Members of the St. Joseph Liturgy Committee, acting on behalf of all parishioners, focus on the varied aspects of good liturgy and its practical implementation. From individual study and experience and group exchange at monthly meetings, they assist the staff in planning and presenting liturgical and spiritual events.

The Liturgy Committee is a standing committee of the Parish Council and its chairperson is a Parish Council member. It has 13 functional groups coordinating the activities of hundreds of volunteer lay ministers who make parish liturgy come to life.

ENHANCING WORSHIP

Members of the parish Liturgy committee, acting on behalf of all parishioners, focus on the various aspects of good liturgy and its practical implementation. From their individual study and group exchange of information at meetings, they are an effective community resource and assist staff in planning liturgical and spiritual events.

Hospitality Ministry
Our greeters and ushers are the first people one meets upon entering St. Joseph church. They are our “first impression” - they offer the smile and hand of welcome we want to give not only to newcomers but to each other as a parish. The greeters do just that - greet everyone as they enter church. The ushers help with seating, take up the collection, assist the flow of communion, and hand out the bulletin after Mass.
A training session is offered annually.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are men and women who distribute communion at Mass. They have a firm belief in and reverence for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Their ministry facilitates reverent reception of communion, and a sense of community and hospitality among the assembly. Eucharistic ministers are active members of the parish community, as evidenced by their participation in some other area of parish life, such as Religious Education, Social Justice, etc.
Training and spiritual enhancement programs are provided for Eucharistic ministers on a regular basis.

Lectors
Lectors are volunteers, men and women, who have been trained to share God's Word and themselves with the members of our parish community. They proclaim the first and second readings during the liturgy of the Word at Mass. Lectors also assist at other liturgical services.
Training and spiritual enhancement programs are provided on a regular basis.

Cantors
Cantors are individual singers, both men and women, who lead the songs, psalms and acclamations at weekend liturgies and holy days. The cantor enhances the liturgy as a celebration of faith, by guiding the assembly in song. Cantor training and skill development is ongoing throughout the year.

Choirs
Currently, St. Joseph's has an Adult Choir, a Youth Choir, Contemporary Music Ensemble, and a Handbell Choir. The choirs/ensemble offer variety and a special dimension to liturgical worship. Through ongoing training and practice, they lend their talents and efforts at weekend Masses from October through May on the following schedule:
The Youth Choir: 9:00 a.m. Mass
The Adult Choir: 10:30 a.m. Mass
The Contemporary Music Ensemble: 12:00 a.m. Mass
The Handbell Choir: special occasions

Liturgical Environment Committee
The Liturgical Environment committee is a group of committed and creative people, who attend to the worship space of our parish. They meet monthly to plan and prepare the liturgical environment for the various seasons and feasts of the Church year. Their work with liturgical colors, fabric, flowers, and other artistic media flows from the themes established by the liturgy committee and parish staff.

Sacristy Assistants
The sacristy assistants are volunteers who are responsible for maintaining the sacristy and altar. They share the responsibility for cleaning/pressing altar linens, polishing liturgical vessels, as well as preparing the worship area for Mass.

Altar Servers
Altar servers are parish boys and girls entering the 6th grade or above, who assist the priest at daily and weekend Masses, weddings, funerals, as well as other special liturgies. New servers are trained each spring. Training sessions are ongoing periodically throughout the year.