This ministry was described by contact person, Ida DiNorscia, as as "labor of love, which has served the parish since 1953."  While the description is humble, the service provided by faithful volunteers contributes to the beauty of our place of worship.  The original name of this ministry goes back to its founding when volunteers recited the rosary as they worked.  Today's Altar and Rosary Society members offer their individual prayers silently as they go about their labors.

Altar and Rosary Society work includes vacuuming all the carpeting, dusting and polishing the pews and brass, cleaning windows and the Stations of the Cross, removing wax, caring for the water fonts, changing altar linens, scraping away chewing gum from pews and carpeting and, twice a year, washing the vigil lights.

Two crews, working on alternating schedules, accomplish these tasks.  One group has seven members and the other has five.  When full crews are available, the work requires about one to one-and-a half hours weekly.  Ministry volunteers usually begin their chores at the conclusion of the Thursday morning Mass, providing the Church is not in use for any services.  

While Ida is the contact person for this ministry, she stated that there is no single leader, just willing workers.  She also said there is a need for more volunteers.

Men are welcome to join this ministry as well as women.  An increase in available workers would mean more crews, which would result in a scheduling expansion to three- or four-week intervals.

For further information, to inquire about flexibility of scheduling, or to share in this stewardship of time and talent, please call Ida DiNorscia at (610) 444-5862.