Through baptism, Christians understand they are called to assume their roles in ministering to one another at the liturgy and in daily life. Various gifts are given to the community and although these gifts are different, they come from one and the same Spirit. As members of the Christian community live out their faith, the celebration of the Eucharist is the joint effort of all persons who make up the assembly.
Every member of the assembly has a duty to help make Mass a life-giving sacramental experience.
“Gifts we are given to give away, calls us to grow in faith together in every aspect of our lives, inside and outside the Church”.
Liturgical Ministries
Please click on any of the liturgical ministry links below to learn more or to become involved.
Altar Servers
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Church Keeping
Cross Bearers
Environment
Eucharistic Ministers and Greeters
Funeral
Green Thumb
Lectors
Parking
Sacristans
Ushers
Wedding Directors
To volunteer for a any liturgical ministry, please fill out our registration form.
Altar Servers
Altar serving is an excellent way to give your time and talent back to Saint Francis and play a very important role in the Mass. From the processional hymn to the recessional, altar servers help the Presider and the congregation at large celebrate the Mass.
Altar Servers' Prayer
Most High and Glorious God, help us to be instruments of peace in serving at the table of the Lord.
Where there is hatred let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master help us always to be faithful to you in our service of the community at mass.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
If you are interested in becoming an Altar Server, please contact Chet Wayland at 919-870-6110 or email Chet.
If you have scheduling questions for Altar Servers, please contact Rachel Cooke at 919-676-4529 or email Rachel.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
What is Children's Liturgy of the Word CLOW?
It is a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word that is designed for children ages 4-6 years. It is not catechism class nor is it childcare. It is a liturgical celebration.
The priest presider calls the children forward and then they are sent forth to hear the Word of God. The children process to rooms in Anthony Hall where they gather with a trained CLOW lay presider. The same Scripture readings proclaimed to the larger assembly in the Church are read to the children, using the Children’s Lectionary. This lectionary shortens the readings and uses language and vocabulary that is easily understood by children.
The lay presider shares the homily and leads the children in a shared discussion and reflection of the readings. The children share their own understanding of what they heard and how to relate it to their everyday lives.
Our Purpose:
The Church shows special concern for baptized children who have yet to be fully initiated thru sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. To ensure that the assembly's children (ages 4-6) experience meaningful, inspirational, and spiritual celebrations of the Liturgy of the Word through careful, reflective planning, and preparation by our lay presiders.
If you would like more info or would like to volunteer in this ministry, please call or email Pam Kistner 787-8051 dpkistner or Liz Wood 844-6131 or lizwood.
Children's Liturgy of the Word will not be offered on the holiday weekends of May 25, June 15, June 29, July 6 or Aug. 31. Children's Liturgy of the Word presiders or shepherds may change without notice.
Church Keeping
Church Keeping volunteer teams help maintain the worship space, Holy water fonts, altar, linens, vestments, and other liturgical items.
"Before becoming a part of the Church Keeping ministry I did not give much thought to the hours of preparation that go into the weekly masses. Since I have been a part of this ministry I now have an appreciation for all the hard work of the dedicated behind-the-scenes volunteers. It is a joy to be a member of this team!"
Time: Each team member volunteers two to three times during a three month period. Schedules are prepared on a quarterly basis. Hours are flexible and involve only one to two hours for each scheduled time. All are welcome...individuals, couples, families. This is also an excellent way for high school students to earn service hours.
Training: Meet with the coordinator for a brief (30 minute to an hour) training session then you are on your way to helping out with this rewarding behind-the-scenes ministry.
To find out more or to become involved in this ministry please contact Sharon Desjardins at 846-2060.
Cross Bearers
Cross Bearing is an excellent way to give your time and talent back to Saint Francis and play a very important role in the Mass, from the processional hymn to the recessional.
To find out more or to become involved in this ministry please contact Tom Dupree at 577-6901.
Environment
Environment ministry dresses the worship space with the representative look and feel of special liturgical celebrations or liturgical seasons and connects parishioners more closely with the message of the gospel.
To find out more or to become involved in this ministry, please contact Judy Barton at 847-4138 or Joyce Clark at 528-4473.
Eucharistic Ministers & Greeters
As a Eucharistic Minister, our lives must be one of both ‘being and giving’ the Body of Christ. Eucharist signifies and effects our oneness in the community – dispelling isolation and alienation. Our hospitality goes beyond a social welcome to assist members of our community to become one Body in Christ.
“The gathering of the community, the proclamation of God’s word, the remembering and thanksgiving and offering in the Eucharistic prayer - all are directed toward the moment of communion in which many, fed with His own Body and Blood, are made one in the Lord."
If you would like more information on becoming a Eucharistic Minister, please contact Jim & Patty Carr at 919-848-4313.
Lectors
St. Francis lectors are prepared readers who proclaim the Word of God at weekend, Holy Day, and special liturgies.
Please read The Lector's Ministry--What it Means.
Prayer of Lectors:
Dear Jesus, thank You for calling me to be a lector at Your Eucharistic celebrations. Let me take this role seriously and diligently prepare myself for it by studying the sacred texts before mass, and by striving to be a better Catholic Christian. By my physical action of reading, I AM the instrument through whom You become present to the assembly in Your word and through whom You impart Your teachings. Let nothing in my manner disturb Your people or close their hearts to the action of Your spirit. Cleanse my heart and my mind and open my lips that I may worthily proclaim Your word.
Amen.
Lectors will proclaim the WORD OF GOD and in the process foster an understanding of WORD OF GOD for the assembly.
If you would like more information on becoming a Lector, please contact Kent Siefkes at 919-846-9016.
