Ministries

     St. J’s Collaborative has many opportunities for service to the Church and to the community. How grateful we are for all that our volunteers do for the collaborative and for the community! We always welcome new volunteers. Please explore the numerous ministries in the section below entitled “A description of ministries,” and if you would like more information, or to participate, please contact our administrative assistant Ms. Carol Zaiatz at (978)433-5737 or e-mail office@stjs.page. She will refer you to the appropriate contact person. 

     In compliance with Archdiocesan guidelines, we also ask that all of our volunteers fulfill the following requirements:

• All volunteers must complete a CORI background screening prior to beginning ministry (and then annually in the following years). Please contact our administrative assistant Ms. Carol Zaiatz at (978)433-5737 or e-mail office@stjs.page to complete a CORI.

• All volunteers must complete a Volunteer Application. Please print out the form at the bottom of page, fill it out, and bring it to the parish offices (or send it by mail, or email a scanned copy to office@stjs.page).

• All volunteers must complete Protecting God’s Children (PCG) training at least once. If you already had completed Protecting God’s Children, please drop off your certificate at the parish offices (or send it by mail, or email a scanned copy to office@stjs.page). If you have completed the training but do not have a certificate, please let us know and we will request one.

- All adult volunteers who may be in the presence of youth, including all those in worship ministry, must complete Protecting God’s Children within the first 60 days of ministry. 

- All volunteers working directly with youth must complete Protecting God’s Children within the first 30 days of ministry.  

- Please contact our administrative assistant Ms. Carol Zaiatz at (978)433-5737 or e-mail office@stjs.page about Protecting God’s Children training hosted at Our Lady of Grace and St. John the Evangelist Parishes.

- Alternatively, volunteers may sign up for Protecting God’s Children by going to www.VIRTUSonline.org and following the instructions. Please be sure to select “Boston, MA (Archdiocese),” fill in the required information, and then choose the appropriate training/date. (If you have difficulties with the online system, please call the Office of Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.)  

• All volunteers must read and agree to comply with both the Code of Conduct for Volunteers and the Child Protection Policy for the Archdiocese of Boston. (For printed copies, please ask your volunteer coordinator!)

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A description of ministries

(Please contact our administrative assistant Ms. Carol Zaiatz at (978)433-5737 or e-mail office@stjs.page if you have an interest in participating in any of these ministries! She will refer you to the appropriate contact person.)

Parish Pastoral Council (actually, a pastoral council for the collaborative)

     The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is composed of two groups of 4 to 6 parishioners who represent the two parish communities. The council meets every other month (6 times a year) on Monday evenings. The purpose of the PPC is to assist the pastor in the planning, organizing, and promoting pastoral initiatives for the collaborative. Parishioners are encouraged to communicate their views and concerns through their PPC representatives or by email (ppc@stjs.page).

Parish finance council (actually, a finance council for the collaborative)

     The Parish Finance Council (PFC) is composed of two groups of 3 to 5 parishioners who represent the two parish communities. The council meets quarterly (4 times a year) with the pastor and business manager. Membership is composed of parishioners with backgrounds in business management, property maintenance and administration, finance, planning, budgeting, accounting, investment, fund-raising, and law. The group helps prepare the parish budget, gives an annual financial report to the people, and organizes fund-raising initiatives.

RCIA

     The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process for those who would like to become Catholic or for those baptized Catholics who have never made their first communion. Please call the office for details!

Sacristans and liturgical coordinators

     Sacristans ensure that the proper liturgical books, sacred vessels, and equipment are ready for Mass. They also maintain and care for the sacred linens and vessels. Liturgical coordinators organize the respective schedules for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers.

Music Ministry

     Liturgical music is an art placed at the service of liturgical prayer. Through music, the musicians, cantors, and choir assist the assembled faithful to express and share the gift of faith.  

Decorations committee

     This group is composed of parishioners with diverse gifts and talents, for example, art, sewing, interior decorating, and crafting. The group, together with the pastoral staff, prepare and decorate the churches for the liturgical seasons and special feasts.

Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), lectors, ushers/greeters/altar servers

     Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), lectors, ushers/greeters, and altar servers assist in the celebration of Mass in different capacities. There is a short period of training for new extraordinary ministers, lectors, and altar servers. Please speak to one of the priests!

Bereavement ministry

     Those entrusted with the bereavement ministry extend a helping hand to those grieving the loss of a loved one. In particular, they assist families to plan the funeral Mass for a loved one.

Collection counters

     Collection counters are entrusted with the important task of ensuring the safety and the accurate counting of our weekly offertory collection.

Church cleaning

     Church cleaning teams help keep our buildings clean. They vacuum and wash floors, wipe down the pews, water plants and flowers, dust and polish things in the church, clean the restrooms, empty the trash, replace paper products, etc. We would be most grateful for your help!

Building and Facilities Committee

     The Building and Facilities Committee meets with the pastor every other month on Monday evenings to identify and discuss building- and facilities/maintenance-related issues within the collaborative. Members have experience in construction, maintenance, engineering, electrical, grounds, etc.

     Members meet with contractors to obtain cost estimates for review.  With the pastor’s approval, work is contracted for a variety of building and maintenance items.

Townsend Ecumenical Outreach (TEO)

     This is not a parish ministry; however, many of our parishioners are members of (or support) the TEO. The TEO is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization established to provide emergency and temporary assistance to Townsend and Ashby residents in need of a helping hand.  

PACH

     This is also not a parish ministry; however, many of our parishioners are members of (or support) PACH. PACH is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization established to provide food assistance to the needy of Pepperell.

Our Father’s Table

     Parishioners cook for the priests on certain Friday or Saturday evenings. They bring a meal to the rectory or invite the priests to their home for a meal.

Volunteer form (Please printed double-sided if possible. Thank you!)