Each of us has varied talents. Talents include being a good listener, being able to organize people, relating well to children or teens, being patient with others and numerous other less-recognized gifts. Our gifts often change during our lives: in our youth our gift may be energy; when we’re older, it may be knowledge. We are each one-of-a-kind creations of God with unique contributions to make in this world.
We are often held back from recognizing or sharing our gifts because of a narrow definition of “talent.” We think “talented people” are extraordinary achievers or have easily identifiable gifts, such as musical ability or artistic talent. We must remember that each one of us was created by God and was given the ability to serve God and each other in some way.
As Christians we recognize that our gifts of talents and skills are meant to be cultivated and shared with others, beginning with our family and friends, with our parish community and with the world. Sharing the gift of ourselves is how we express our gratitude for being created as a unique and gifted people.
Search out the talents that you possess, nurture them, and help them grow. We each can have a role in the service of God and in the work of the church. In the words of the late Mother Theresa of Calcutta, “The call of Christianity is not always to do monumental and extraordinary things, but to do the ordinary things of everyday life well and with love.”
There are literally dozens of ministries at St. Mary's Parish. To help you in locating a ministry of interest, we've divided them up into the following areas (click on the name of the ministry in which you're interested):
| Social Justice | Respect Life | Outreach | Religious Education | Parish School | Parish Administration | Health | Youth | Parish Community |
Liturgical Ministry
Chair: Rick Vacca 508.753.0230
Altar Servers
Boys and girls in Grades 5 and up are invited to serve at weekend Masses and for special occasions. Adult servers are needed for weekday Masses and funerals.
Fr. Marcin Nowicki: 508.845.6341
Art & Environment
Members of this committee plan the liturgical environment of the church throughout the year with a special emphasis on the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter.
Mary Ann Chiampa: 508.845.5158
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
The Liturgy of the Word with Children takes place on Sundays during the 9:00 am Mass. Adults lead this worship geared to children. Some preparation is required for each week and materials are provided.
Ann Benbenek: 508.842.9651
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
Ministers help in the distribution of Holy Communion at weekend Masses and holy days. Some Eucharistic ministers also bring communion to our nursing homes and homebound parishioners.
Fr. Marcin Nowicki: 508.845.6341
Greeters
Parish greeters help to create an atmosphere of friendliness while welcoming members and visitors to our weekend liturgies.
Eileen Korpi: 508.842.8509
Evelyn Baroni: 508.845.3511
Lectors
Lectors proclaim the Scriptures at our weekend and holy day liturgies after participating in a training program.
Fr. Marcin Nowicki 508.845.6341
Liturgy Committee
This committee is made up of the heads of liturgical ministries and another members of the St. Mary's community. Participants assist in planning the liturgical life of the parish, especially those celebrations that highlight the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. The purpose of the Liturgy Committee is to create an ever-more enriching environment within which to worship. Our goal is to foster the building up of the Body of Christ through active participation in the liturgy.
Parishioners interested in helping to plan, coordinate, and evaluate the liturgical events are invited to join the committee, which meets once a month for two hours.
Rick Vacca: 508.753.0230
Liturgical Dance
Sacred dance movements enhance the liturgical celebration on special days.
Sue Zybert: 508.842.7554
Music Ministry
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Cantors The cantor leads the parish community in song during liturgical services. Rick Vacca: 508.753.0230 Parish Choir Adults make up this choir that leads the congregation in a variety of hymns and service music at the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Rehearsals are held on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am to 10:30 am in St. Mary’s School. Rick Vacca: 508.753.0230 St. Mary’s Children’s Parish Choir This choir is made up of parish children, ages 5 through 16 who are interested leading the liturgy in appropriate music along with singing some children appropriate choral pieces. Mary Larue: 508-615-1737 St. Mary’s Children’s School Choir A choir made up of children from St. Mary’s School sing at special school liturgies throughout the academic year. Eddy Troxler: 978.343.7446 Contemporary Ensemble This musical group plays at the Sunday 5:30PM mass. Paul Gannon: 508.753.0230 Musicians Instrumentalists play at special liturgical celebrations. Rick Vacca: 508.753.0230 |
Sacristans/Linens
Parishioners accept responsibility for cleaning and maintaining candles, altar linens, and vestments for our many liturgical celebrations. Sacristans do light cleaning and dusting in the sanctuary and the sacristy.
