding and fun work! There is no experience required! Come and join us in our new ”Rosary Room”! Contact Deb Hart at jcrules@frontiernet.net.
Prayer Shawl Ministry of Darlene’s Stitchers
Darlene’s Stitchers is a combined group of ladies from different parishes who love to knit, crochet and pray for others. A prayer shawl is one that is knitted or crocheted and as the shawl is made, prayers are said for the person who will eventually receive the shawl. The shawl will be blessed at the next prayer shawl meeting. This shawl is to give comfort, warmth and a sense of love from God and from the group. The recipient of the shawl may be going through an illness, a loss of a loved one or even for a joyous occasion such as the birth of a child or grandchild. A monthly meeting is held at Our Lady of Guadalupe church hall, Divine Mercy Parish, on the second Saturday of each month where we come together to knit, crochet and enjoy each other’s company. We encourage all knitters, crocheters, and those who would like to learn these handicrafts to join the group. If you have any questions, you can contact Vicki Kennedy at kvmir3@gmail.com or Corinne Brigg' at jcbriggs470@gmail.com.
Card Ministry
Every month, cards are sent out to parishioners who are homebound or are nursing home residents who can no longer attend Mass. These cards are to let these parishioners know that they are still part of the parish family and are being prayed for. Any new names to be included in this list can be emailed to Corinne Briggs at jcbriggs470@gmail.com.
Seven Sisters Apostolate
The mission of the 7 sisters is a call to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest--Father Julien for OLG--or the bishop or another priest or the Holy Father. Each sister commits to a specific day of the week and comes to church before the blessed sacrament and prays for an hour for the specific priest. We have 7 sisters with 2 alternates for times there is a conflict for a holy hour such as sickness, travel etc. Our patrons are 3--Madonna of the Grapes, St. John Vianney and St. Margaret Clitherow. Contact Deb Hart at jcrules@frontiernet.net for more information.