Liturgical ministers

Our liturgical ministers are truly the lifeblood of our parish. The Parish relies heavily on these compassionate ministers to assist in a variety of areas including as:

• Altar Servers
• Eucharistic Ministers
• Greeters and Ushers
• Readers
• Music Ministry
• Sacristan Ministers

Altar Servers assist the presider during Mass; any boy or girl who has completed fourth grade can volunteer for this ministry.  Please contact the Parish Office for more information (856-235-0181). 

Extraordinary Ministers Of Holy Communion are men and women of the parish mandated by the Bishop to assist the ordained ministers in distributing Holy Communion either to the congregation at church or to those individuals unable to attend services due to health issues. 

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMs) serve at our 9:00 AM Daily Mass six days a week, Monday through Saturday.   Currently EMs are assigned on a simple rotating cycle.  The EMs play a vital part in our Parish’s Daily Sacred Liturgy and help the Priest in distributing the Eucharist under both species. 

The EMs normally come from those who attend Daily Mass regularly.  It is clear that their ranks have been steadily growing in recent years; consequently, there is a constant need for more EMs.  If you can volunteer and feel you are called to this unique and rewarding ministry, please contact the Rectory at 856-235-0181to be put you in contact with the Coordinator for this ministry who can provide more information including training, support and a registration form.

Please also visit our Social Outreach page to learn about the various venues where our EMs distribute communion to those who cannot attend Mass.

The latest Sabbath Mass schedule for Eucharistic Ministers is posted here.

Greeters and Ushers
The ministry of ‘greeter’ continues the tradition of welcoming worshippers as they enter church. Greeters are usually at the entrance or just inside the vestibule of the main church, crypt chapel or gymnasium at the Sabbath Masses (on Saturday and Sunday); however, greeters may, on occasion, be invited to be present for other liturgical services for our parish.

Helping OLGC to be a welcoming and caring parish is evangelizing and does the will of God, who tells us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). We become disciples by witnessing to our faith through acts of evangelization.

You can join our ministry by providing just a few minutes of your time and sharing your faith, by saying “Good Morning,” “Welcome” or a seasonal greeting to current parishioners, new members and the many visitors at services here at Our Lady of Good Counsel.

If you would like to join this ministry or simply learn more about it, please contact Lorraine Santarlas at 856 234 8426 or by e-mail at hofretta@comcast.net.

Readers
At Good Counsel, we recruit parishioners and teach them to proclaim the Scripture readings and make announcements at Mass. Anyone in Eucharistic Communion with the Church may volunteer for this ministry. We usually wait until one has received Confirmation before admitting them as Readers.  The coordinator for this ministry is Joanne Campbell, who can be reached at (856) 866-8884.   The latest Sabbath Mass schedule for readers is posted online here.

Music Ministry at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish

The following musical groups meet at Our Lady’s Parish. The choirs begin in September and usually continue providing music through the middle of June.

Parents can obtain a copy of the form used to register a child for the Youth Music Ministry (the first five groups mentioned below) for the 2010-2011 year by clicking here.

• Cherub Choir – Friday mornings, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. in Heritage House.  Children 3 to 5 years of age are taught basic music skills and concepts through songs, movement and other musical activities.  Admission is free and open to all eligible children of the Parish.
• Children’s Choir – Thursday afternoons, from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. in the choir loft of the main church.  Children in grades 2 – 5 rehearse hymns and anthems to lead worship in church once a month.  The children’s choir is also asked to sing at special events throughout the year. Vocal technique and musicianship are incorporated into the weekly rehearsal.
• Youth Choir – Wednesday afternoons, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Heritage House.  Youth in grades 6 – 12 rehearse weekly to prepare to lead worship at Mass about once a month.  The Youth Choir also sings at special events throughout the year.  Vocal technique and musicianship is incorporated into the weekly rehearsal.
• Praise Band – Rehearsals are the first and third Thursday of the month from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. in Heritage House.  The Praise Band is comprised of Teens and Adults and leads worship at the 10:30 Mass in the Gym every Sunday.  Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome.
• String Ensemble – Rehearsals are the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6:45 – 8:00 p.m. in Heritage House.  The String ensemble is open to high school students who perform at an intermediate to advance level.  Instruments include violins, violas, cellos and basses.  This ensemble leads worship about once a month and performs at special events throughout the year.
• Adult Choir – Open to parishioners 18 and older. This choir meets in the loft of the main church for rehearsal each Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. They lead the congregation in song from September to June each week at the 10:30 a.m. Mass in he main church.
• Organists and Cantors – Adults and older High school students who wish to use their musical skills in worship are welcome to join this ministry. They lead the faithful in song from the front of the church (cantors) or from the console. Schedules are distributed every two months and there is much flexibility for preferences.

