PARISH COUNCIL

Purpose: Build an ever stronger parish by assuring an active Christian community where we respond to the call of God through worship and service. The Council clarifies vision and sets directions.
How to get involved: Participate in the selection process is held in the Spring of every year.

ADMINISTRATION
Staff person: Parish Life Director Dorothy Sokol

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Purpose: To be a consultative body, monitoring, evaluating and formulating policies, guidelines and procedures for data management, maintenance and repair of facilities, and fiscal matters, including the annual budgets.
How to get involved: Committee meets once a month on the third Thursday.
Contact: David Polan 463-2888

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Purpose: Working in conjunction with St. James maintenance person, workers repair things like church lighting, selected building repairs and painting.
Contact: Jo-Ann Garrison 434-4028

CLERICAL COMMITTEE
Purpose: To assist with the preparation of the bulk parish mailings (letters to parishioners, Newsletter)
How to get involved: Come to the Church office when called to put labels on envelopes, Newsletter, stuff letters, prepare for the bulk mailing.
Contact: Jo-Ann Garrison 434-4028

NEWSLETTER STAFF
Purpose: To produce a parish newsletter that is mailed to all parishioners as directed by the Parish Life Director.
How to get involved: Reporting, writing, editing, typing, printing.
Contact: Shawn Morris 426-0530, Jo-Ann Garrison 434-4028

CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Staff person: Currently Vacant

CHRISTIAN SERVICE COMMITTEE
Purpose: This is the umbrella committee which generates and keeps alive a variety of pastoral care and outreach ministries in the parish. This committee takes the leadership for seasonal projects such as the Giving Tree at Christmas and ongoing contact with our parishioners who are homebound or residents of nursing home. This committee counts on all parishioners to participate in their projects.
How to get involved: Please contact Dorothy Sokol at the Parish House at 434-4028.

FOOD PANTRY - DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Purpose: To provide supplemental food for households with limited incomes in our neighborhood.
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11 AM to 2 PM, We are located in St. James School entrance on St. James Place.
How to get involved: Join the volunteer staff. Food is received from: Regional Food Bank and Food Pantries for the Capital District, St .Vincent DePaul Society :Eggs and Milk, Food Shuttle: Bread and baked goods, St .Catherine's parishioners, St. James parishioners, Letter Carrier drives, Boy Scout Food drives and Memorial cash donations.
Contact: Alice Corbett 427-6433

PRAYER NETWORK
A network of persons who agree to pray for other parishioners who are seriously ill, and for the sucess of The Called to Church program.
Purpose: To provide a network of persons who agree to pray for specific persons who ask prayers during a time of illness or crisis.
How to get involved: If you would like to join the network or if you wish to have someone prayed for
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028
Note: We are currently in search of a new coordinator.

COMMUNION TO THE HOMEBOUND
Purpose: To bring communion to those who are unable to participate in our parish Eucharistic celebrations because they are homebound.
What is involved: Visiting the person and conducting a simple Communion service. The minister to the homebound and the homebound person decide on the frequency and the scheduling of these visits. Family members and neighbors of the homebound persons are encouraged to become their eucharistic ministers. Training is provided for visitors.
Contact: Dorothy Sokol if you would like to receive communion in your home or if you are interested in becoming a minister to the homebound.

CARING HEARTS AND HANDS GROUP
Purpose: to visit our parishioners who are homebound. Volunteers visit and do small jobs as needed for parishioners.
What this involves: Visiting one or more parishioners. The visitor indicates preference for a particular facility and is paired with a parishioner. Scheduling of visits is worked out to the mutual satisfaction of both. Training is provided.
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028, Rosalie Sokol 434-4028

HOSPITAL VISITATION
Purpose: To visit our parishioners who are in a local hospital. Training is provided.
What this involves: Visiting our parishioners at a hospital 1 or more times per month. The visitor indicates preference for hospital and arranges the visiting to fit his/her schedule.
Extensions of this ministry: Become a Eucharistic minister within the spiritual care department of one of the hospitals.
Contact: We are currently in seach or a new coordinator

FUNERAL LITURGY GROUP
Purpose: To support our parishioners by attending funeral liturgies as a group (most funerals are at 9:00am)
What is involved: Coming to funerals and sitting with this group. New volunteers are welcome.
Contact: Sister Patricia Houlihan 434-4028

