Saint Patrick Parish

St. Patrick Parish has many opportunities through which you may share your time and talent. Volunteers are a vital force in the life of our parish! We encourage everyone in our parish family to share their gifts in service to one another and the Lawrence community. Saint Patrick Parish provides training for all of our volunteer activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADULT CHOIR

 

The English-language Adult Choir has blessed St. Patrick’s with beautiful music for many years. All of the members of the choir share their time and their musical talent with our faith community at our 11:00 am Sunday Mass, as well as at other special liturgies. No previous training is necessary.

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ALTAR GUILD

 

Members of the Altar Guild offer their time and energy to maintain the beauty of our church’s sanctuary and the sacred vessels used at Mass.

 

ALTAR SERVERS

 

Altar servers play a very important role in our parish’s liturgies by assisting the congregation and the Presider in the reverent celebration of Mass. Altar servers, who are in third grade and above and have received their First Communion, minister at all of our weekend Masses, as well as at special liturgies during the major feasts of the liturgical year. This is a special way for our young people to be closely involved in the liturgical life of the parish.

 

CANTORS

 

Men and women lead congregational singing by serving as cantors. The ability to read music and sing on pitch are required. Ongoing training is offered by our parish’s Music Director.

 

CAP TEAM (CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TEAM)

 

This team, working in collaboration with the Child Advocacy Office of the Archdiocese of Boston, fosters a community of support within the parish for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The team is fully trained in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children (VIRTUS) program. Team members act as resource for the parish on issues of child abuse and neglect, and ensure that all parish staff and volunteers are fully trained in VIRTUS.

 

CENACLE OF THE MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS

 

The Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests is a group of parishioners who are inspired by the writings and spirituality of Father Stefano Gobbi. Members gather to invoke the Holy Spirit, recite the Rosary, pray for the Holy Father, meditate on passages from To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons, and offer the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Cenacle meets on the first Saturday of each month at 3:15 pm in the lower church, all are invited.

 

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

 

This English-speaking group meets on Tuesday evenings for the celebration of the Eucharist and prayer within the spirituality of the Charismatic Renewal.

 

CHILDREN'S CHOIR

 

The children of St. Patrick Parish raise their voices in praise to God during our 9:00 am Sunday Mass. Our children are blessed with many musical talents, which they are very dedicated to sharing with St. Patrick's faith family.

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CHRISTIAN VISITATION COMMITTEE

 

The mission of the Christian Visitation Committee is to care for the spiritual needs of the sick and elderly of our parish community. This is accomplished through prayer, distribution of the Eucharist, friendly visits, and conversation, so that sick and homebound parishioners continue to be connected to St. Patrick Parish. Visitations are provided to the sick and homebound and those residing in nursing homes. Special projects include organization of Masses with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and preparation and distribution of holiday gifts.

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CIRCULO DE ORACION

 

This Spanish-speaking group meets after our 7:00 pm Tuesday Mass to reflect and pray within the spirituality of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

 

COFRADIA DEL SAGRADO CORAZON

 

The Spanish-speaking  Cofradía del Sagrado Corazón meets every Friday at 6:00 pm before the Mass in Spanish to consecrate our parish and the world through prayer and service. Members are dedicated to living out the Christian call to pray in season and out of season.

 

COMITE DE ACTIVIDADES MARIANAS

 

The members of this Spanish-speaking committee plan a variety of Marian activities for our community, including the celebrations of the feasts of Our Lady of Divine Providence, Our Lady of Altagracia, and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

 

COR UNUM MEAL CENTER

 

The Cor Unum Meal Center serves free, hot, nutritious meals to hundreds of people each day, 365 days a year. We currently serve more than 225,000 meals per year. Volunteers of all ages prepare meals, cook, serve, clean, and maintain our state-of-the-art meal center. Cor Unum offers a uniquely powerful opportunity to put into action the heart of Christian discipleship.

 

CORO 12:30 P.M.

 

The Spanish-language choir at our 12:30 pm Sunday Mass includes talented vocalists and instrumentalists who lead our community in an exceptionally uplifting experience of prayer and song.

 

CORO 8:30 A.M.

 

The members of our Spanish-language 8:30 am Sunday Mass choir offer their vocal and instrumental gifts to provide beautiful liturgical music for the congregation.