Rehearsals are held from September to May.

For information on any of these groups, please call the
Office of Sacred Music Ministry
(856) 235-5395
Mr. Stephen J. Lucasi, Director
Mrs. Paula Quann, Assistant Director

Sacristan Ministry

At the request of Fr. Damian McElroy, the Ministry of Sacristan was established in fall 2006. Deacon Ed Heffernan oversees this ministry and its continued growth.

Our parish liturgies form the very heart of the whole parish life. Everything that we do as a parish leads to, and flows from, the liturgical celebrations in our Church. The liturgies proclaim what we are as a parish.  At the same time, they provide the foundation and the impetus for our working together and growing as a community of worship, of witness, and of service. Each celebration of the Mass requires considerable behind-the-scenes preparation because of its crucial role in the life of the parish. The Mass is to have spiritual dignity and meaning for all of us. To accomplish that, much care and thought are put into the entire preparation of each Mass.

This is where the sacristans come in, because much of this preparation belongs to them. In a sense, the sacristan is responsible for everything used in the parish liturgy. Because the parish liturgy is our communal worship of God, and because this service of worship draws us together as a holy people, the environment and materials used in the liturgy must be conducive toward worship and community. Sacristans are responsible for this environment and these materials and must fulfill their duties reliably.

The first responsibility of the sacristan is to see that all duties are performed in accordance with the wishes of the pastor. The sacristans receive extensive training and continued guidance from the parish clergy. Sacristans also care for and maintain the sacristy for liturgical ceremonies. Opening and closing the Church, preparing the sanctuary for Mass, and organizing the sacristy is their task. They must know the sacred vessels, vestments, altar linens, cloths, and books used during the celebration of the Mass. Sacristans attend to all three locations where Mass is celebrated at Our Lady’s parish, namely the Church, Crypt and the all-purpose room (gym). Preparing the gifts of bread and wine, assisting the priest and deacon as they ready for Mass, and checking on the number of lectors, altar servers, and ministers of Communion present are all the sacristan’s responsibility. They also remain on hand behind the scenes in the sacristy in case of an emergency during the service.

Currently a sacristan leader for each weekend of the month has been appointed. This weekend leader and his or her team serve the same weekend each month. The individuals on each weekend team commit to serve at two weekend Masses per month. They can choose the 4:30 PM & 6:00 PM Saturday Masses, or the 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM Sunday Masses, or the 10:30 AM and 12:00 noon Masses on Sunday. In addition, a small group of sacristans currently handle all funeral Masses for the parish.

Members of this group are installed as sacristans and as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist; this is because there is the occasional need to assist with Communion during Mass. Installation by the pastor, Fr. Damian, usually occurs during a weekend Mass. At present, due to our sacristans’ limited experience and numbers, they concentrate on the weekend Mass schedule and funeral services. In future, sacristans will be on hand at all Church celebrations including Weddings, Baptisms, Holy Day Masses, Stations of the Cross, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, First Communions, Confirmations and more.

This ministry is seeking new members. We hope to expand our group to attain our goal of having a sacristan at all liturgies at Our Lady of Good Counsel. If you or someone you know is interested, or if you just have some additional questions, please call Deacon Ed Heffernan at the Parish Office (856) 235-0181.