Parking
Parking Ministers welcome all vehicular participants to and from St. Francis property and ensure safe passage to and from their vehicles. Their duties include urging people to back into their parking spaces, directing people to open parking spots, assisting people to cross high density drive-through areas, and managing the necessary traffic cones and signs.
Time: Each team member volunteers 2 hours every 9 weeks on Sunday morning for either the 9:30 am or 11:30 am liturgies working with a team of one or two other ministers. There are also special requests made 3 or 4 times a year for the parking ministry to provide services.
Training: Each new minister receives training prior to their first assignment. In addition, the Parking Ministry offers sessions on the theology of liturgy at least once a year. All ministers are strongly urged to attend.
If you would like more information or are interested in volunteering, please contact Steve Burdette at 845-2714.
Sacristans
Working behind the scenes, sacristans prepare the worship space before and after each liturgy. A sacristan typically arrives 20-30 minutes before mass and readies the church by performing a variety of duties, from lighting candles and preparing for baptisms, to touching base with Eucharistic minister coordinators verifying that lectors, alter servers, and cross bearers are present. Sacristans remain after the liturgy to ready the church for the next celebration. Though most liturgical ministries serve the assembly, the role of the Sacristan is to minister to the presider, providing sacristans with a unique opportunity to interact with the friars here at St. Francis of Assisi, and deepen your knowledge of the Catholic traditions, while helping to ensure that the liturgy proceeds smoothly.
History of the Sacristan
If you would like more information, or would like to join the Sacristan Ministry, please contact Rob Wine at 845-8667.
Training Overview & Schedule
The Sacristan ministry is open to families, adult individuals, and teens. Sacristans typically serve twice per month, with additional opportunities to serve on Holy Days, Christmas, Easter, etc. Training takes approximately 1 hour, at the church, and is flexible to accommodate individual schedules.
Ushers
Ushers provide a smooth flow to our liturgies by offering assistance and directing the offertory collection, Eucharist procession and bulletin distribution. Ushers serve at both weekend liturgies and other special liturgical celebrations. Ushers serve as visible representatives of St. Francis during mass to promote hospitality and encourage active participation of parishioners and guests and assist those with special needs.
If you are interested in more information or you would like to volunteer in this ministry, please contact
John Balogh at 919-847-5872 or Bernie Andrews at 919-846-6483.
Wedding Directors
Volunteer their time and talent assisting the couple, their family, friends, and friars: at the rehearsal and on the wedding day. Sign up for weddings that fit your weekend schedule; be available for an hour on Friday evening and Saturday mid-day. Must be reliable, as the friars and bridal party depend on us.
Training: You train by shadowing current wedding directors, as they direct the rehearsal and wedding. Train for as long as you need, before signing up to direct a wedding on your own.
"It's a fun ministry, easy to fit into my schedule and always uplifting”,” Brides were always a fascination as a child: Guess it carried over into adulthood"
To find out more or to become a volunteer in this ministry, contact Linda Kellander at 781-2612.
Green Thumb
Green Thumb ministry volunteers maintain the plants and flowers that are part of the liturgical environment. They water and prune the live plants on a weekly basis in the sanctuary as well as the meeting rooms of Anthony Hall. Green Thumb is a behind the scenes ministry with flexible times to meet your schedule depending on the liturgical season.
“A well-planed environment for worship can put people in touch with themselves and with their God.”
To find out more or to become a volunteer in this ministry, call Joyce Winiewicz at 919-676-7750.
Funeral
At St. Francis, we know that funerals are a time of evangelization. We, as church, reach out to comfort families during one of the most difficult times of their lives. A smooth funeral liturgy requires planning, preparation and the help of volunteers. Please consider assisting in one these ministries. You will be the hands of God for our bereaved parishioners.
There are several ways to become involved:
FUNERAL GREETER:
- Greets and comforts our bereaved families and their guests by making them feel comfortable
- Hand out worship aids
- Assist guest seating in the sanctuary
- May serve as Eucharistic minister when needed
Time: one and a half hours
To find out more or become involved in this ministry email Donna Smith.
FUNERAL SACRISTAN:
- Assists the Presider with the funeral liturgy.
- Set out the bread and wine, light candles, ready the casket pall, or set up for the Urn
- Serve as thurifer (prepare and assist with the incense)
- Assist the Presider during the Mass as altar server, thurifer, and other help as needed
- After the Mass assist as thurifer for the Final Commendation
Time: one and a half hours
To find out more or become involved in this ministry email Donna Smith.
COLUMBARIUM ATTENDANT:
- Prepares the columbarium niche for the final resting place of loved ones
- Remove stone cover, clean niche
- Set up tables, candles, etc. for the inurnment
- Replace stone
Time: Half an hour preparing for the funeral and approximately one hour at the end of the funeral
To find out more or become involved in this ministry email Donna Smith.
FUNERAL RECEPTIONS:
Assist and comfort our bereaved families by offering hospitality at a light reception, thereby allowing them an opportunity to receive the condolences of their guests. There are many opportunities available such as:
- Point person to contact
- Schedule shopper & reception volunteers
- Shop for food & perishables
- Keep inventory of paper good supplies
- Set-up tables for reception, put out food and prepare punch; replenish as needed
- Break-down & clean-up afterwards
Time: Depends on volunteer position... Approximately one and a half hours for set up and replenish, and one hour for clean up. You may volunteer for one or several of these positions. Must be available during the day, and able to serve about 8 times a year. Men & Women Welcome.
To find out more or become involved in this ministry email Jackie Adamo.
“Everyone is so appreciative of what we do for them at this difficult time. Words do not express how it makes us feel.”
“At first I though it would be too sad a time, but it is ministering to people when they need it most and I feel I have made a difference in their lives.”