 

CURSILLISTAS

 

The Cursillistas are a group of Spanish-speaking parishioners who have experienced a three-day, life-changing Cursillo. They meet regularly to continue their faith formation and to build a community of love and discipleship.

 

CURSOS BIBLICOS

 

St. Patrick’s offers Spanish-language bible courses on Saturdays twice a month. Members of our bible courses grow in their understanding of God’s Word, their communion with the Lord, and their fellowship with other parishioners.

 

EQUIPO BAUTISMO

 

Conscientes de la importancia del Sacramento del Bautismo en la formación de nuestra comunidad, un equipo de servidores de la parroquia, guiado especialmente por parejas, acompaña en varios momentos a las familias que quieren a bautizar a sus hijos: una entrevista inicial, clases de preparación, celebración del sacramento y una visita en el hogar de los niños bautizados.

 

EQUIPO SAN PABLO

 

This Spanish-speaking group of leaders gathers monthly to plan and evaluate the activities of the Hispanic Apostolate in our parish.

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EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

 

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion express a loving service at Mass by distributing the Eucharist to our faith family. There are special opportunities for Extraordinary Ministers to manifest faith and charity by bringing the Holy Eucharist to our Catholic friends who are sick and homebound, in the hospital, or in nursing homes. To inquire about this ministry, please speak with one of our priests.

 

FRIENDS OF SAINT ANNE

 

The Friends of Saint Anne create beautiful baptismal robes for all of the children who are baptized at St. Patrick Parish. St. Patrick’s provides the pattern and materials, and the volunteers sacrifice their time and talent in sewing the robes. As each robe is sewn, the volunteer prays for the child who will wear the robe, as well as his/her family. This very rewarding ministry is a wonderful way to share one’s sewing talents!

 

FUNERAL SERVERS

 

Funeral Servers are adults who assist the congregation and the Presider with the reverent celebration of Funeral Masses. These volunteers perform an important service for the Lord by ministering to those who have experienced the recent deaths of loved ones. Through the celebration of beautiful funerals, we open ourselves to God’s healing power. Funeral servers’ leadership at Funeral Masses is also an expression of our community’s solidarity with our members who experience the pain of death.

 

GIVING TREE

 

The Giving Tree is an Advent outreach project that runs from November to December. The Giving Tree provides clothing for hundreds of children in need during the Christmas Season. Its purpose is to enable everyone in the parish to share the gifts God has given them, and to assure people in need of God’s love.

 

GRUPO DE ADULTOS MAYORES

 

This group gathers Spanish-Speaking adults 55 and older once a month. The group meets for activities and reflections that are of interest to this population. Participants in this ministry incorporate religious practices that affirm their Catholic identity

 

GROUPO DE JOVENES

 

This is a dynamic group of Spanish-speaking junior high and high school students, as well as young adults, who gather every two weeks on Saturdays for Bible study and to share their faith and life experiences.

 

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

 

St. Patrick’s offers a Sunday night basketball program for young people of high school age and older. Sunday Night Basketball is a popular gathering point for hundreds of teenagers in Lawrence.

 

LECTORS

 

Lectors proclaim the Word of God during all of our parish’s Masses. With faith in God’s presence in the Scripture, Lectors use solid communication skills to effectively proclaim the Word. To inquire about this ministry, please speak with one of our priests.

 

MOVIMENTO PRO-VIDA

 

The Spanish-speaking Movimento Pro-Vida organizes activities in defense of life. The group works in connection with other Pro-Life groups in Lawrence. Through prayer, days of reflection, and informational updates, they serve our community in fostering consciences shaped by Catholic moral values.

 

OUR LADY'S SODALITY

 

Members of Our Lady’s Sodality honor and praise Jesus Christ through Mary. Our Lady’s Sodality serves the parish community in many important ways – spiritually, charitably, and socially.

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PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL

 

The members of the Parish Finance Council advise the pastor on the financial aspects of parish life. They assess the needs of the parish, in term of both budget and staffing, for the realization of its mission, goals, and objectives. They formulate, monitor, and communicate to parishioners an annual budget of income and expenditures. To inquire about this ministry, please speak with one of our priests.

