Ministries

Parish Councils	Parish Finance Council Parish Pastoral Council
Liturgical	Altar Servers Art and Environment Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Lectors Music
Sacramental/Catechetical	Adult Education Baptism Follow-Up Marriage Preparation Religious Education Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Service	Altar Society Appalachia Service Project Bereavement Boy Scouts of America Giving Tree Knights of Columbus My Brother's Keeper Outreach Pembroke Food Pantry Pine Street Inn Pumpkin Patch Pro-Life St. Dismas Guild St. Vincent de Paul SHARE Usher-Greeters
Social	Bowling Coffee Sunday Kitchen Mother's Exchange Social Activities
Devotions	Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Charismatic Prayer Group Morning Prayer The Rosary Stations of the Cross

Parish Finance Council – The members of this appointed council advise the pastor on parish finances and property, and prepare an Annual Financial Report to the parish.

Parish Pastoral Council – The fundamental advisory body of the parish with responsibility for all aspects of parish life. Elected and appointed parishioners advise the pastor on all pastoral issues.

Altar Servers - Boys and girls in Grade 5 through High School assist at Sunday Mass. Some High School students may be trained as Masters of Ceremonies. Adult servers assist at daily Mass and at the closing liturgy of Solemn Exposition of the Eucharist.

Art and Environment – Volunteers work to enhance the atmosphere for worship by creating and maintaining weekly and special seasonal decorations in the church.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist – Assist at all Sunday and weekday Masses, bring Communion to the infirm and elderly who cannot come to Mass and to patients at the Pembroke Hospital. Service is for a term of three years and are renewed for a second term as Reserve Ministers to serve as substitutes where needed. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are trained prior to beginning their ministry.

Lectors – Read at all Sunday and week-day Masses. Lectors also read at Morning Prayer. Lectors are trained prior to beginning their ministry.

Music – Our parish has three choirs: adult, teenagers, and children. Choirs sing at the various Sunday Masses. Some members of the choirs also serve as cantors. Cantors lead worshippers during the sung responses of the Mass, and also during other parish liturgies.

Adult Education – Adult education programs are offered on such topics as Bible Study, Liturgy, the Sacraments, etc. A program is in the process of being developed according to the directions in the Bishops' Statement Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us. Times and dates are announced in the bulletin.

Baptism Follow-up – Members of this committee visit the families of recently baptized babies in order to offer their welcome and support.

Marriage Preparation – Engaged couples are invited to reflect on issues they will face in building strong marriages. Married couples present a variety of topics and lead group discussions.

Religious Education – Volunteers teach at levels from Grade 2 through Grade 10. Grades 2 through 6 meet in the hall on Monday through Thursday afternoons and on Saturday mornings. Classes are limited to eight students. Parents who wish to Homeschool their children are given the opportunity to do so. Program materials are provided, and parents meet four times during the year with grade level coordinators. Upper grades meet in the evenings with a format that includes both teachers and small group facilitators. Sacramental preparation is included in the program at appropriate grade levels. Our program also includes 1:1 and small group tutoring for children who require special help. Training is available for all who work in the program. There are also volunteers who monitor children as they arrive and leave the program.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) – A program of prayer and instruction which provides adults with an opportunity to prepare for Baptism or for full communion into the Catholic church. This program is done as a cluster activity at St. Joseph the Worker in Hanson.

Altar Society – Volunteers come together to clean church on a regular basis. One volunteer also maintains altar linens.

Appalachia Service Project – A group of volunteers who participate in various fund-raising events throughout the year in order to finance a trip to Appalachia. There, they work in community local residents to help to improve environmental/living conditions.

Bereavement – Members meet for support and sharing on issues surrounding loss of loved ones through death.

Boy Scouts of America – The parish sponsors Boy Scout Troop 105 which is open to boys in Grades 7 through 12. The troop meets weekly.

Giving Tree – This seasonal ministry operates during Advent. Parishioners donate Christmas gifts for families in need by taking tags from the tree and providing gifts as suggested for recipients chosen by My Brother’s Keeper.

Knights of Columbus – Richard Cardinal Cushing Council #6267 is an organization of Catholic men dedicated to unity, fraternity, and charity.

My Brother’s Keeper – Parishioners donate furniture and appliances, in good repair, to the MBK Center in Brockton. Items are distributed to needy families throughout southeastern Massachusetts.

Outreach – Volunteers provide meals, transportation, and visits to those who have illness and/or other emergencies.

Pembroke Food Pantry – Volunteers accept donations from parishioners of canned goods, non-perishable foods, and health aids.

Pine Street Inn – Parishioners prepare and/or serve a meal at the Inn once a month.

Pumpkin Patch – This Harvest activity brings parishioners together for fun and to sell pumpkins and refreshments to benefit various parish organizations with funding.

Pro-life – This committee addresses Right to Life issues ranging from beginning to end of life. They may be contacted for presentations, and they also sponsor an annual baby shower to benefit several area agencies that support single mothers who are in need.

St. Dismas Guild – Several groups volunteer in turn to count money and assist to prepare bank deposits from Sunday, Holy Day, and special collections.

St. Vincent de Paul – This group preserves strict confidentiality while assisting parishioners who are in need.

SHARE – Volunteers receive groceries at reduced cost in exchange for community service.

Usher-Greeters – Serve to greet arriving worshippers, offer seats as necessary, distribute bulletins, and take up collections.

Bowling – Bowling is scheduled on Sunday evenings from September from September through May at the Kingston Alley Cat Lanes. There is an end of season banquet.

Coffee Sunday – Parishioners prepare coffee and donuts for an informal gathering in the parish hall after the 9:00 Mass on the last Sunday of the month.

Kitchen – Volunteers keep the kitchen clean and attractive and stocked with basic supplies and implements.

Mothers’ Exchange – A group mothers meet on the first and third Thursday of each month to share parenting ideas.

Social Activities – This group organizes social events including cook-outs, breakfasts, suppers, and seasonal parties for children.

Contacts: Steve and Colleen Belcher – 293-9191; Bill and Sally Burton – 781-826-6570

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Each Friday. Adoration begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:00 morning Mass. It concludes with Benediction at 6:15 p.m.

Charismatic Prayer Group – Area parishioners meet for prayer on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and twice yearly, participate in Life in the Spirit Seminar. This program is done as a cluster activity at St. Mary’s Parish in Hanover.

Morning Prayer – Morning Prayer is recited at 7:35 a.m. each day, Monday through Saturday prior to the 8:00 Mass.

The Rosary – Following the 8:00 Mass, Monday through Saturday, the Rosary is recited. The Scriptural Rosary with Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed each Monday evening in the church at 7:00 p.m.