SENIOR SOCIALS
Luncheon and entertainment twice a year (usually October and March) - citywide senior groups participate. Ordinarily is held at the Italian American Community Center.
Contact: Kathleen Fiorillo 462-1503

HUGS
Purpose: To provide blankets for sick children and infants.
How to get involved: Knit or crochet these blankets. Work in your own home. Donations of yarn are also much appreciated.
Contact: Nina Rivers 462-3953

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

The Peace and Justice Committee heeds the call of the late Pope John Paul II to commit ourselves to the common good through the participation in social and political life.
Contact: Walter Ayres 439-8572

BUILDING UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Community organizing-this group is working to improve quality of life in our neighborhood by working with the city to enforce codes particularly on residential properties, by trying to match up landlords and tenants, by being aware of quality of life issues on different streets, etc. New members always welcome. Meet approximately once a month. Usually on Tuesday evenings. Project work between time.
Contact: Shawn Morris 426-0530

FAITH FORMATION/YOUTH MINISTRY
Staff person: Dorothy Sokol

FAITH FORMATION COMMITTEE
Purpose: The mission of the Faith Formation Committee is to proclaim and teach God's Word, to make each person's faith living, conscious, and active through the light of instruction and witness. The committee endeavors to carry out the mission of the parish through catechesis. The four tasks of catechesis are to:
• foster community;
• communicate the message;
• motivate to service; and
• lead each person to prayer
How to get involved: Contact Dorothy Sokol or Phyllis Cardona at 434-4028

CATECHETICAL MINISTRY
Purpose: To provide religious education in the parish's elementary, junior high, and high school faith formation programs.
How to get involved: Applications available through the Faith Formation Office. Fall through spring commitment. Training required/included.
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028

GATE KEEPER
Purpose: to assist in keeping our building secure and young people safe during Faith Formation Sessions. Rotating Schedule
Applications Available through the Faith Formation Office
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028, Paul McGrath 459-3347

ELIZABETH MINISTRY
Purpose: To respond to the needs of women and their families during the childbearing years. Opportunities to be involved with pregnant teens at Community Maternity Services. This ministry has been on "hiatus," but interest is welcome.
Contact: Phyllis Cardona 465-2876

FAITH FORMATION OFFICE HELP
Purpose: To assist with light secretarial duties, mailings, and similar tasks. [1-2 hours weekly]
Contact: Dorothy Sokol

LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
Purpose: To provide an age appropriate explanation of the Gospel message for children, ages 4-7 during the 10/10:30 Sunday morning Mass. Rotating schedule.
How to get involved: Applications available through the Faith Formation Office. Rotating schedule. Training required and included.
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028

RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Purpose: To assist those persons who are interested in becoming Catholic or completing the sacraments of initiation. Opportunities are available to help with Dismissal Catechesis on Sunday (see below), as well as to offer one's home as a meeting place for an RCIA event.
Contact: Phyllis Cardona 465-2876 or Bernadette Nerf 482-4165

DISMISSAL CATECHESIS
Purpose: To share the Gospel ("break open the Word") and one's faith with people who have shared an interest in joining our church.
How to get involved: Be available to share the scriptures with RCIA candidates and catechumen after the homily at one of the weekend Masses. Rotating schedule.
Contact: Phyllis Cardona 465-2876

RCIA - ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
Purpose: To assist families of children of school age who have not been baptized with sacramental preparation.
How to get involved: If you would like to serve as a sponsor family to accompany a child and their family in this preparation process, call the Faith Formation Office for additional information and training. Schedule varies depending on individual needs and availability of sponsors.
Contact: Phyllis Cardona 465-2876

YOUTH MINISTRY
Purpose: to provide a "comprehensive" model of Youth Ministry, guided by specific goals and centering around eight ministry components. A comprehensive model of Youth Ministry works to foster the TOTAL personal and spiritual growth of each young person; seeks to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community; and empowers young people to witness their faith by living and working for justice, peace, and human dignity. Such goals are met through the development and implementation of activities based on specific components: catechesis (faith formation); community life (social activities); prayer and worship; justice, peace, and service; pastoral care and guidance; leadership development; advocacy; and evangelization.
How to get involved: A Youth Ministry Program is not a group or "program" per se, but a way of responding to the needs of our parish young people. ALL young people, grades 7-12, are invited and encouraged to participate in programs, activities, and events sponsored by the parish Youth Ministry Office - including, but not limited to faith formation, a parish Youth Council, peer retreats, a parish Youth Ministry Team, social activities, and service and worship experiences. Young adult (18-35)/adult (35+)volunteers are welcome as:
-Catchiests -religious education for high school and Confirmation preparation
-Chaperones
-Service experience providers and/or mentors
-Members of a parish Youth Ministry Team
Contact: We are currently in need of a new coordinator

