Serving Others

WORKCAMP Mission Trip

The High School Mission Trip is incredibly successful at bringing teens to areas of the country where people are in need of home repair projects. Teens prepare throughout the year on what it means to be a missionary and also reflect on the privileged culture of America we are accustomed to.   For more information about these Mission Trips, visit Youth Trips Website.

St. Joseph's 30 Hour Fast

Every year, dozens of young people (Middle and High School) collect funds for a 30 hour fast at the Parish Center. The 30 Hour Fast is a hunger awareness program that allows participants like you to give others a chance to save lives and change your world.  To experience hunger while you're learning about it is quite powerful. Besides fasting, participants do service projects at nursing homes and food shelves.

 


Here is what our youth group got done in 30 hours during the 2008 fast:

  • 1,733 pounds of food collected in neighborhood and donated to PRISM.

  • Prepared and served breakfast at the House of Charity

  • Prepared and Delivered 90 Sandwiches to Our Saviors Soup Kitchen

  • Delivered and stocked the shelves with the donation listed above at PRISM

  • Worked several different jobs while at St. Matthews

  • Serviced at Casa Guadalupana, a hispanic community and Catholic work house

  • Organization and Cleaning at a Goodwill Outlet in Maple Grove

  • Went to the Crisis Nursery where they made a “creative snack” and facilitated an enrichment activity for children

  • The Youth went to Feed My Starving Children, joined 3 other church groups at the site, and together packaged enough food to feed 41 kids for a year.

  • Painted at an AEON site

  • Did hand massages, card playing, and read to residents at the Earle Brown Terrace Center

  • Bandages were made and rolled for Global Health Ministries

  • Participated in hunger education opportunities and prayer

  • In addition, $2800 was collected and donated to organizations that provide food for the hungry

  
 

 
 

 
St. Joseph's look forward to doing this event again in 2009. Participants will again collect pledges, fast for 30 hours and serve in the community. The cost for each participant is $25.  If you're interested in more information about this yearly event, please contact the High School Youth Minister, Kate Berry.

Peer Ministry

All teenagers who are being called to Discipleship are encouraged to check out this ministry. Young people in 8-12th grades provide the leadership for a variety of LIFE TEEN events, Retreats, LIFE TEEN Masses as well as support each other through faith sharing. The Youth Ministers help Peer Ministers to build their skills in leadership and ministry. These young people are primarily focused on building their relationship with Christ through active ministry to their friends, family, community and Parish.  For more information on the Peer Ministry Team, visit the St. Joseph's Peer Ministry Webpage.

Parish Liturgical Ministry

St. Joseph's is committed to service and justice within our faith community, particularly during the weekly Liturgies. Opportunities include:

Lector: Proclaims the Scripture readings at Mass. Leads the assembly in the Prayers of the Faithful and makes the announcements at Mass. Gifts: Ability to read and speak clearly and effectively.

Drama Ministers: Prepares the assembly for hearing the Word of God through a brief dramatization. Serves at the 6:00 mass. Opened to Middle and High school students. Gifts: Willing to discuss and practice the skits beforehand.

Liturgical Dancers: Expresses the community's great joy during the processions at our Christmas and Easter masses through dance. Dancing is done twice a year (opportunities will exist for dance leaders next year).

Mass Coordinator: Coordinates the Eucharistic and Hospitality Ministers for specific Masses once a month. Arrives 30 minutes before Mass. Training provided. Gifts: Friendly, outgoing personality, good organizational skills, dependable. Minister serves once a month. (openings available starting with the summer).

Hospitality Minister: Welcomes all who enter worship space, hands out songbooks, ushers and helps to bring up the Gifts as needed. Takes up collection and tidies up the seating area. Individuals and/or families welcomed. Arrive 20 minutes before Mass. Ministers serve once a month. Gifts: Friendly and dependable.

Eucharistic Minister: Ministers the consecrated Bread and Wine to the assembly during the Mass. Arrives 15 minutes before Mass. Confirmed youths and adults welcomed. Ministers serve once a month. Gifts: Friendly and ability to work well with others (help especially needed at 4:30 and 11:00) This will be available after you are confirmed.

Coffee Server: Prepares and serves the coffee and punch after the 9:20, 11:00 and 6:00Masses at the Parish Center. Arrive 15 minutes before the end of Mass to make necessary preparations. Individuals and/or families welcomed. Gifts: Friendly and ability to work well with others.

Environment Minister: Helps to prepare the liturgical environment for the liturgical seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Creates and sets up banners, cloth hangings, tapestries and other items needed for celebration. Gifts: Creative, willingness to work with team to create the visual environment in our worship spaces.

Youth Choirs

High School Choir: 9th - 12th grade. Sings once a month at 11:00 and 6:00 (separate from the middle school choir) during the school year. Practices vary.

Note: High School youths will not be limited to singing once a month at 6:00. They may sing at other times with the 6:00 Life Line Band

For more information call the Liturgy Coordinator, Aaron Mayer.

YouthWorks! Website
Group Workcamps Website

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This page was last updated on 03/23/2008