Worship and Liturgy

Adoration/Benediction

"Eucharistic adoration is an essential way of being with the Lord…In the sacred Host, He is present, the true treasure, always waiting for us. Only by adoring this presence, one learns how to receive Him properly…Let us love being with the Lord! There we can speak with Him about everything. We can offer Him our petitions, our concerns, our troubles, our joys, our gratitude, our disappointments, our needs and our aspirations."Pope Benedict XVI

Here at our parish we have the honor and privilege of praying before Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament every Friday.  Every First Friday, we have all night adoration.

Altar Servers

Altar Servers are ministers to the celebrant for all liturgies. Servers must be rising third graders and have received their first Holy Communion. Training sessions are held in the Spring and review sessions are scheduled as needed. 

Art & Environment

The Art and Environment ministry is responsible for creating an atmosphere of unity of the entire liturgical building. The aim of the liturgical space is to facilitate the public worship and common prayer of all there. This ministry gives attention to the narthex, the altar, the ambo, the chair, the font, and the tabernacle. Anyone with an interest in enhancing the areas used in liturgy is welcome to help. Training is provided. 

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion (EMOCH) may serve at Parish Liturgies as needed. They aid the priests in distributing the Holy Eucharist at Masses. Attendance at a Diocesan workshop is required to secure a Bishop's Mandate to serve. After receiving the Bishop's Mandate, Parish training is also requried. Call the Liturgy Office for more information.

Funeral Helpers

This is a new ministry forming to help and pray at funerals. It is a corporal work of mercy to "bury the dead" and if you have a calling to help, this may be the ministry for you. Just a willingness to be of help to the Liturgy Director in preparing the Church for a funeral. This would entail setting out reserve seat signs, placing tissues about, handing out programs, setting out the guest book, etc., and praying for the deceased after the funeral. Call the Liturgy Director at the Parish office for more information

Junior Altar Women’s Society
This is a newly formed ministry for young girls (ages 10 and up) who would like to help the priest. This ministry includes preparing items for Mass, cleaning up and resetting the altar and sanctuary for the next Mass under the direction of the priest and/or Sacristan, or Mass Coordinator. You would be helping at various liturgical celebrations, and you would be part of the “Liturgical team” of greeters, musicians, readers, Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers. The requirements are: to have love for the Lord, be a regular Mass attendee, be a good listener, be able to pay attention to detail, and coming to practices with an eagerness to learn.

Lectors

 “In the liturgy, God speaks to his people, Christ is still proclaiming His Gospel.” (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Liturgy) Lectors "PROCLAIM" God’s Word to the gathered faith community. A calling to proclaim God’s word is a special ministry where your reading should reflect the dignity of God's Word and be a clear reminder to the people that in the Mass, the table of God's Word (the ambo) and of Christ's body (the Altar) is placed before them. If you feel you would like to be a Lector and are a good reader, call the Liturgy Office. Training is provided.

Mass Coordinator

Before Mass, a liturgy coordinator makes sure things are set up, in place, and ready for the Eucharistic celebration to begin. They are available to assist the priest with any special needs for the liturgical celebration and coordinate those who are serving. After mass, they oversee that everything is cleaned up and put away. The coordinator is the central contact person for questions and assistance at each liturgy. Needed to serve in this ministry are a love for and dedication to the Eucharistic celebration.

Music

We gather for worship as community to express, renew and deepen our faith. Through our voices and instruments, using acclamations and responses, songs, psalms and hymns, we proclaim praise to our God in a profound way. Music has the power to express our feelings in ways that words alone cannot. Music ministry provides opportunities to serve at our weekend liturgies as singers, instrumentalists, sound technicians and cantors. In addition to our weekend liturgies the ministry joins together for concerts, fundraisers, and fellowship. We invite you to become part of this inspiring, meaningful ministry.

Sacristan

Do you like to work quietly behind the scenes? And do you like to make arrangements and preparations for special occasions? Or do you like to keep things orderly? Then you might consider being a Sacristan here at St. Francis de Sales. The Church has always relied on special people to help prepare the way of the Lord. A sacristan is one who works alongside the Liturgy Office to prepare the essentials for Holy Mass, straightens things up, tends to the details of the vessels, vestments, linens and books, and provides for the requests of the priests that will lend more meaning to the celebration of Mass.

Ushers

Individuals and families are encouraged to participate. There are no requirements except for a friendly smile and a willingness to welcome all to our faith community. Ushers assist in all masses by taking up the collection, assuring the gifts are ready and carried to the celebrant, distribution of bulletins, and other duties as appropriate. We are available on request for funerals, weddings, or any special occasions that occur in the church. There are no scheduled meetings, only those called on an as-needed basis.