 

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

 

The Parish Pastoral Council is the consultative body that assists and supports the pastor in the leadership of St. Patrick Parish. The PPC is meant to be a means by which the pastor hears the voice of our community, and is a significant group for discerning the pastoral needs of the parish and ways in which those needs may be addressed. Members of the Parish Pastoral Council are nominated and elected by all members of the parish each spring.

 

PASTORAL MATRIMONIAL

 

The Spanish-speaking Pastoral Matrimonial is a group of married couples and members of the pastoral staff of our parish who promote opportunities for family growth. They organize encounters of couples who are considering marriage in the Church, days of reflection for couples who are dating, and activities for parents and their children.

 

PRAYER LINE

 

Members of our parish are able to telephone our office with requests for intercessory prayer. Once a month, a list of these intercessions is published. Prayer Line members commit themselves to offering five minutes of prayer each day for the intentions on the list. Prayer Line members who are physically unable to come to church to pick up the monthly list have the list mailed to them.

 

PRO-LIFE GROUP

 

Members of the Pro-Life Group foster through prayer and action the critically important Gospel of Life.

 

RCIA AND RCIC (RITES OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN)

 

The RCIA/RCIC is a faith formation process for persons interested in joining the Catholic Church. RCIA/RCIC leaders also assist baptized, uncatechized Catholics who wish to complete their sacramental initiation into the Church. The RCIA/RCIC process helps people to reflect on their relationships with God, to consider God’s call in their lives, and to come to decisions about their responses to God. To inquire about this ministry, please speak with one of our priests.

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

 

Religious Education is the presentation of the doctrine and tradition of our Catholic faith. Recognizing that a child’s faith, spirituality, and commitment to faith is formed by parents/guardians, St. Patrick’s Religious Education program is designed to enhance the foundation that parents/guardians give to their children. The goal of our Religious Education program is to teach as Jesus taught. Catechists and administrators strive to help children establish a personal and loving relationship with Christ, who is at the heart of our Religious Education program. Religious Education is offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and to children and adults with disabilities.

 

SACRISTANS

 

Sacristans play a very important role in our parish’s liturgies by preparing the sanctuary before and after Mass, and assisting with the coordination of the Liturgical Ministers.

 

SAINT MATHEW GUILD

 

A team of volunteers counts the money contributed through the weekly offertory collections. Volunteers are supervised by members of the parish staff.

 

SAINT VINCENT

 

Members of our Saint Vincent group address the social service needs of people in our parish and community. Through the outstanding generosity and kindness of those who donate food, money, and time, Saint Vincent members are able to provide food, medicine, shelter assistance, household items, transportation assistance, and other services to those in most need. Parishioners make financial donations to support the work of Saint Vincent, and make contributions of nonperishable food items through monthly collections. Our Saint Vincent group is not affiliated with the state or national Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

 

STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION

 

Members of the Stewardship Commission foster the spirituality of stewardship of God’s gifts of time, talent, and treasure among the people of St. Patrick Parish

 

TELEVISION TEAM

 

Members of our Television Team operate cameras at the 9:00 am Mass and 12:30 pm Masses on Sundays. There are additional opportunities for operating cameras when weekend programming is taped. Full training is provided.

 

USHERS

 

Ushers work to ensure the smooth flow of our parish’s liturgies by providing assistance to participants in liturgies. They assist in expressing a warm welcome to all who enter our church. They organize the offertory collection, distribute bulletins, say goodbye to people as they leave Mass, and reorder pews and missalettes after Mass.

 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

 

Volunteers of all ages help plan, prepare, and present our one-week summer Vacation Bible School. Offering time and talent working with God's children is a rewarding experience and a special way to share our faith.

 

VIETNAMESE CHOIR

 

The members of the Vietnamese Choir provide uplifting music for 3:00 pm Sunday Masses. Instrumentalists and vocalists offer their time and talent in orchestrating beautiful music that leads the congregation in praise and worship of God.

 

VISITAS A LAS CARCELES

 

Members of this ministry are usually bilingual (English and Spanish) parishioners who visit inmates once a month at the Essex County Correctional Alternative Center in Lawrence, also called “The Farm.” These parishioners bring Catholic reading materials, offer bible classes, catechesis, and an opportunity to talk about God with the inmates in the location.

 

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