Liturgy and Worship Team

• Presiders - Fr. Joe DiSciacca and Fr. José Mercado

• Deacon - Mr. Neil B. Richter

• Director of Music Ministries - Jean Degan
• Liturgical Lay Ministry - Rick Swenton

Lay Ministry Functions

• Eucharistic Ministers - Assisting at Holy Communion.

• Readers - Ministry of Readers and Listeners.

• Cantors - Ministry of Music.

• Choirs - Ministry of Music.

• Altar Servers - Ministry of Service.

• Ushers and Greeters - Ministry of Welcoming.

• Liturgy Committee - The planning and advisory team.

• Environmental Liturgy - Preparing the worship space, art and environment.

Here is the audio recording and a copy of the paper hand-out from the Lector Worshop conducted on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007:

Handout

Audio Recording

The audio recording is a 50mb mp3 file which could take almost 2 minutes to download using a broadband internet connection.

Fr. Joe DiSciacca	Fr. José Mercado	Deacon Neil B. Richter	Jean Degan	Rick Swenton

The Liturgy and Worship Team is a group of people appointed by and working with the pastor who participate in planning, coordinating and implementing liturgy in our parish. "Liturgy" means the "work" that people do to worship God. Liturgy requires careful planning as well as training of liturgical ministers. These ministers include the Priest and Deacon, Lectors, Cantors, Choirs, Altar Servers, Ushers and Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers and the people of Environmental Liturgy.

Special preparation is required for the major feasts and holy days such as Christmas and the Triduum (Holy Week and Easter). Coordination is also needed between the church, school and religious education.

The Liturgy and Worship Team responsible for the following liturgical events:

• Blessing of the Animals

• Eucharistic Minister Commissioning

• Mass of Remembrance (on the Feast of All Souls) with reception

• Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service

• Marian Liturgy (Immaculate Conception)

• Advent Vespers

• Parish Renewal (Mission)

• Lessons and Carols

• Christmas Liturgies

• Ash Wednesday and Lenten Services (Stations of the Cross)

• The Holy Triduum

• Easter Liturgies

• Children’s Liturgies

• Seasonal Liturgies

• Mission

• Ministry Evening of Reflection

• May Crowning

• Sacramental Liturgies (Communion, Confirmation)

The Liturgy and Worship Team is responsible for the following:

• Liturgical Ministry

• Readers

• Cantors

• Ushers

• Greeters

• Eucharistic Ministers

• Altar Servers

• Environmental Liturgy

• Sewing Guild

• Altar Society

• Formation Seminars and Workshops

• Coordination with Religious Education

• Concert of Wedding Music

If you are interested in helping or serving in any of these areas, please contact any of the following:

• Jean Degan at the Parish Center - (860) 583-1369

• Rick Swenton - (860) 589-7297

Environmental Liturgy

The Environmental Liturgy Committee is a group of people who help prepare for liturgy by attending to the art and environment of the worship space and the parish grounds. This includes responsibilities for such things as flowers, decorations, altar linens, sacred vessels, symbols and furnishings. They are responsible for creating a setting that stimulates the gathering of our faith community in a participatory and hospitable atmosphere for Word and Eucharist, for initiation and reconciliation, for prayer and song.

If you are interested in serving on the Environmental Liturgy Committee, please contact:

• Kim Donahue in the Religious Education Office (860) 582-2888

• Kris Emond (860) 589-621

General Liturgy

• Planning for the Correct Number of Hosts at Communion - A difficult task and why.

• Liturgy - An Adventure - Responsibilities of Liturgical Ministers

• The Liturgy of the Word - The first part of the Mass.

• The Eucharistic Prayer - Bread and Wine become Body and Blood

• Liturgical Ministers - Who are we? - Help from Fr. Gene Walsh.

• Liturgy - The Work of the People - Why we do the things we do.

• A Suitable Reverence Before Communion - Current thoughts on the communion rite.

• This Holy Place, This Holy Community - The presence of Christ at the Eucharistic Liturgy.

• Liturgy – What Does It Ask of Us? - What does liturgy ask of those in the pew?

• The Easter Triduum - Holy Week and what it's all about.

• Music in Worship - Why certain music is not allowed at Mass.

• The Sign of the Cross - A quick review of the richness of this symbol.

• Advent and Hope - The themes and symbols of the Advent season.

• Lent Is a Time of Grace - Reflections on the Lenten Season

• The Easter Vigil - Filled with Symbols, Calling Us to the Feast.

For Lectors

• The Lectionary - The Word of God

• Processions

For Cantors

• Cantors and the Community of Church
• Diversity in Music
• Cantor Formation and Education
• Cantor Responsibility
• Preparation During Ordinary Time
• Ritual
• Welcoming Ministry

St. Joseph Parish

• Questions and Answers about Liturgy

Book Review

• From Sacred Song to Ritual Music - Joncas

Resources

• The Liturgy Documents - Browse documents and articles about liturgy on the internet.

Other interesting places on the net:

Click Here to Pray the Stations of the Cross - Visit Passionist Fr. Victor Hoagland's web site for a wonderful presentation of the Stations of the Cross.

Other sites on the net about Catholic Liturgy

• Catholic Liturgical Calendar - readings for Mass, feast days.

• Scripture Readings for Mass - readings for weekday and Sunday Masses.

• Resource Publications - resources for ministry, worship and education..

• Pastoral Press / OCP - books on liturgy, scripture and theology.

• Liturgical Press - books on liturgy, scripture and theology.

• Twenty-Third Publications - theological, liturgical, pastoral, spiritual resources