Parish Support Ministries
Altar Care
Our Altar Care ministry is responsible for keeping the church ready for Masses and parish functions through a weekly cleaning schedule. Teams of 2-3 people are scheduled on a rotating basis for the entire year (roughly 5-6 weeks each year). New schedules are sent out to team members in November of each year. Cleaning guidelines are posted in the work sacristy in the back hallway of the Church, and cleaning should take the team about 30 minutes.
Altar Linens
Our Altar Linen Ministry is responsible for keeping the altar linens that are used at weekend liturgies washed and pressed through a monthly schedule. Volunteers are scheduled 1-2 months out of the year to participate in this ministry, and training is provided on how to properly launder and press the linens.
Finance Committee
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers) serve our parish community by distributing Holy Communion at weekend and special liturgies. A training session is required for first-time ministers of the parish. Re-training sessions are also available for ministers who would like a refresher. Ministers are scheduled approximately once every four weeks (or more often if they choose) at the Mass of their choice.
Eucharistic Ministers must be fully initiated (confirmed) in the Catholic faith. Eucharistic Ministers must also dress appropriately. (No flip flops, jeans, or shorts. Women may wear sandals, but they must be make sure they can go up and down the Sanctuary steps safely. Gentlemen should wear a dress shirt with dress pants or dress Dockers. Women should wear a blouse and skirt or slacks, or a dress. The length of the skirt or dress should be appropriate for church.
Grounds Care
Grounds Care is a ministry dedicated to maintaining and beautifying our church, rectory, school, and chapel house grounds. It requires one large spring clean up scheduled for one morning in May of each year. In addition, there are 10 garden spots within the grounds that volunteers may "adopt" and weed at least 4 times during the summer months (June, July, August, and September - one time per month). Notification of the annual spring clean up is communicated during the first week of May through parish communications.
Money Counters
Money (collection) counters count and deposit the weekend collections. There are 6 teams of 3 people who meet on Sunday morning, immediately following the 9:00am Mass. Teams are scheduled monthly on a rotating basis, serving 2 times per year. Volunteers for this ministry should have basic math skills, the ability to use a calculator (adding machine), and money handling skills, while not required, would be a plus. All members of this ministry are required to maintain confidentiality.
Photographer / Videographer
Are you an amateur photographer or videographer? Would you be willing to put your gifts and talents to use for the parish? St. Mary's is trying to develop a more visual presence in the bulletin as well as on our website and on social media. To do this we need people who would be willing to take photographs and video at our many events as the year unfolds. The frequency of the commitment would be based on availability.
Ministry Requirements
All photographers/videographers must be current with their Safe Environment training through the Diocese of Syracuse. If you would like to volunteer and have not been certified through Safe Environment, you must take the initial training course and complete the required background check before you will be allowed to volunteer in this capacity.
All photos taken at parish events that include children must be turned over to the parish and removed from personal devices, per the Safe Environment policy.