Saint John The Evangelist

Catholic Community

MINISTRIES

AFTER-MASS SOCIALS

            

             These informal socials occur after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays.  They enhance a sense of community by giving our priests and parishioners the opportunity to meet and intermingle while enjoying refreshments. 

             Volunteers are needed to set up and serve the refreshments and are scheduled approximately four times annually.  Call for more information or to volunteer.

 

Coordinators:  Ron and Barbara Yanko – 633-6370

 

ALTAR LINEN MINISTRY

 

             Members of the Altar Linen Ministry care for the linens used in Holy Communion and to dress the altar at daily and weekend Liturgies.  This care includes washing, ironing, and perhaps mending the cloths.  Linens are picked up and returned by members of this ministry.

 

Coordinator:  Betty Carey - 242-9388

 

ALTAR SERVERS

 

             All the young people of our parish, both boys and girls, are invited to join the Altar Server Ministry.  However, these young ministers must have attained at least third grade and received First Reconciliation and First Communion.

             The primary duty of an altar server is assisting the celebrant during Mass on weekends and holy days throughout the year.

             Training sessions and meetings are held from time to time as need arises; schedules are developed monthly.

 

Coordinator:  Deacon Jim Seidel - 637-1968

 

BAPTISM PREPARATION

 

             Those serving in this ministry assist parents in preparing for their children’s reception of the Sacrament of Baptism and for the Catholic lives their children will enter through Baptism.

 

Coordinator:  Deacon Jim Seidel - 637-1968

 

CHURCH ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY

 

             The Church Environment Ministry is responsible for the decoration of worship space for weekend Mass, various feast days, and for special ceremonies.  Ministry members design and make banners, flower arrangements on some feast days, and other decorative items.

             Currently this ministry serves the parish by the timely delivery and removal of decorations to and from our temporary weekend worship areas.  Parishioners with sewing and/or artistic abilities for designing banners or arranging flowers are particularly welcome.

 

Coordinator:  Sue and Ed Walsh - 637-0488

 

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION (EMHC)

 

As an EMHC you will have the privilege of serving at the table of the Lord.  You will be trained and certified to distribute the Precious Body and Blood of Christ to our congregation.

Certification is a two-part process.  First, you will be required to attend a three-hour class given by the Diocese of Orlando.  These classes are scheduled several times a year.  Second, following completion of this class, you will be given “hands-on” training by one of the sacristans.  With the pastor’s approval, you will then begin to serve at the Mass of your preference.

Re-certification, by attending a half-day of prayer offered by the Diocese, is required every two years to continue in this ministry. 

Prayerfully consider a vocation to this form of service.

 

Coordinators:  Judy Lambert – 242-9326

                                    Carol Poletto - 752-1180

 

FUNERAL MINISTRY

 

             The Funeral Ministry provides support for families at their time of grieving.  A visit to the family is made as soon as feasible to coordinate arrangements for the funeral or memorial Mass.  The family is assisted in the selection of readings and music according to Church guidelines.  Participation of family and friends in the Liturgy is encouraged, and they are guided in their role.

             Members of the Music Ministry are contacted, and their role at the service is reviewed.  With the assistance of the office staff, a printed program is prepared for distribution at the service.  All facets of the service are coordinated with the funeral director, and the plans are presented to the presiding priest to assist him and the family.  The appropriate information necessary for church records regarding the deceased is obtained.

             Anyone having an interest in the liturgy and compassion for our parishioners who suffer the loss of a loved one is encouraged to join this small, but dedicated, ministry.  Training is provided.

 

Coordinators:  Jean McLain – 259-9126

                            Pat Pettinato – 255-0908                         

 

GREETERS

 

             Greeters are the first representatives of St. John the Evangelist Parish that people meet as they enter our worship space.  Their primary responsibility is to welcome and warmly greet all those who enter.  They also assist with the orderly flow of people in and out of Mass.

 

Coordinator:  Joan Young – 757-3077

 

MARRIAGE PREPARATION / FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communications, Understanding and Study)

 

             Married couples assist engaged couples with preparation for Sacramental Marriage as required by the Diocese.  Special training and certification are provided.

 

Coordinators:  Jim and Joan Young – 757-3077

 

MINISTRY OF THE WORD

 

          Ministers of the Word are lectors or readers of our St. John’s Community who participate at Mass by reading designated Scripture passages. Individuals who express an interest in this ministry, who have good speaking voices and presence, receive training from experienced readers.  Many come to St. John’s with experience and training from other parishes.

