LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

Ministry of the Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist

The Eucharist Minister assists the Pastor in the distribution of the Eucharist at every regularly scheduled weekend Mass, Daily Mass, Masses during Christmas and Easter season, and the the homebound parishioners including those in hospitals and nursing centres. Care is taken to reflect the diversity of the Parish Community, thus members of this Ministry called by the Pastor, include men and women of various ages, social and ethnic backgrounds, married and single.

Duties & Responsibilities

Recognizes that appointment to this Ministry is for the purpose of meeting the needs of the Parish Community, not only in distributing the Eucharist during scheduled Parish Masses but in bringing the Eucharist to the sick, elderly or homebound of the Parish when needed.

Secures the monthly schedule for service at scheduled Parish Masses, from the designated location, in a timely manner so that, if necessary arrangements for substitutions may occur. It is your responsibility to secure a substitute should there be a schedule conflict.

Arrives in a timely manner, at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the Mass for which one is scheduled to serve, and checks in.

Wears appropriate attire and is properly groomed when serving. Appropriate attire includes:
Men: Suit and tie or clean, nicely creased trousers with a shirt and tie or shirt and nice sweater.
Women: Pants suit, or skirt and blouse/sweater or slacks and blouse/sweater. Please note: No jeans or shorts at any time!

Engages fully in the Mass, i.e., joining in singing, extending a Peace greeting, etc.

Brings Eucharist to the homebound when asked.

Participates willingly in training and/or scheduled Ministry meetings.

Qualifications:

Receives an invitation from the Pastor to serve in the Ministry.

Is a fully practicing Catholic known to be committed to growth in Holiness.

Possesses a sense of Liturgical Prayer.

Is at least 18 years old and is a fully initiated Catholic (Baptized, Confirmed and receiving Eucharist)

Dependable, emotionally stable, responsible and accountable.

Relationships:

Responsible to Franca Ferragine, our Parish Coordinator of the Ministry.

Hours Needed:

Regularly scheduled Parish Masses, Masses during Christmas & Easter seasons, other litugical celebrations for which members of this Ministry may be needed, and available to serve the homebound, those in nursing centres and hospitals.

Ministry of Lectors: Proclaimer of the Word

The liturgy service truly requires readers. Proper measures must, therefore, be taken to ensure that there are certain suitable laypeople who have can be trained to carry out this Ministry.

What a Lector does:

A lector reads the first or second reading at Mass. This person also may lead the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass.

A lector must have the qualifications listed below, and have a desire to minister in this capacity at the Eucharistic liturgy. This Ministry in the Church requires a person who is of excellent character and serious about the practice of their Catholic faith.

The Lector must believe that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God and have deep respect for God's presence in that Word.

Requirements to be a Lector:

Man, woman or young person
Person in full communion with the Catholic Church
Person who is serious about the practice of their faith
Person who is willing to complete a parish or diocesan formation process.

The two requirements for lectors listed in the General Instruction are that they are to be truly suited to perform this function, and that they should receive careful preparation.

Regarding what is necessary for a person to be truly suited, it would seem that this involves being a fully initiated Catholic living in communion with the Church. Thus, a lector should have preferably received both First Holy Communion & Confirmation, and should not be living in an invalid marriage or in any other state of grave sin. A lector should be free of any canonical penalty and be living a life that befits the Ministry to be undertaken. Being truly suited also implies the necessary talents to serve as a lector. Thus, individuals who are not able to proclaim the readings in a clear manner that expresses the dignity of scritpure may not be suited for this service in church.

If you are an adult and feel you may have the gift of proclaiming the Word, please contact our Lector's Coordinator.

Training Required:

All new candidates for lector must receive training. No person, no matter how well educated or trained, may be excused from formation training for the Ministry of lector.

The instruction must include:
Scriptural spirituality for Ministers of the Word
Preparing the Scriptures prayerfully
Instruction in Liturgy of the Word
Proclaiming the Word: practicum and formation in public speaking

Once you are Trained as Lector:

Once a lector has been approved and had the proper training, he/she will select which Mass they would like to read on Saturday/Sunday. It is understood that they should be faithful and responsible to when they are on schedule, or if they cannot read when shceduled, to find another lector to substitute them.

Ministry of Music: 12 Noon Sunday Choir

Music is an integral part of the liturgy. It unifies those gathered to worship and helps set the tone for each celebration. It has been said that when you sing you pray twice, so why not share your talents and your passion for music to enhance our 12 noon Sunday Mass? We are always looking for dedicated people (ages 14+) who love to sing. No music experience is necessary.

The noon choir practices every Tuesday evening from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For further information please contact at info@sca-p.org.

EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES

For all those interested in becoming Catholic and for adult Catholics who have never been confirmed or have been distant from the church. Regular sessions are held every Monday evening at 7 p.m., September through Easter, until the reception of the sacraments at the Saturday Easter Vigil service.
We recommend that if you are interested in joining this group that you do so as soon as possible. Let us assist you on your journey of faith.

If you are a lapsed Catholic, we would like you to know that you are truly welcome back. Come and be with us, in prayer & worship.

Feel free to call Father John Borean or Father Donatello Iocco to make an appointment at (905) 653-8000.

Ministry of the Children's Liturgy of the Word

This ministry offers young children an opportunity to experience the Word in a way that ngages them at their level. This ministry occurs during the Liturgy of the Word at the 10:3 a.m. Sunday Mass.

Children ages 3-10 are dismissed after the Sign of the Cross and proceed with one of the catechists, who meets them at the baptismal font, to the parish Hall. At this liturgy the children are explained the readings and the Gospel of the day in a meaningful way that they can undertand. The children are then separated into different age groups and work on an art project or worksheet that supports the Gospel they have just read. It is after the General Intercessions that the children return to their parents who are in church.

Volunteers can assist the children with activities that allow them to really experience the liturgy. For more information or to volunteer, contact at info@sca-p.org.

COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

Community Outreach: Street Watch

Our parish schedules a Street Watch four or five times a year. For these missions, we make lunches and then deliver them to the homeless in Toronto. This group is formed of young adults and teenagers who truly make an effort to reach out to street people. Our community knows that this is what St. Clare would want from us as a Christian family. We would be grateful if you could donate towards this ministry so we can purchase food and other supplies for this program.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact info@sca-p.org.

St. Clare of Assisi's Reach Out Group is a group of volunteers from the parish who organize events throughout the year to help the less fortunate within our community. Through the generosity of our parishioners, the St. Clare Parish Community supports various charities with the following events:

Food Drives

Two Food Drives are run each year at Thanksgiving and Lent in collaboration with the St. Clare Family of Schools. Each year we donate several thousand pounds of food to the Vaughan Food Bank and the Missionary Sisters of Charity.

PJ Drive

This is an annual Christmas tradition at St. Clare of Assisi. Parishioners select a plastic bag with an age and gender for a child or adult. They fill the bag with a new pyjama and return it to the parish. Each year our parish donates close to 1000 pairs of pyjamas for needy children who are being supported through various charities some of which include St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Paul's Basilica, CAMH, Missionary Sisters of Charity, and Rose of Sharon.

Used Eye Glasses Donation

Each year our parishioners donate an average of 500 pairs of used eye glasses. These glasses are donated to various charities that ship them to needy countries overseas.

Diaper and Baby Toiletry Drive

In the spring our parishioners are asked to donate diapers and toiletry items for babies. These are donated to the Sisters of Life.

Blood Donor Clinics

Through Canadian Blood Services the parish hosts 4 clinics each year. If you are interested in donating blood please contact Blood Services directly www.bloodservices.ca

St Clare of Assisi Ladies Group