Fr. Marcin Nowicki: 508.845.6341
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed every Friday from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the Pastoral Center chapel. Members commit to one hour or one-half hour of adoration and prayer before the Eucharistic presence of our Lord.
Doris Racine: 508.845.8761
Prayer Line
Members pray for expressed needs and pass special prayer requests on to others. Parishioners with prayer requests can call any member listed in the bulletin.
Tracy Keating: 508.842.2279
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Social Justice Ministry
Co-Chair: Joan Fouhy 508.842.6724 - jfouhy@aol.com
Co-Chair: Evan Page 508.835.3470 - evancpage@hotmail.com
Our mission is to engage the entire community of St. Mary’s Parish in the work of charity and justice in the spirit of the gospels and in the light of Catholic social teaching. Many of our activities are designed to alleviate the effects of injustice. As these activities deepen our understanding of the problems, we hope to engage the community in actions that address root causes. We strive to use every dimension of parish life—liturgy, communications, speakers, and opportunities for service— to build awareness, express love and concern, and make a difference.
Our social justice team consists of over 30 active members and hundreds of parishioners who share their time, talent, and treasure.
Refugee Welcome Ministry
Through partnership with Worcester Catholic Charities, we assist refugee families moving into the Worcester area to seek a new and stable future. These families come to Worcester from all over the world. They arrive with a handful of possessions, usually very little or no knowledge of English, and often no familiarity with our culture. Catholic Charities finds them an apartment, but the families still have many needs. We start out by supplying household goods. Other things, like providing transportation and making home visits to establish relationships, are equally important and our members provide this assistance on a regular basis, often several times a week.
More information on how you can help is available here.
Cecile Cote : 508.829.5422
Martha Serafin : 508.842.6704
Haiti Covenant Committee
Since 1994 St. Mary’s has extended a helping hand to St. Michel’s Parish in Roche-a-Bateau, Haiti. Through our twinning partnership we provide $800 a month in support to this very large parish in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
Joseph Cantin: 508.842.3583
Heifer Project
Volunteers play an integral role in Heifer International’s global effort to alleviate poverty and hunger and promote sound nutrition and community well-being. Many unique, educational-based fundraising opportunities exist that involve the entire family.
Corinne Hetzler: 508.842.2449
Fair Trade Coffee Campaign
Those involved in this campaign hope to raise awareness of the problems faced by farmers in Colombia and the coffee-growing religions of Latin and Central America and Africa. By selling coffee that is certified to meet fair trade standards, and by encouraging parishioners to ask for it in stores and coffee shops, they also provide practical support to farmers, farm workers, and communities.
Kathleen Buckley: 508.845.5031
Share the Bounty
Fresh vegetables are collected in a harvest basket located at the front of the church during the summer. Volunteers collect the produce and bring it to St. Anne’s Food Pantry and the Worcester County Food Bank for distribution.
Cindy Kerekon: 508.845.9786
St. Anne's Food Pantry
Volunteers organize food drives, the proceeds of which are donated to St. Anne’s Food Pantry.
Mike and Marisa Mitchell: 508.421.5290
Furniture & Household Goods Drive
Volunteers run a drive to gather furniture and other household goods, which are then donated to Donations Clearinghouse, a program of Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance.
Rosemary Grant : 508.842.3555
Dismas House
Volunteers clean, cook and serve food at Dismas House, a home where former prisoners can re-establish productive lives.