Each lector is provided with a set of guidelines setting forth procedures established for our parish. They also receive a workbook containing the Sunday and Holy Day readings for the current church year.  Periodic meetings and training sessions are scheduled throughout the year.

The lectors study and prepare their assignments well so as to ably assist the other members of the congregation in understanding the God in whom we believe.

Approximately 60 adults and several youths participate in this ministry.  Each reader is scheduled approximately once a month and receives a copy of a schedule every two months.

 

Coordinators:  Ginny Oehler – 779-4663

                 Camille Link – 632-5892

 

MINISTERS TO THE SICK (MTS)

 

            

           MTS are parishioners who commit themselves to the visitation of the sick, shut-ins, and their caregivers.  This commitment can be viewed more as a vocation than as a volunteer activity.
          MTS represent our parish community through their visits.  Prayer and the Eucharist, along with attentive listening to the cares and concerns of our brothers and sisters, are the elements of MTS visits.

             Candidates for this ministry, who must already be Eucharistic Ministers and be approved by the pastor, attend an eight-hour training class.  This is followed by on-the-job training with a mentor.  Re-certification every three years requires nine hours of spiritual development and nine of educational.  Meetings with guest speakers or video presentations are held throughout the year to assist ministers in fulfilling re-certification requirements.

             Facilities visited by St. John’s ministers are Autumn House, Sunnyside Homes, Wuesthoff Assisted Living Facility, Wuesthoff Progressive Care, Town Square, and private homes.

            

Coordinators:  Deacon Jim Seidel - 637-1968

                      Dorothy Ghezzi – 242-7610

 

MUSIC MINISTRY

 

             Music plays a vital role in creating a spiritual environment for worship.  All who participate in the Music Ministry share in this responsibility through the discernment and development of their gifts, commitment to rehearsing, and by facilitating the goal of “full, conscious, and active” participation of the faithful at liturgy.  The Music Ministry of St. John’s consists of a vibrant group of vocal and instrumental musicians who work harmoniously together to lead the assembly at weekend and other liturgies in sung prayer.

             Many opportunities are available for participation in this ministry, including weekend choir members, youth choir, the St. John Evangelist Choir (which sings on special occasions), cantors / song leaders, instrumentalists, and accompanists.

 

Coordinator: Manfred Dreilich - 637-9650

 

OFFERTORY ACCOUNTING

 

             This group meets on Monday mornings to count the offertory, Building Fund, and special collections.

 

Coordinators:  Bette Blesse – 259-7478

                                  Evelyn Bartolotta – 253-0985

 

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

 

             Volunteers answer phones, greet visitors, and perform a variety of helpful tasks for the office staff.  Volunteers work one half-day per week, either 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. on a regular basis, or may act as substitutes for regular volunteers on an as-needed basis.  Office volunteers may be called upon to help on special projects occasionally.

 

Coordinator:  Audrey Spinney - 617-7635

 

OUTREACH MINISTRY

 

             The corporal works of mercy include feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and lonely, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, and welcoming newcomers.

             St. John the Evangelist Parish has undertaken various projects to help the less fortunate in our community.  Our parishioners have provided food for the Food Pantry at St. Mary’s and Ascension.  Canned and packaged items are donated weekly and during drives before Thanksgiving and Easter.  Volunteers from the parish give of their time and talent to work at these food pantries. We also have parishioners who serve lunch at Daily Bread.

             God calls us to help the less fortunate, and we would like to thank all for their support and donations.

             If you would like to be part of this ministry, please contact the Parish Office or the Outreach Ministry coordinator.

 

Coordinator:  Al McKenna – 433-0793

 

PRAYER LINE

 

             Members of this ministry pray daily on behalf of parishioners who request intercession.  Each petition remains listed for two months unless otherwise requested.  All prayer requests are kept confidential.  This ministry has no training requirements and no meetings.

 

Coordinator:  June Lacourse – 635-8756

                                                         

 

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL MINISTRY DESCRIPTIONS

            

For information and contacts for each of these Ministries see below:

Last Updated on 1/23/07

5655 Stadium Parkway
Viera, FL  32940

 

Phone: (321)637-9650 Fax: (321)637-9651

email: office@StJohnViera.Org
Member of the Orlando Diocese