PARISH MINISTRIES
If you’re interested in learning more about any ministry, we invite you to connect with the Ministry Leads by email or by calling the Rectory Office.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the celebrant to distribute Holy Communion to the faithful at all Masses. Participants are trained at the Archdiocesan Center as well as at Saint James Church. They also volunteer to bring communion to the sick or homebound, spending a few moments with them in prayer and compassion. If you have an interest in joining, please contact us at emministry@saintjamesparish.org.
The mission of Lectors is to pray, prepare, and proclaim the Word of God. Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, heeding our baptismal call, the Lector uses his/her talents to speak the Word of God with clarity and conviction. Training is offered twice a year. Lectors are committed to adhering to the schedule, arriving on time, and being well-prepared for scheduled Masses. If interested, please contact us at lectorministry@saintjamesparish.org.
The Ministers of Hospitality are volunteers who help make parishioners and guests feel welcome at Mass and at the many Saint James events throughout the year. They assist with seating, distribute bulletins and worship aids, and help create an orderly, welcoming, and prayerful environment before and during Mass. If you enjoy meeting people and helping others feel at home at Saint James, we invite you to join us! Please contact MOH@saintjamesparish.org for more information.
The Saint James Choir enriches our liturgies through sacred music, helping to lead the assembly in prayer and song. Through hymns, choral music, and special selections, the choir adds beauty and reverence to Sunday Masses, holy days, and other special liturgies throughout the year. The choir encourages us in our singing and ministers to us at times when our hearts are full of joy or sorrow. More than simply providing music, the choir helps create an atmosphere of prayer and invites the entire parish community to lift their voices in praise of God. If you have an interest in joining the Saint James Choir, please contact us at musicdirector@saintjamesparish.org.
Altar servers assist at the altar during Sunday & Holy Day Masses as well as other celebrations. This is open to any child who has received the sacrament of First Communion and to adults who are trained to assist at weekday Masses and funerals. If you have an interest in joining, please contact us at altarservers@saintjamesparish.org.
This ministry helps to beautify our Church. Twice a year, for the Advent and Easter seasons, members of this ministry gather to do a major cleaning and polishing of our church. And throughout the year, they maintain the cleanliness of our beautiful baptismal font. If you have an interest in joining, please call the Rectory Office.
The Liturgical Environment Ministry prepares and decorates the worship space to reflect the liturgical season in order to foster a sacred atmosphere for prayer. The main tasks include preparing the altar and other sacred spaces with the necessary liturgical cloths and decorations for each Church season and caring for the plants and flowers that adorn the Sanctuary and Narthex.
The Prayer Shawl & Baptismal Blanket Ministry brings together prayer, creativity, and care for others. Members knit or crochet prayer shawls and baptismal blankets, offering prayers for the recipients as they work. Prayer shawls provide comfort and a tangible reminder of God’s loving presence, while baptismal blankets welcome the youngest members of our parish community. Each handmade piece is blessed by one of our parish priests and is truly a gift of prayer and love to the recipients. Contact prayershawlministry@saintjamesparish.org if you know someone in need of a prayer shawl or if you would like to join the ministry.
The Altar Linen Ministry provides a quiet but important service in caring for the linens used during the celebration of the Eucharist. Each week, a ministry member carefully washes, irons, and prepares the purificators and corporals for use at Mass. Volunteers serve on a rotating schedule, typically just three or four times each year. This behind-the-scenes ministry is a simple and meaningful way to support the reverent celebration of the Eucharist and serve our parish community.
The Funeral Ministry is a group of adult parish volunteers who assist the priest and clergy during Funeral and Memorial Masses. Our team works together in a variety of roles, including Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Ministers of Hospitality.
We help prepare the church for the celebration and, most importantly, provide compassionate support and comfort to families during their time of bereavement.
Team members must be registered parish volunteers. Those serving as Lectors or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion should be currently active in those ministries. Training is available for those interested in serving. For more information or to learn how you can become part of this important ministry, please contact the Rectory.
The New Parishioner Welcome Ministry helps ensure that everyone who joins Saint James feels warmly welcomed and connected to our parish community. Ministry members reach out to new parishioners, help them learn more about parish life, and introduce them to opportunities to worship, grow in faith, serve, and become involved. The ministry helps new parishioners feel at home and discover their place within the Saint James community. Contact newparishioner@saintjamesparish.org if interested in welcoming new parishioners!
The Tech Team supports the technology that helps enhance worship, programs, and special events at Saint James. The team assists with audio, video, livestreaming, presentations, and other technology needs throughout the parish. Working behind the scenes, the Tech Team helps ensure that liturgies, programs, and events run smoothly and can be experienced fully by our parish community.
