“As the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is also dead.”
James 2:26
Our Ministries
At St. Gregory’s we seek to encourage a living faith, trusting in the power of God’s saving love, but accepting our call to serve the Lord by serving others. You may be asking yourself: “Is God calling me to be more involved in my parish?” Saint Gregory’s has a number of different ministries that are always looking for volunteer new members. On this page you will find brief descriptions of some of our ministries.
Please call our parish office (519-623-3111) to be provided with a Ministry Coordinator contact name and phone number. Our office will also attempt to answer any questions you may have.
Ministries and Contacts
Altar Guild
This group is responsible for the care and cleaning of the sacred vessels used in the celebration of the Mass. They also ensure that the church is neat and tidy. After brief training volunteers join a rotation and will usually be expected to server every few weeks.
Altar Servers
Altar Servers have been an integral part of the Sunday Liturgy for centuries. Even in the earliest times servers were needed to assist the priest at the table of the Lord. In more modern times the role of Altar Server has become a key ministry for young people in the parish. At Saint Gregory’s this Ministry is open to young people in Grade 3 and up who have received their First Communion. New servers receive training and are paired with experienced servers for their first few Sundays. There is usually one or two group training sessions per year, as well as a social fun event.
Canada Food for Children
Founded by Dr. Andrew Simone, Canada Food For Children has become a preeminent Catholic charity whose single goal is to feed the poorest of the poor. Saint Gregory the Great Parish has been a proud supporter of the work of Canada Food for Children for many years. We collect needed materials and food stuffs and forward them to CFFC for distribution to those in need. A small parish ministry coordinates the collecting and forwarding activities. If you’d like to help, please give our office a call.
Children’s Liturgy
We provide a children’s liturgy at our Sunday Mass (10:00am.) Children are encouraged to participate in some simple activities in our Parish Center while their parents are at worship in the main church. The Children’s Liturgy is conducted by a group of volunteers on a rotational basis. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact our office.
Knights of Columbus
Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.
The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to 15,900 councils and 1.9 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam, Saipan, Lithuania, Ukraine, and South Korea.
Legion of Mary
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
The Word of God proclaimed in the sacred Scripture enlightens our minds and our hearts. When the scriptures are read in the liturgical assembly, God speaks to us and calls us to respond in faith and love. The ministry of Lector then is important to the life of the Church, for the Lector proclaims God’s living Word (Order of Commissioning Ministers of the Word.) The Ministry of the Word is critical in our Liturgical celebrations. A simple training day is conducted prior to installation to this Ministry and then the Lector is added to our Mass schedule to usually read once or twice a month.
Ministers of Communion (Extraordinary)
The Eucharist, is the “source and summit of our Christian life.” During Mass we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and celebrate the sacred mystery in union with Christ and one another. Just as a meal sustains us physically, we need the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually. In the simple ritual of giving the Eucharistic bread and cup to one another, the Minister of Communion becomes the means through whom the spirit challenges us to recognize and to manifest the Body of Christ in all his manners of coming. Ministers of Communion assist our priest and deacon in bringing the real presence of Jesus to His people. Those involved in this ministry must recognize the reality of Christ already present in his people gathered, if they are to authentically share with them his presence and the bread and cup. A simple training day is conducted prior to installation in this Ministry and then the Minister of Communion is added to our Mass schedule to serve once or twice a month.
Ministers of Communion may also be asked to take Communion to the sick and shut-ins. Training for this important ministry will be provided to Ministers wishing to assist in this important work of the Church.
Music Ministry (Our Choirs)
It is said that when we sing it is praying twice! Music forms an integral part of the liturgy of the Church and our parish is blessed to have talented musicians and choir voices. The main choir sings at the Sunday 10:00am Mass. If you have a love of singing and would like to participate in our choir, please contact our office who will connect you with our choir leader.
Saint Vincent DePaul Society
Members of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul (or “Vincentians” ) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.
We know that we are not alone. We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.
Energized by the awareness that service to our brother or sister in need is in fact an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are keenly aware that poverty, suffering and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to relieve need and address its causes.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential precept of the Society’s work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served. The Society recognizes that it must assume, also, a role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or voiceless. Millions of people are helped annually by Vincentians around the globe..