Service Opportunities

Click here for the current liturgical ministry schedule

WORSHIPING GOD TOGETHER

According to a mandate from Bishop Paprocki, all parish and school volunteers age 18 and older are required to take a Protecting God’s Children class and submit to a background check. Classes are offered as needed at the parish and are announced in advance. Additional classes are offered through the diocese (www.dio.org). Information will be given to you when you volunteer to serve in any ministry. To volunteer for any ministry, please contact the parish office (office@ssjpparish; 217-429-5363 or 217-428-7733).

Liturgical Ministries

Art and Environment volunteers decorate the churches for the liturgical seasons and major feasts.

Music Ministry includes the following opportunities:

Adult Choirs lead the music for two weekend Masses and for special parish celebrations. Anyone high school age or older who likes to sing is welcome to try out for either choir. The choirs’ schedules are as follows:

8:30 Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings at St. James. This choir sings primarily for the 8:30 Sunday Mass at St. James.

10:00 Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at St. Patrick. This choir sings for the 10:00 Sunday Mass at St. Patrick.

Children’s Choir welcomes children in grades 2 through 8. The choir sings for special celebrations through the year, including Christmas Eve. Rehearsals are scheduled as needed. Signup information will be distributed through Ss. James and Patrick Religious Education Program and St. Patrick Grade School. Other interested 2nd-8th graders should contact the office.

Handbell Choir adds to the music at weekend liturgies on an occasional basis. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick. Anyone high school age or older who reads music or is willing to learn is welcome.

Cantors lead the assembly’s singing as well as sing solo portions of the liturgy. Anyone with a good singing voice is welcome to try out for this ministry.

Instrumentalists add to the music at liturgy by playing various brass, woodwind, percussion and string instruments. Anyone who has had training on an instrument is welcome to try out for this ministry.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion help to distribute Holy Communion during Masses. Some Extraordinary Ministers also take Communion to the sick in hospitals, homes, and nursing homes.

Gift Bearers present the gifts of bread and wine at the altar during Mass.

Greeters are ministers of hospitality who welcome people at the doors of church before Mass.

Readers proclaim the Word of God to the assembly at Mass. Anyone with a love of Scripture, a strong speaking voice and self-confidence in front of people is welcome to try out for this ministry.

Servers assist the priest during Mass. Anyone in 4th grade or older is welcome in this ministry. Family teams are encouraged.

Ushers are ministers of hospitality at Mass. They assist people in finding seats, directing the communion lines and taking up the offerings of the people. Anyone high school age or older (male or female) is welcome to serve in this ministry.

Prayer and Worship Committee works to enhance the personal and communal prayer life of parishioners. They coordinate various prayer opportunities throughout the year and promote attention to the celebrations of the Universal Church, such as the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Meetings are scheduled as needed.

 

CATECHESIS – PASSING ON THE FAITH

According to a mandate from Bishop Paprocki, all parish and school volunteers age 18 and older are required to take a Protecting God’s Children class and submit to a background check. Classes are offered as needed at the parish and are announced in advance. Additional classes are offered through the diocese (www.dio.org). Information will be given to you when you volunteer to serve in any ministry. To volunteer for any ministry, please contact the parish office (office@ssjpparish; 217-429-5363 or 217-428-7733).

 Education

St. Patrick Grade School offers quality, faith-based education for students in preschool through 8th grade. The school is state recognized, and every teacher is state certified. School-related organizations and services include the following:

Athletic Association regulates the soccer, basketball and volleyball programs. The association also actively raises funds for equipment, uniforms, and the school playground.

Auction Committee plans and coordinates the annual Spring Auction fund raiser.

Home and School Association is dedicated to improving the spiritual and educational opportunities at the school. The association includes teachers and parents. General meetings are held twice a year; board meetings are held monthly.

School Advisory Board advises the pastor on issues, events, activities and policies for the school. The board meets monthly.

School Annual Fund Drive raises money to help pay for maintaining and upgrading the school facilities. This helps to keep tuition costs low.

Scouts

Girl Scouts of America is open to girls in 3rd through 5th grades. Girls help with many social issues as well as earning Girl Scout badges. Troop 3052 meets on Fridays at the Parish House at St. James.

Cub Scouts of America is open to boys in 1st through 5th grades. Boys learn basic skills and participate in fun activities and service projects. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings at St. Patrick.

Faith Formation

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) sessions prepare adults wishing to join the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The program also prepares those already baptized to complete their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist. Weekly sessions begin in August and are held on Tuesday evenings. Reception of the Sacraments occurs at the Easter Vigil.