Mike and Marisa Mitchell: 508.421.5290
Walk for the Homeless
Volunteers obtain sponsorships for the walk, which raises money for the Central Mass Housing Alliance.
Jeanne Vacarro: 508.842.0282
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Respect Life Ministry
Chair: Dr. John Harding: 508.845.9237
In 1973 when the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion in America, a group of St. Mary’s parishioners got together to see how we could advocate for the right to life of the unborn. Key figures in this group were former Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Francis P. O’Connor and his wife Ann, Dr. Robert Blute and his wife Ann Marie, Attorney John Connors and his wife Andree and Dr. John Harding along with his wife Grace.
We want to be a group of St. Mary’s parishioners who are visible, active prayerful, accessible, and informed on life issues. In addition, we wish to effectively promote the culture of life and oppose the culture of death in our society, especially in how the latter finds expression in the activity of the abortion industry.
24 Hour Rosary & Adoration
In the spring of each year, usually at the end of March or early April in association with the feast of the Annunciation, we hold a twenty-four hour rosary and adoration for an end to abortion. This time of prayer begins after the 8:30 am daily Mass on Friday and continues until the 8:30 am Mass on Saturday. On Friday evening at 7:00 pm we celebrate a Mass for Life.
Respect for Life Mass
We join other parishes for the annual respect life Mass at
Education
Education on and promotion of Natural Family Planning for pre-cana couples and married couples. Education of the confirmation class on sex and abstinence.
Our mission is to offer parishioners an opportunity to join together in faith to perform the Corporal Works of Mercy. We strive to model Christ’s concern for people, both individually and collectively in our community. Outreach ministries are called to deal with the needs and concerns of persons beyond the congregation, relating the ministry of the local church to the needs of the world through compassion, justice, and advocacy.
Giving Tree
Parishioners brighten the Christmas of needy children and adults by taking a tag from the Giving Tree and purchasing a gift. For Easter parishioners purchase supermarket gift certificates to be distributed through St. Anne’s Human Services. Volunteers assemble gift tags and collect and deliver gift certificates.
Maryanne Damico: 508.845.9674
Mustard Seed
On the third Wednesday of each month (September – June) a meal is prepared in the parish hall kitchen and served at the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker House in Worcester. Volunteers participate by donating cash or food, baking desserts, providing paper goods, cooking the food, and delivering and serving the meal.
Maryanne Damico: 508.845.9674
Religious Education
Chair: Sue Landry: 508.925.7801
For more information, check out the Religious Education section of this web site.
Adult Education/Bible Study
Opportunities are provided for updating and enriching adult faith life. Among the programs are six-week Bible study segments on various books of the Bible. Each weekly session is 90 minutes. Click here for more information.
Sue Landry: 508.925.7801
Baptismal Preparation
This class for parents seeking to have their infant children baptized takes place in the pastoral center on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Training is provided for anyone interested in helping. Click here for more information.
Deacon Frank Myska: 508.845.6341
Confirmation Preparation Program (High School Religious Education)
This program is designed to prepare high school students (in 9th and 10th Grade), who are seeking to confirm their faith and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Confirmation Program is the High School Religious Education Program. The actual Rite of Confirmation takes place in the Fall of junior year. Click here for more information.
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7529
Marriage Preparation
This ministry seeks married couples to work with engaged couples preparing for marriage through one-to-one meetings with an engaged couple or helping to conduct a day-long Pre-Cana Conference once a year in the spring. Click here for more information.
Msgr. Michael Rose: 508.842.6341
Religious Education Teacher
Training is available for new teachers, and various workshops and conferences are offered. Lessons from the teaching manual are well organized and easy to follow.
Sue Landry: 508.925.7801
Religious Ed. Substitute Teacher
Training is available. Lesson plans in the teaching manuals are well prepared and easy to follow.
