Parish Council

Parish Council members also serve on one or more sub-committees of the council. The Parish Council meets the third Thursday of the month.  If you would like to serve on the Parish Council , please contact: Fr. Peter, 885-3400.

Finance Council

The members of this committee set the budgets and plan investments and fundraisers for the parish. The Finance Council meets on the quarterly in July, October, January & April. For more information about the Finance Council, please contact: Albin Zak through the Parish Office.

Altar Servers

Children ages 8 and up are trained to assist the Celebrant at daily and weekend liturgies.  Parents interested in having their children become altar servers should contact: Myrna Parker through the Parish Office.

Adult altar servers assist at funeral liturgies.

Lectors

Our Lectors proclaim the word of the Lord on weekends, weekdays and Holy Days.  If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact Pierre Peltier through the Parish Office

Pierre Peltier

Eucharistic Ministers  

Eucharistic Ministers joyfully and reverently assist Fr. Peter with communion during Mass and to shut ins in our area.  If you are interested in serving in this Ministry, please contact: Denise Surething though the Parish Office

Denise Surething

Ushers

This ministry is responsible for welcoming parishioners and visitors at our weekend liturgies, Holy Days and special liturgies.  In addition to greeting worshippers, ushers collect the offerings, help any in need of assistance, hand out parish bulletins and direct the congregation during the distribution of Holy Communion. If you are interested in serving in this Ministry, please contact: Ray Demers through the Parish Office

Hospitality

This ministry first and foremost welcomes new parishioners to St. Mary’s parish.  They are the “opening door” to our parish community and as such have the responsibility of assuring newcomers that their special needs, if any will be addressed.  Following registration in the parish office, a member of the Hospitality ministry will visit the new member and provide them with a welcome basket, essential parish data such as Mass times, services and ministries available.  If you are interested in serving in this Ministry, please contact the rectory.

Inter-Church

St. Mary’s parish is a member of the Association of Springfield Area Churches (ASAC).  This group meets quarterly at one of the member churches to discuss issues of common interest.  ASAC sponsors periodic services, such as Easter Sunrise, Thanksgiving, and Good Friday.  The Springfield Family Center, a member of the association, offers three community service dinners coincident with the major holidays; Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Member churches furnish their cooking and dining facilities for these dinners.  St. Mary’s prepares and hosts the Thanksgiving dinner each year.  ASAC is committed to promoting dialog among the various religious denominations within Springfield and fostering shared spiritual values.  Contact person for St. Mary’s is: Pat Melesco. Please contact her through the Parish Office.

Human Concerns

This ministry is essentially an outreach program enabling our parish to assist in meeting the needs of our own parishioners and citizens of the community at large. Those who have committed themselves to this ministry acquaint themselves with the needy through personal contacts and by associating with local community outreach groups such as the Springfield Family Center. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The simple act of knitting/crocheting becomes a powerful and meditative act of love with the intention of healing and comfort for the recipient.  In this ecumenical ministry we join together in faith to knit and crochet shawls for others who are in need of comfort and healing: the sick, lonely, bereaved, and those in transition in their lives, including those celebrating marriage or the birth of a child. There are no meetings to attend.  Stitching the shawl is done in our own time at home.  Completed shawls are given directly to recipients or delivered to the ministry leader for distribution to a hospice, hospital or senior center, and to those who have requested in the community. Contact for the prayer shawl ministry is: Barbara McGonigal, please contact her through the Parish Office

Music Ministry

St. Mary’s Music Ministry includes an adult choir that sings at weekend liturgies, and a children’s choir.  Also we have a Rejoice choir that adds praise for the life of the deceased during liturgies of Christian Burial.  The Music Ministry imparts a quality of joy and enthusiasm within the assembly at Eucharistic Celebrations.  We have both a traditional choir as well as a Folk Group.  Please contact Joyce Hamilton though the Parish Office if you would like to serve in this Ministry.

Joyce Hamilton - Folk Choir Director