If you are interested in helping in any of ​the many ministries available contact Julie at
​Cell Phone 616-215-9181 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Email: ​clustersecretary@ourcluster.org​
​

Sacristan
Opens and closes up church. Sets up and cleans up vessels that will be used for Mass. Detailed job description available at parish office. ​

Lector/Commentator
Proclaim the word of God at weekend and special liturgies.  Read the General Intercessions.  Make announcements before Mass. (Open to men and women, 18 years old and older. One training session is required. Service – choice of Mass.)  

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion  
Assist with the distribution of the Body of Christ or Blood of Christ at weekend liturgies. Clean and put items away after the mass. Minister of Holy Communion at Mass shall be baptized and confirmed Catholics who regularly share in the Eucharist.  (Open to men and women, 18 years old and older. One training session is required. Service – choice of Mass.)   

Altar Servers  
Assist the Priest and those gathered for Worship during the week, weekend, and special liturgies.  Servers enhance the quality of the Eucharistic celebration by serving the presider and the congregation.  Altar Serving also allows young adults an opportunity to share their gifts with the community.  (Open to any young adult 3rd grade through high school that is able to behave in a mature manner.  Two training sessions are required.  First year servers shadow with an older altar server to become more comfortable in serving.)  

Ushers – SJ - SFX
Ushers Club is an active organization of the parish. They assign a family to bring up Offertory gifts, take up the collection, escort people at Communion time, distribute bulletins after Mass, and help the elderly in and out of their cars. They sponsor the Euchre Tournament for mixed couples; host the annual Spring cleaning of the parish grounds. (Open to all men and couples of the parish.) 

Ushers – SC
Ushers assist parishioners in any seating issues, take up the collection, assist with the presentation of the gifts, escort people at Communion time and help the elderly in and out of their cars.  They are responsible for checking all pews and for locking all doors after Mass. 

Ministry of Greeters  
Greet and welcome parishioners and especially visitors as they enter the gathering area before Mass. Help distribute special handouts before and after Mass. (Open to couples or individuals.  Service – choice of Mass.)   SC – Greeters also present the gifts at Offertory. 

Homebound Extraordinary Minister
Take Holy Communion to those recovering from surgery or illness, the elderly, and/or shut-ins of the parish.  While they can watch the Mass on TV, they are not able to receive the Eucharist: the Body of Christ.  Extraordinary Ministers at the various Masses could take Communion to one or more homebound persons after the Mass.  Perhaps most or all members of an entire family could perform this ministry.  A short visit with the homebound person would be a blessing for all participants.  (Open to men and women, 18 years old and older. This is perfect for a family!  Individual or group training will be provided) 

Ministry of Consolation
​

Altar Society – SC—SFX
Every woman of the parish is a member of Altar Society.  These women offer many services to the parish family.  One of which is to assist the family at funeral lunches.  They organize, obtain food, and serve luncheons for parish funerals.  They decorate and present the church for every Mass, with special attention for church holydays.  There is an annual due of $5.00 for every member.  (Envelope provided with weekly envelopes.)  
 
Men’s Club – SC
Every man of the parish is a member and invited to monthly meeting on the last on Wednesday.  The men sponsor the annual ‘Lots of Pasta’ dinner and the Lenten fish fry dinners.  Their membership maintains the parish hall and does set-up and take-down for events in the hall.  Their fund raiser, annual 50/50 supports our school children’s sports and playground equipment. 
 
St. Cecilia Cluster Choir and Music Ministry Opportunities
The St. Cecilia Cluster choir seeks persons who have a desire to use their musical talents in stewardship    to the Cluster parishes. The choir provides liturgical and sacred music for seasonal and festival liturgies of the church year. Those of high school age and older are most welcome to participate. Prior experience or music reading is not required but can prove to be helpful. Rehearsal and liturgy schedules are announced in the bulletin and via e-mail and postal mail. Those who have skills as organists, pianists, guitarists, instrumentalists, percussionists or vocal skills/cantor, are encouraged to contact Mrs. Eileen Hoogterp, Director of Music, as many opportunities are available to use your talent in varied ways throughout the church year.   
 
Pastoral Council
Is the visioning and planning body for the pastoral and spiritual concerns of the parish. It strives to identify the need of the parish, studies and reflects upon those needs, makes recommendations and plans as to how those needs can be met, and evaluates the ministerial efforts of the parish. The members of the Pastoral Council reflect the entire body of the community and act as the voice of that community. They model ways in which the community can be strengthened. (Meet six times a year. Meetings announced in Sunday Bulletin.  Members are nominated or answer the call to serve and are drawn by lot at the Sunday Liturgies.)    

Finance Council
The Finance Council is to advise the pastor on financial matters and the administration of parish property, assist in the preparation of the general parish budget, provide the necessary annual reports, review the parish financial, personnel, and administrative operations, develop long range planning for operational and capital needs, and assist in encouraging parish stewardship. (This ministry is staffed based on need. A position on this council may not be available. Open to adult men and women. A minimum of a 3-year commitment is required).

Offertory Collection Counters - SJ
Count the weekly offertory collections. Work with a team of 4 to 5 people. (Open to adults registered in the Parish who are at least 21 years old. (Service – Monday mornings, from 8:00 A.M. until finished on alternating months). 

Offertory Collection Counters – SC- SFX
Count the weekly offertory collections after Mass. (Open to adults registered in the Parish who are at least 21 years old).   
  
Worship Commission - SJ
The purpose of this commission is to plan the liturgies and decorate the church for various liturgical seasons and special events including help with any special altar preparations for special liturgies. They set up the schedules for ExtraordinaryMinisters, Ministers of the Cup and Lectors.  (Open to members of the parish) 

Parish Life Commission - SJ
The basic function of the Parish Life Commission is to coordinate social and recreational activities with all groups in the parish. They serve coffee and doughnuts at special functions, serve cake and beverages after special events, host and serve the priests meal at the Forty Hours Devotions, serve lunch for the priests at the annual Deanery Meeting.   

Christian Service Commission - SJ
This commission works to serve the needs of families and organizations in the area. They organize the volunteers for God’s Kitchen, do the Thanksgiving Food Drive, do food collections for special charities in the area, and collect donations each month for families in need.  
  
Plant & Grounds Commission
Oversees the maintenance and repairs of the parish buildings and grounds. They also work on long range planning on improvements for the grounds and parish buildings.  (Meetings are announced in the Sunday Bulletin.)  SC – P&G host the annual Spring cleaning bee of the parish grounds. (Open to all parish members, please.) 

Prayer Line
Many things bring us together as parish family, but none as important as the support we give to one another through prayer. Especially in times of critical need we look to one another for support. Your parish family stands ready to offer you that prayerful support. We have a network of people who will offer prayers for you and your needs.  Simply call and the parish prayer line will go into action.  

Adoration – SJ-SFX
Adoration at St. Joseph’s takes place on Tuesday’s from 8:30 – 2:00 pm. You may sign up for an hour time period by calling the office at 899-2286 or you may just come and spend time. St. Francis Xavier has adoration on Sunday evenings whenever youth ministry meets at 6:00 PM. 

CCD – Elementary & Junior High
Catechists and aides share their faith and instruct elementary and junior high students (Grades Kindergarten through 8) in areas of faith formation. Text, resources, and support are provided.  (This ministry is open to adults and confirmed high school students)    

Youth Ministry - High School – Grades 9-12
Many fun and faith-building opportunities are planned for high school aged students to become involved in. Everyone is invited to participate.  (Education – Service – Faith – Social).   

Scripture Study - SJ
The study groups meet starting in the fall and go until Easter.  The meeting times vary.