Confirmation preparation sessions are offered to baptized young people in grades 7 & 8 and older. Preparations for this sacrament include class sessions, a retreat, service work, and interviews with the pastor. Eligible students enrolled in Ss. James and Patrick Religious Education Program or St. Patrick Grade School will receive signup information in class. Other students of Confirmation age wishing to be confirmed should contact the parish office.

 

BUILDING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

 According to a mandate from Bishop Paprocki, all parish and school volunteers age 18 and older are required to take a Protecting God’s Children class and submit to a background check. Classes are offered as needed at the parish and are announced in advance. Additional classes are offered through the diocese (www.dio.org). Information will be given to you when you volunteer to serve in any ministry. To volunteer for any ministry, please contact the parish office (office@ssjpparish; 217-429-5363 or 217-428-7733).

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Visitors visit parishioners in homes, hospitals and nursing homes; make phone calls and send cards to the homebound and bereaved; and in some cases are invited to take Communion to hospitalized and homebound parishioners.

Funeral Luncheons are provided to the family and friends of deceased parishioners. Volunteers assist by providing food, setting up tables, serving food, and cleaning up.

Prayer Line volunteers promise to pray daily for people in need. Anyone can call the parish office to request prayers for a particular person. The request is passed along to the volunteers through a chain of phone calls.

Parish Councils

Finance Council meets quarterly to advise the pastor on important financial matters in the parish.

Pastoral Council meets quarterly to advise the pastor on pastoral issues, events and activities in the parish.

Social Activities

Donut Sundays are offered occasionally after the Sunday morning 10:00 a.m. Mass in the St. Patrick Church basement. Parishioners and visitors are invited to enjoy coffee, donuts, juice, and friendship.

Book Club meets monthly on Wednesday evenings at the Parish House at St. James to discuss a book that members have read. Meeting dates and times are announced in the bulletin.

Pancake Breakfasts are usually held at least once a year. Details are announced in the bulletin in advance.

Miscellaneous Opportunities

Collection Counters count, record, and prepare deposits for the weekend collections.

Parish Office Volunteers help prepare mailings, run errands, and offer office help on an as-needed basis.

Dust-busters (at St. Patrick) and Temple Tenders (at St. James) tend to the cleaning, dusting, and vacuuming of the church.

Garden helpers plant flowers, weed and maintain the gardens around the churches, rectory and Parish House.

St. Joseph the Worker Committee works once a week for a few hours to do minor repairs and maintenance at the parish churches and offices.

Parish History/Records volunteers help organize and maintain historical documents and photos for the parish archives.

Hospitality volunteers build parish community by welcoming new members into the parish and providing welcome and refreshments for parish events and activities.

 

APOSTOLIC LIFE - SERVICE

According to a mandate from Bishop Paprocki, all parish and school volunteers age 18 and older are required to take a Protecting God’s Children class and submit to a background check. Classes are offered as needed at the parish and are announced in advance. Additional classes are offered through the diocese (www.dio.org). Information will be given to you when you volunteer to serve in any ministry. To volunteer for any ministry, please contact the parish office (office@ssjpparish; 217-429-5363 or 217-428-7733).

Outreach - Beyond the Church Walls:

Caregiver Support is offered through a monthly prayer-and-share gathering of those who care for a sick or aged loved one. Meeting times vary, so call the parish office for more information.

Faith in Action, under the auspices of Catholic Charities, provides help to elderly and disabled members of the community. They run errands, provide transportation to medical appointments, visit the homebound, provide respite relief, and offer other services to people in need. Contact number is 428-3458.

Pro-Life Committee prays for and promotes issues to protect the unborn. Contact the parish office.

Service Projects support various agencies in the community that help people in need. Projects include:

Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets

Adopt-A-Friend Christmas gifts for developmentally disabled adults

Mother’s Day collection of gifts for mothers and newborns

Habitat for Humanity workers share their talents by assisting a family build their own home. Contact number is 425-6446.

Meals on Wheels volunteers, under the direction of Catholic Charities, bring hot meals to elderly and homebound members of the Decatur community. Contact number is 428-3458.

DOVE volunteers assist in the children's clothing room, RSVP program, domestic violence education program, and BABES. Contact number is 428-6616.

Good Samaritan Inn volunteers assist in serving meals, Mercy Garden, or Mercy Kitchen projects.

            Contact number is 429-1455.

Oasis volunteers accompany the homeless at this daytime shelter. Contact number is 422-3940.

 Homework Hangout volunteers are mentors or tutors for a young person. Contact number is 872-2306.

 New Life Pregnancy Center volunteers support those experiencing an unintended pregnancy. Contact number is 872-5555.