The Parish Life Ministry helps make Saint James a warm and welcoming place by providing hospitality at many of our parish events and gatherings. Members help with everything from planning events, welcoming guests and serving refreshments to setting up and creating an inviting atmosphere where parishioners can connect with one another. By supporting events throughout the year, this ministry helps strengthen our parish community and makes our gatherings feel special. Whether you can help occasionally or more regularly, Parish Life is a wonderful way to meet fellow parishioners, lend a hand, and be part of creating a welcoming community at Saint James. Contact parishlife@saintjamesparish.org for more information.
The Adult Faith Formation Ministry seeks to provide opportunities for adults in the parish to continue to grow in their faith journey through activities such as small group gatherings, studies, book discussions, speakers, days of reflection, and more! Recently we introduced a series for women entitled “Women, Wine, and Wisdom” which features inspirational talks, reflection and prayer, followed by time for refreshments and fellowship. To find out more please contact us at Adultfaith@saintjamesparish.org.
The Men’s Ministry invites men of all ages to participate in monthly breakfast meetings held on select Saturday mornings. This ministry offers the men of the Parish a respite from the responsibilities of career, home, and family to discuss their common bonds in the context of their shared faith as Catholic men. If interested, please contact us at MensMinistry@saintjamesparish.org
The Marian Devotions Ministry invites parishioners to deepen their relationship with Jesus through prayer and devotion to His Blessed Mother, Mary. The ministry helps foster Marian prayer throughout the parish, including the weekly Rosary and Miraculous Medal Novena, Eucharistic Adoration, as well as special devotions and celebrations honoring Mary throughout the year. All are welcome to join us in prayer and to discover the peace, comfort, and spiritual strength that come from turning to Mary and asking for her intercession. For more information, contact mariandevotionsministry@saintjamesparish.org
Members of this Ministry pray for the people who are ill, in the hospital, undergoing surgery, or who have been involved in an accident, are grieving the loss of a loved one or any other special intention. If you know someone in need of prayers or if you have an interest in joining, please contact us at PrayerLineMinistry@saintjamesparish.org.
The mission of the Vocations Ministry is to foster a culture of vocations by praying for, talking about, and encouraging vocations, particularly priestly vocations. The ministry collaborates with other ministries in support of vocations and always seeks prayer warriors to lift up parishioners who are discerning their vocation, seminarians, and clergy. To learn more, contact vocationsministry@saintjamesparish.org.
Wherever you are on your journey of grief, you do not have to travel alone.
Saint James Bereavement Ministry offers a six-week support group for those dealing with a recent loss of a loved one or with a loss that you might have been carrying for some time. This group meets on Thursday nights, with a session in the fall and another in the spring. Dealing with the grief of a past loss can feel heavy, even after a long time has passed. Grief does not always follow a straight line or a set timeline. But, by understanding the types of grief, you can find healthier ways to cope.
In addition, we offer a grief support program focused specifically on the loss of a spouse called “Healing the Heart.” This group meets twice a month, on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM. Coping with the loss of a spouse requires profound self-compassion, patience, and time. Even after the initial first year without your loved one, your unique grief journey can be painful, lonely, and confusing. However, it can be comforting to share this journey with others.
Everyone from our parish and their guests are always welcome to participate in our All Souls Day Mass, Christmas Comfort Mass, Bereavement Stations of the Cross and Bereavement Rosary.
For more information contact us at Bereavement@saintjamesparish.org.
Access additional bereavement resources HERE.
Members of the Mental Health & Well-Being Ministry are called to provide vital spiritual accompaniment for people experiencing mental illness, or other life occurrences which disrupt mental and spiritual wellness. We also include those who care for them. Ministry members provide an environment for these individuals to share their experiences and Catholic faith with others and grow closer in their relationship with God.
Our goal is to provide a place to speak out and be heard in a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment, where isolation and stigma dissipate as a supportive community is created.We work to eliminate the stigma and discrimination that people living with a mental illness encounter in society.
The Ministry supports the well-being of our parish community by promoting care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Through programs, resources, prayer, and opportunities for connection, the ministry addresses topics related to physical and emotional wellness, mental health, and healthy living.We seek to foster greater awareness, understanding, and support while encouraging us to care for ourselves and one another.
Parishioners who may have knowledge, experience, or a passion for any aspect of health and wellness are always invited to share your gifts as a speaker through sharing helpful information on a health-related topic. We would love to hear from you!
Be on the lookout throughout the year for special Masses, prayer services, programs, and activities that support the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of our parish community. Contact us at wellnessministry@saintjamesparish.org to learn more.
Discover more mental health resources HERE.
Explore wellness resources HERE.
The mission of the Ministry is to provide food and support to the homeless and needy individuals via local food pantries in the surrounding communities. To achieve this mission, the Ministry undertakes several programs throughout the year including monthly collections of non-perishable food, collections of assembled non-perishable, breakfast, snack, toiletry, and cold weather bags, collection, and assembly of non-perishable Thanksgiving bags. If interested, please contact us at helpingthehungry@saintjamesparish.org.