LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
Altar Servers At Saint Michael Parish our altar servers are trained in the 4th grade and periodically updated. The servers are then on a quarterly schedule to serve. Anyone from the parish can be an altar server. Servers assist the priest at weekend and special liturgies. Adult servers assist the priest at morning masses and funerals.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion These ministers assist in the distribution of the Eucharist at Masses and nursing facilities. A minister must be fully initiated into the Catholic Church, having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Extraordinary Ministers also take communion to the homebound each Sunday. This ministry is vital to keep those connected to parish life who are unable to make it to Mass.
Lectors Lectors proclaim the Word of God and share in the Good News at the liturgies. If you have a strong voice, enjoy reading and delight in the scriptures; we need you!
Ushers Are you friendly and like to smile? Ushers are ministers of hospitality. Ushers have several duties including: greeting and assisting in seating parishioners, gathering the collection, and distributing bulletins. You are already as Mass; please expand your talents and consider being an usher.
Sacristans Sacristans are trained parishioners whose duties include preparing the altar, vessels, books, and candles as well as unlocking and locking the church, lighting and sound before and after Mass.
Children's Liturgy of the Word Young children can experience the Sunday liturgy in an age appropriate environment at the 8:30 a.m. Mass throughout the school year. Children 4-10 years old are sent forth with a catechist for the Liturgy of the Word to listen to the Sunday readings in their age appropriate context. Children return to their families for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
MUSIC MINISTRIES
Saint Michael Parish enjoys a lively and comprehensive music ministry rich in musical history. We encourage full and active participation. We would like to welcome new members at any time.
A cantor announces and leads the hymns from the choir and intones the psalm from the ambo.
The choir sings a mixture of classical literature and contemporary Catholic literature for the 5:00 pm Saturday or 8:30 am Sunday Mass from September to June. The choir is open to all ages from 3rd grade on up.
Children’s Choir is open to all children of the Parish in grades 1-8. This choir sings on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. We would like to expand the Children’s Choir to participate at the 5 pm mass on Saturdays for Advent and Lent. If interested please contact Anna.
Instrumentalists are welcome to form small ensembles. If you would like to play your instrument or have an interest in playing piano for the church, let us get you started. What a great way to share your talents and continue giving throughout your lifetime.
Funeral Choir sings for funeral liturgies and practices 15 minutes prior to each funeral. The ideal individuals are retirees and those who are free during days.
Jail Ministry leads in a worship service to those who have been incarcerated. We meet five different Sundays throughout the year to minister men and women at the Saginaw Jail.
BEFRIENDER MINISTRY
Saint Michael Parish has individuals who have been trained to offer a tender and compassionate presence to those undergoing difficult times. It may be illness, bereavement, or any trying situation. Also, any BeFriender Ministry member can take Holy Communion to the sick and homebound. All visits are confidential.
Henri Nouwen gives a beautiful example of who we strive to become: The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE MINISTRY
An outreach ministry that provides for the local community during times of need. Some examples of outreach are: food baskets at the holidays, maintaining a food pantry, Giving Tree at Christmas-providing children's gifts, organizing soup suppers during Lent, clothing drives, etc. If you are interested in helping with this ministry contact the parish office.
FLOWER BED MINISTRY
As we all know, keeping our gardens looking good takes a lot of work. A small group of individuals work weekly to maintain the Parish flower beds. There is weeding, watering, and planting that occurs during the warmer months. If you enjoy the outdoors and have a green thumb, please contact the parish office.
JAIL MINISTRY
Jail Ministers volunteer every other month to do three Word Services (2 men's services and 1 women's service) at the Saginaw County Jail. In addition to the readings of the day, we provide music and a time of reflection with the inmates.
OFFERTORY COUNTERS
There are rotating teams of parishioners involved in counting the weekly offertory contributions. Members gather on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. at The State Bank in New Lothrop to count the weekend mass offerings usually ending by 11:00 a.m. If you have a couple hours on Tuesday and are interested in volunteering to be a counter, please call the parish office.
PRAYER LINE
Prayer Line Ministers actively pray for the needs of others. Parishioners, family members, and friends in need of prayers may call Sue Beldyga at 989-284-4667 to have your prayers added to the Prayer Line.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls to "wrap in love" those who are ill or suffering- young or old.
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY
This group focuses on the promotion of stewardship as a way of life within the lives of individual parishioners and the parish as a whole. They work to promote the Four Pillars of stewardship, namely hospitality, prayer, formation, and service.
"Stewardship is the ability to share one's gifts of life, time, talents, and resources with others with no strings attached and no conditions." -the late Archbishop Thomas Murphy, Seattle
Our Prayer for Stewardship
My Parish is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. It will be holy, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will be prayerful, if I pray. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them in. It will be a place of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, of compassion, charity and mercy, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these things. Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my parish to be. Amen
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