Ministries

Altar Servers assist the priest during the liturgies. Their roles include carrying the processional cross and sometimes incense and candles. They hold the proper liturgical book for the presider and perform other functions that enable the celebration to flow in a reverent manner. This ministry is open to all youth and adults, 5^th grade or older. Training is required and provided. If you are interested, please contact Rebecca Diller, 836-0855.

Lectors proclaim the scripture at all Masses, Sundays and weekdays, and special liturgies, such as Vespers. The ministry of the lector is of utmost importance to the life of the Church, for the lector proclaims God’s living word. If you are interested, please contact Jerri Bishop, 884-5717.

Liturgical ministry is an excellent opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call of service to others. Our liturgies should utilize to the fullest extent the talents and gifts that God has given this community. Whether participation is through “behind the scenes” preparation and planning or through a public role of service within the Mass, parishioner contributions help our liturgies enrich our faith life.

Eucharistic Ministers distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to fellow Catholics at Mass.  They assist with set up of Communion vessels prior to Mass, assist Mass celebrant with the distribution of Holy Communion, and properly clean and store the vessels after Mass. This ministry is open to those who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Training is provided. If you are interested, please contact Pete Pierron, 771-4411.

Qualified RNs provide free blood pressure screenings and information on blood pressure control to parishioners after Masses – at St. Paul on the 2nd Sunday of each month, at St. Rita on the 3rd Sunday of each month, and at Precious Blood on the last Sunday of each month.  Contact:  Helen Neff, 836-4764 at St. Paul, Matt Ruttle, 278-5815 at St. Rita, and Luanne Springhart, 276-5954 at Precious Blood.

The Ministers of Hospitality Ushers and Greeters are there to greet current members and to assist/direct visitors. They are also there to help with members of the congregation who require special assistance.  At the end of Sunday Mass they distribute bulletins. If you are interested, please contact Richard Fulwiler.

Music Ministry

There are many ways parishioners of all ages can become involved in music ministry, primarily through the singing assembly. Below are descriptions of how one can participate. If interested in any one of them, please contact Mary Ann Pitts.

•  ADULT CHOIR: This choir leads the sung prayer of the community regularly for Sunday 10:30 Masses and major holydays throughout the year.
• INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC MINISTRY: Parishioners who play musical instruments are invited to consider sharing their talent with the community. Instrumentalists are always welcome, especially during the Christmas and Easter seasons.
• CANTORING: The role of the cantor is to support and lead the singing assembly and to proclaim psalms. To this end cantors must be competent not only as singers but also as leaders of prayer. Persons, interested in becoming a parish cantor, need not be members of any choir. Cantors provide leadership in singing Sunday and Holy Day Masses as well as parish celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Bereavement Ministry will serve families who have lost a loved on e to death through the Catholic Communities of Northwest Dayton.  The members of the ministry are trained to provide comfort and support to the grieving families by giving them our time, hearing their thoughts, and sharing their tears.  The Funeral Committee sees that all is in order and ready for a Funeral Mass/service.  They prepare the altar and church for a Funeral Mass, serve as altar servers, and toll the bells.  Other duties include preparing the pall for the casket, handing out the liturgy aids, being Eucharistic minister, and ushering.  If you are interested in this very important ministry, please contact Sue Seibert at 836-7535.

Volunteers bring Holy Communion to homebound parishioners and to area nursing home patients on a weekly basis and on a schedule which is mutually advantageous to all. Service to the homebound at their residence is usually because of chronic medical or other circumstances that keep them from coming to church. If you are interested, please contact Sue Seibert.

The overall goals of St. Paul Parish Pastoral Council are:

• To serve as a vehicle of dialogue and communication among members of the St. Paul Family;
• To encourage communication among all members of the parish and to resolve conflicts in the practical working out of programs of various committees, associations, and commissions;
•  To provide advice and counsel to the Pastor.

Current members are Steve Naas (President), Dave Heuker (Secretary),  Mel Boerger, Peg Cacek, Tom Dickerson,  Patty Gudorf, Steve Hess, Diane Huelsman, Dan Knapke,  Debbie Leopold, Phil Nussman,  and Mary Ann Schindler.

Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in our parishes. Stephen Ministry lay caregivers are trained parishioners who are equipped to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are struggling from divorce, job loss, grief, illness, or some other life crisis.  Stephen Ministry Leaders assign a care giver who can best serve the parishioner who is in need.  Contact: Curtis Kneblik, 276-5954 for St. Rita & Precious Blood, and Barb Franz, 836-4175 for St. Paul.

God’s Garden is a volunteer-run garden that provides needy families with fresh locally-grown produce that they otherwise may not be able to obtain. The garden is a product of the efforts of parishioners from our three parishes and is located on the St. Paul Parish grounds. If you are interested, please contact Valerie Hagemeyer.

The purpose of the Community Table is to provide a community gathering place where people, experiencing emotional and financial stress, can secure temporary food and shelter, can learn in classes and in small groups, and/or can develop relationships that support healthy and sustainable lives in the larger communities. Projects include:  Backpacks for Kids, Back-to-School Store, and Christmas Store.  If interested, contact Beth Crouse, 836-7535.

Our three parishes have on Conference dedicated to serving the impoverished within their geographical parish boundaries.  A combined Conference works for greater efficiency to manage and run a food pantry, to arrange volunteers to provide meals to a homeless shelter, to organize and deliver food and Christmas gift baskets, and to offer financial assistance to those needing help.  If you are interested please contact:  Bonnie Vitangeli, 890-3369.