Sue Landry: 508.925.7801
Thomas Merton Study Group
A group of Thomas Merton enthusiasts and readers meet on the third Tuesday of the month from 9:30 – 11:00 am to read and discuss books by Thomas Merton. Click here for more information.
John Collins: 508.753.6203
ENDOW
ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women).ENDOW is a Catholic organization which helps all women, discover their God-given dignity through the richness and authenticity of Catholic teachings.
Jennifer Zerwas: 508.845.3883
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The RCIA is the process through which adults are prepared for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Scripture sharing, information, conversation, and prayer are all part of the process. There is also an opportunity for parishioners to serve as sponsors, companions, or team members.
Deacon Frank Myska: 508.842.6341
Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC)
This program is for children of catechetical age (ages 8-15) who have not received any or all of the Sacraments of Initiation. Teachers are needed for this program, and training is available.
Kelly Jefferson: 508-847-6782
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Parish School Ministry
Joan Barry 508.842.1601
For more information, check out the Our School section of this web site.
Parishioners are always welcome in our preschool through eighth grade school, as well as our after school program. At different times of the year and throughout the year volunteers may be called upon for a variety of needs. The volunteers who sign up are kept on a list at the school and contacted when needed. The time commitment of our volunteers is varied and flexible You may be asked to help once a year for a special event or weekly depending on the need and your availability. School parents are encouraged to volunteer and become very active in our school. Interested individuals should contact the school directly at 508.842.1601 or email Joan Bary, Principal, at barryj@stmarysparish.org.
Volunteer opportunities include: Alumni/development Committee, Computer lab assistant, Library assistant, Making copies, Mentor a student, Outreach assistance, Read aloud to children, School Advisory Board Member, School or Church historian
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Parish Administration
Chair: Msgr. Michael Rose 508.845.0161
Adopt a Garden
If you have a green thumb, you may want to share your talent doing God’s work in a “natural way.” Small and large areas on the parish grounds always need attention.
Msgr. Michael Rose 508.845.6341
Partners in Charity
Partners in Charity volunteers assist in the annual campaign to raise funds for charity, education, and pastoral ministry for the Diocese of Worcester.
Msgr. Michael Rose: 508.845.6341
Finance Committee
Members are appointed by the pastor from a group of volunteers to prepare and monitor the parish’s budget, make the annual financial report to the parish, and oversee all renovation projects/fundraising.
Maria Lemieux: 508.845.8732
Maintenance Volunteers
Anyone interested in working on projects which help maintain the parish buildings/grounds are always needed for “fix it” jobs around the parish property. Carpentry skills are always very helpful.
One special project we undertake each year is the assembly of the "stable" for our outdoor Christmas nativity scene. The assembly "manual" can be found here. For those interested, the original construction drawing can be found here.
Msgr. Michael Rose: 508.845.6341
Pastoral Council
Parishioners aid the pastor in discerning, evaluating, consulting, and providing recommendations for the establishment of parish policy and objectives. Click here for more information.
Bob Terry (Chairperson): 508.798.8734
Parish Newsletter
Volunteers interested in writing or developing ideas for the parish newsletter are invited to put their talents to good use. We can also use a few pairs of hands for occasional mailings.
Mary Donovan: 508.879.0151
Stewardship Committee
Members of this committee seek individuals to help educate and promote the stewardship efforts of time, talent, and treasure in our parish.
Kelly Paulina: 508.845.8557
Web Site Design & Maintenance
The parish Web site, www.stmarysparish.org, is maintained by parishioners. There is ongoing weekly work to maintain the bulletin, events and calendar sections. There is occasional work to update the other sections (e.g. the Religious Ed. section gets updated with new information every September).
Jim Hudson: 508.842.8718
Welcoming Committee
The Welcoming Committee has been designed to work with the pastoral staff to help new parishioners make a comfortable adjustment into the community and the parish. This committee plans, schedules and invites new members of the parish to one of two socials held each year. Volunteers are always welcome to join this committee and share in our hospitality for our new parishioners.