WOMEN'S "30, 40, 50 Something" RETREAT
Purpose: to provide a time for women to come apart for prayer and reflection in a peer group to offer mutual support and to strengthen the bonds of community.
How to get involved: This retreat is held in February each year at the Provincial House in Latham. Watch the bulletin for notices and fliers in January and register directly through the Faith Formation Office.
Contact: Alison Tovar 426-1228 or Mary Sheridan 458-2604

PRAYER AND WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Staff person: Contact: Sister Patricia Houlihan 434-4028

PRAYER AND WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Purpose: To find ways to draw all members of the parish community into worship.

ALTAR SERVER
Purpose: To serve at the altar.
How to get involved: Call the number below. For young persons there will be a training session followed by an assignment to observe others serving, followed by an assignment to serve.
Contact: (Young persons) Susan Keefer 439-8749 (Adult funeral servers) Vince Gizzi 462-0290

CARE OF THE ALTAR LINENS
Purpose: To wash and iron linens used at the altar on a weekly basis.
How to get involved: Call one of the numbers below. You will be asked to take a turn at picking up the linens, washing and ironing them and returning them the next week.
Contact: Ruth Olander 449-7035 or Joan Nerf 462-2052

ENVIRONMENT
Purpose: To create an environment in the Church which invites prayer.
How to get involved: Call the number below. You will be asked to give some time to prepare the Church during one of the seasons of the Church Year (Advent, Lent, Easter time, Ordinary time).
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028

CARE OF FLOWERS
Purpose: To water the flowers that decorate the sanctuary particularly at Christmas and Easter time.
How to get involved: Call the number below. You will be asked to be responsible for the flowers one day in the week for approximately 6 weeks.
Contact: Sister Patricia Houlihan 434-4028

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER
Purpose: To distribute the Eucharist under both species to the congregation during Liturgy.
How to get involved: Call the number below. You will be asked to meet for a training session and to be assigned for one of the Masses during the weekend.
Contact: JoAnn Garrison 434-4028

GREETER
Purpose: To welcome the members of the congregation at the entrances of the Church and to hand out the bulletin (and programs for major feasts).
How to get involved: Call the number below.
Contact: Alison Tovar 426-1228

LECTORS
Purpose: To proclaim the Word of God and to read the prayer of the faithful at liturgical celebrations.
How to get involved: Call the number below. You will be asked to meet for instructions on procedures and then be assigned to one weekend liturgy.
Contact: George Abatto 439-1829

MUSIC MINISTRIES
Purpose: To provide music for our parish liturgies and to give our congregations support as they actively participate in them.
How to get involved: Call the number provided. You will be given more information about the ministry, when your ministry would be needed and what preparation is necessary.

Cantors: Provide leadership for the congregational singing.
Contact: Marie Franke 438-4926

Contemporary Choir: We practice before mass on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm and run from Sept - June. We have been in existence for over 15 years and always welcome new singers and instrumentalists. We provide leadership at the 7:30 P.M. Liturgy on Sunday evening. Practice is before the Liturgy. Musicians are welcome, especially bass players and male singers.
Contact: Kristin Witham

Traditional Choir: Provide leadership at the 10/10:30 Sunday A.M. Liturgy. Practice is on Wednesday evening.
Contact: Sister Patricia Houlihan 434-4028

Resurrection Choir: Provide leadership at parish funerals.
Contact: Sister Patricia Houlihan 434-4028

SACRISTAN
Purpose: To ready the altar for Mass and put the vessels and linens away after the Masses.
How to get involved: Call the number below. You will be asked to learn to set the altar and to take a turn at one of the Masses.
Contact: Alice Corbett

USHERS
Purpose: To help parishioners find a seat when necessary, to take up the collection, and to welcome the congregation at those Masses where there is not a greeter assigned.
How to get involved: Call the number below.
Contact: Dorothy Sokol 434-4028

GROUPS AND SOCIETIES

HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Contact: Peter Endres 463-9148

ST. VINCENT De PAUL SOCIETY
Contact: Dave Polan

ROSARY SOCIETY
Contact: Joan Nerf 462-2052

SCOUTS
Contact: Ed Page 861-3691