PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
The Parish Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners chosen by the parish community that come together with the parish priest to share the responsibility for the development of our community of faith and the mission of the church in our area. The Council meets on the first Thursday of the month from 7.00pm to 8.30pm, February through to December. Parishioners are able to contact Council members at any time with their concerns or issues, and raise matters for deliberation by the Council.
THE PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Parish Finance Committee recommends procedures to carry out the financial affairs of the Parish and assists the Parish Priest in the administration of the Parish finances. The committee provides advice on the Parish budget, reviews the budget throughout the year, and prepares the Parish financial report at the end of the fiscal year. The committee also carries out reviews of collections, security, and distribution of money, and negotiates contracts and insurance policies. The committee is also responsible for the Parish’s property and assists the Parish Priest in meeting his financial and administrative responsibilities. The members of the committee are appointed by the Parish Priest. The committee usually meets the first Saturday of the month at 8:30am for 1½ hours.
PARISH SECRETARY
The Parish Secretary provides secretarial support to the Parish Priest, Parish rolls and registers, and carries out Parish administrative tasks. The Parish Secretary also supports the Finance Committee through bookkeeping and banking. The Parish Secretary is at the Parish office from Monday to Friday 8.30am to 12 midday & 4.00 to 5.00pm and from 9.30am to 10.30am on Saturday . The Parish Secretary is available for parishioner’s enquiries at these times.
COLLECTION COUNTERS
Each week donations collected during the weekend masses have to be counted and recorded. This important ministry is carried out each Sunday after the 5.30pm mass.
CHURCH CLEANERS
Volunteer parishioners in groups of 3 or 4 are rostered to clean the church and parish centre each weekend. This task consists of vacuuming, cleaning of windows, and dusting. There are 8 groups at present. There is also a group of volunteers who clean the church every Wednesday at 8.30am. New members are always welcome to join the roster.
WELCOMING GROUP
This group endeavors to contact new members of our parish, to welcome them to our Church and community.
LITURGY GROUP
This group aims to enhance the liturgical life of the Parish by bringing together the many different cultures in our Parish, Liturgical Ministers (Readers, Leaders & Eucharistic Ministers), Parish Children, Parish Youth, Adults, O.L.S.H. College and the Ngarte Mikwekenhe Community. They meet regularly in the Presbytery to plan various Church’s Liturgical celebrations.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Eucharistic Ministers share in the visible expression of the full Church, by assisting the Celebrant with the distribution of Communion to the community during Mass. Regular opportunities for training are available to help people appreciate the Sacraments, to learn the routine of the service that they provide, to nourish and deepen the Ministers’ appreciation of this Sacrament, and to enable them to carry out this special Ministry with devotion.
HOME COMMUNION
Eucharistic Ministers visit the sick and aged in their homes. They unite these people with the faith community by sharing with them the Word of God and by giving them the body of Christ in Holy Communion.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to receive Communion at home.
COMMENTATORS
Commentators help weekend church participants to understand the liturgy better by introducing them to the theme of the mass and by providing them with brief explanations about the scriptural passages. Regular opportunities for training are available to help the commentators in this important role.
READERS
Readers proclaim the Word of God to those assembled at Mass. Regular opportunities for training are available to deepen the Readers’ grasp of the Word of God and further their skills in proclaiming this Word.
MUSIC LITURGY GROUPS
These are informal group of people who love music and want to be involved in playing an instrument or singing in a group at Masses. They meet for singing practice once a week. There are currently several music groups including a children’s choir.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
This is for primary school aged children and is held every Sunday throughout the school term during the 9:30am Mass. Children gather at the Presbytery at 9:20am to pray, listen to Gospel readings for the Sunday and may use a worksheet relating to the reading. They join the congregation in Church for the Offertory Procession and rejoin their families.
HOSPITALITY GROUP
The Hospitality group meets regularly and supports the many endeavours of the Parish Pastoral Council. New members are most welcome.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN STATE SCHOOLS
A team of volunteers teach religious education to Catholic children attending State primary schools in our community. A Sacramental Program at Saint Francis Centre in Adamson Avenue operates every Wednesday at 3.30pm for children from all schools (February to September).
ROSARY GROUP
This group meets in the Church to pray the Rosary on Monday to Friday at 5.00pm – and prior to Saturday morning mass at 10.30am. There is always a warm welcome for anyone who would like to join the Rosary Group.
SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER
Secular Franciscans are members of the Third Order founded by St Francis of Assisi. Their mission is to link the Gospel to Life and Life to the Gospel. They take the teachings of Jesus and apply them to everyday situations. The Secular Franciscan Order meets at the Franciscan Convent on the last Sunday of the month at 4.pm.
Please contact FMM Sisters 8952 4151 if you are interested in joining this group.
OLSH ASSOCIATES
OLSH Associates belong to a world-wide family of religious and laity, sharing in the spirituality and mission of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, founded by Jules Chevalier. Their mission is to reflect and spread the love and compassion of the Heart of Jesus in our own situation, particularly in our families, parish and daily contacts- to love and serve Him as Mary did. Meetings throughout the year provide opportunities for continuing spiritual growth and mutual support, in a warm, friendly environment. New members are very welcome. For further information contact OLSH Convent 8952 1082.
CATHOLIC YOUTH ALICE SPRINGS (CYAS)
Our Youth Group aims to gather together and support the young people of our community. Various activities are organised throughout the year. We meet every Friday at 6:30 pm in JP II Room at the Church Courtyard. A Youth mass is held at 5.30pm every last Sunday of the month. Young adults and young at hearts may contact the Parish Office for further information.
VOLUNTEERS
If you would like to assist in this ministry, volunteers are always welcome and needed. Maybe you can be a catechist for one year, or longer? You may like to be a helper first, to gain confidence. Men and women, young or old – everyone is welcome!