Greg Morelli: 508.845.6938
Youth Ministry
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7801
Our primary aim is to bring young people closer to Christ. To help them to see Christ as central to their lives - a participant in all of their activities; a friend and companion in all of their triumphs, joys and sorrows.
We build a sense of community through outreach, retreats and regular participation in Sunday liturgy. We try and make real the concept of loving God and neighbor by attempting to bring about positive change one small step at a time.
Advisors to Middle School Youth Ministry
The Middle School Youth Ministry creates opportunities to build community among our middle school students in the spirit of their Catholic-Christian faith. Advisors help plan and facilitate church-based activities for our middle school parishioners.
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7801
Advisors to High School Youth Ministry
The High School Youth Ministry creates opportunities for high school students to live out their faith by building community, serving others, and participating in the overall life of the parish. Advisors assist the youth in planning and organizing activities.
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7801
Peer Ministry/Retreat Team
High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to offer their faith and talents to their peers by serving in various leadership roles, including Confirmation retreat leader and summer service experience trip leader
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7801
Summer Experiences for High School Students
During week-long service experiences, high school students travel, work, pray and live as a community while offering their time and talent to others in needs. Each experience involves a preparation period during which the group builds community, fundraises, and share prayer. Student leaders help organize and plan the experiences while adults are need to accompany the groups. Experiences include: Habitat for Humanity, Young Neighbors in Action, and Camp Sunshine.
Gina Kuruvilla: 508.925.7801
Scouting
Cub Pack 158:
If you are a boy in first grade through fifth grade—or you're 7 to 10 years old—then Cub Scouting is for you. It's for your family, too. The program is created to help the boys develop values and discipline to foster qualities of character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness. Each boy is asked to uphold the Cub Scout motto of “Do your best.”
Every Cub Scout is a member of a Cub Scout pack. A pack is a large group of boys. The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight boys. All of the Cub Scouts in a den are about the same age and are in the same grade at school. The dens generally meet weekly and the Pack meets once a month. Some of the activities the Pack participates in annually are the Blue & Gold Banquet in February- the birthday of scouting, a hockey game each winter, the Pinewood Derby each March, an overnight in May at Treasure Valley, and a picnic in June.
Our values are expressed in the Cub Scout Promise
I promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Dan Wolohan: 508.845.6562
Boy Scout Troop 158:
Boy Scouting is available to boys who
- Have either earned the Arrow of Light Award from Cub Scouts or completed the fifth grade and are 10 years old, or
- Are at least 11 years old but not yet 18 years old.
The program achieves the Boy Scouts of America's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness through its structure and activities. The Troop consists of a number of Patrols of 5-8 boys, usually of the same age. Planning and conducting most activities is done by youth leaders, building their confidence and leadership skills. Personal growth is achieved through Rank Advancement and the Merit Badge Program.
The Troop meets weekly at St. Mary’s on Thursday nights from 7-8:30. It has an excellent outdoor program that includes monthly camping trips, along with the opportunity to attend longer, High Adventure trips to places such as Maine, the Florida Keys and the Southwest. Each July, the highlight of the year is a week-long summer camp at Treasure Valley, where the boys enjoy swimming, boating and many other activities as they progress in advancement on the road to Eagle Scout.
The Scout Law guides us: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
The Troop’s values are expressed in the Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight
Ken Kirkwood 508.842.8753
Family Festival
The annual festival is held each fall on the third weekend of September. Volunteers meet throughout the year to plan and prepare. Even more volunteers are needed the weekend of the festival. Click here for more information.
Jack Carney: 508.839.0331
Jet Set
This group promotes social activities and trips to provide an atmosphere of friendship among parish seniors.
Evelyn Baroni: 508.845.3511
Baking Committee
Volunteers bake and serve at special parish receptions and functions as well as the annual Family Festival.
Terry Pratt: 508.842.8126
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