Parish Ministries
The various ministries of our Parish provides you with a wide variety of ways of connecting with the community. Through these ministries you can learn and grow as an individual, meet others who share your values, and reach out to serve the larger parish and city. We hope there's something for everyone here. If not, join us in creating future ministries.
Boys and girls, 4th grader and above, are eligible for this ministry. Altar Servers assist the priest and they enhance the prayerful environment of our parish by assisting the presider whenever the parish gathers to worship. They provide the young members of our parish community the opportunity to serve the Church in a meaningful way while growing in their faith. They meet once or two times a year. Training is given during this period of meeting while the new members are well train before serving for the first time. They must have had the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. They need to arrive 15 minutes before the Mass they are serving. They serve weekend Liturgies, Adoration and at Stations of the Cross during the Lent. There is an annual outing for altar servers with their organizer.
- General Information
- September – May: Mandatory practice on the third Sunday of every month.
- Training sessions will be after catechism classes 12:00-1:00 p.m.
- June – August: only experienced servers will be scheduled
- Training sessions will include faith formation and review of the Altar Server’s Training Manual as well as practical training in serving for Mass.
- All communication concerning scheduling/altar server training between Florence and parents will be conducted via email, text message or in person to circumvent misunderstandings.
- Any altar server who cannot serve at their appointed Mass should make arrangements for a substitute by contacting other altar servers on the server list or Call Florence.
- Any child who does not attend the regular monthly practice will not be scheduled to serve the following month.
- New servers must attend two training sessions before being placed on the server schedule and must pass an oral examination by the trainer.
- The new servers on training should be sitting in front sit during the Sunday’s Mass together with their parents.
Altar Server Prerequisites
- Most importantly, altar servers MUST have a strong desire to serve at Holy Mass.
- Parents MUST be willing to support their child’s desire by committing to monthly practices and by making sure their child serves at their appointed Mass.
- All servers are expected to wear "Decent clothes" at the Sunday’s Masses, even when not scheduled to serve. No wearing of Flip-Flops (slippers) or canvas when serving. Shoes or sandals are allow (Please dress moderate)
Key words from the Bible to help us be a good Altar Server
- Most importantly, altar servers MUST have a strong desire to serve at Holy Mass.
- Parents MUST be willing to support their child’s desire by committing to monthly practices and by making sure their child serves at their appointed Mass.
- All servers are expected to wear "Decent clothes" at the Sunday’s Masses, even when not scheduled to serve. No wearing of Flip-Flops (slippers) or canvas when serving. Shoes or sandals are allow (Please dress moderate)
- “Do not be misled: ‘bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame”. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
- Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his 0own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthian 6:18
- For Altar Server’s Hand Book click here
- Altar Serve’s Application Form Click Here to Download
Altar Server Prerequisites
Key words from the Bible to help us be a good Altar Server
Attached file for all Serves
Eucharistic Ministry
As ministers of Holy Communion be therefore, especially observant of the Lord's command to love your neighbor. For when he gave his body as food to his disciples, he said to them: 'This is my commandment, that you should love one another as I have loved you.'"
- Book of Blessings, No. 1875
Bishops, priests and deacons are the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. When these Ordinary Ministers are present, they are to distribute Holy Communion unless they are unable to do so. In their absence, or if the number of communicants is too large for only Ordinary Ministers, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion may distribute Holy Communion.
The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMoHC) is a lay person who assists at Mass through the distribution of Holy Communion and takes Communion to the sick, the dying, those imprisoned, and others unable to celebrate the Eucharist with the parish community. The EMoHC must be:
- Fully initiated (having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).
- Catholics in good standing (believe and practice the teachings of the Church, are not in an invalid marriage, have no impediments to receiving the Sacraments, etc.)
- Respected for their faith and integrity by both the priest and the community
- At least 16 years old
- Fully able to comprehend the ministry that they are undertaking
- Properly trained through a diocesan workshop or another manner approved by the Bishop in the appropriate and reverent manner of fulfilling this ministry
At the St. Francis International Parish, we use Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at 11:00am Mass (primarily for distributing the Precious Blood.
For more information, please call the parish office at 02-793-2070
Lectors Ministry
Lectors are men and women selected to share God's Word by reading the scripture passages prior to the Gospel during Mass. Lectors are expected to prepare for this Ministry by receiving the necessary training from the parish. Lectors should practice their assigned readings to insure their delivery has adequate loudness, good phrasing, proper emphasis, and clear meaning.
The readings should not be presented too quickly or too slowly and should be delivered with reverence. It is important for lectors to spend time in prayer with the scripture passages, allowing the Holy Spirit to give them an understanding of what they will proclaim to the assembly. The Lector, for a moment, assumes a leadership role within the Parish Community, and therefore should dress appropriately. A good Lector allows the community to sense the presence of the living Jesus in the Parish Community without focusing too much attention on himself or herself
Chior Ministry
The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy...Therefore sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites.”
- Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
In today’s liturgy, music is an essential part of our worship. Participation in music, whether it be singing as part of an organized group or as a member of the congregation, gives us another special way of showing our love and devotion to God.. To join the choir, it is not necessary to read music or have a professional singing voice, but only to have a love of singing the Lord’s praises and feel and appreciate the beauty of traditional and contemporary motets, hymns, Masses, and Gregorian music. It consists of harmonizing singers – descant, sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses.
We have fully volunteeted choir members in 9:00 and 11:00 am Mass. Practice begins an hour prior to each Mass on Sunday. Other Masses has just few members
New members are always welcomed. If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact Taty sister or the parish priest
Altar Volunteer Workers
This group is handled by Rev Sr. Cecilia and a couple of other vounteers. Whatever is set aside for use in the liturgy takes on a certain sacred character both by the blessing it receives and the sacred functions it fulfills. Thus, the cloths used at the altar in the course of the Eucharistic celebration should be treated with the care and respect due to those things used in the preparation and celebration of the sacred mysteries.
The manner in which we treat sacred things (even those of lesser significance than the chalice, paten, liturgical furnishings, etc.) fosters and expresses our openness to the graces God gives to his Church in every celebration of the Eucharist. Thus, by the diligent care of altar linens, the Church expresses her joy at the inestimable gifts she receives from Christ's altar.
