Parish Ministries & Groups

REGARDING THE LITURGY

The Liturgy Director, along with a committee of volunteers, is responsible for church decoration and makes imput about special liturgies.

ALTAR SERVERS: Young people from fourth grade through high school serve regularly at parish Masses. When they are not available men sometimes perform this valuable service.

HOLY SPIRIT CHOIR: Parishioners of all ages sing in our choir at the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: Commissioned for yearly terms, the laity assist the clergy in the distribution of the Eucharist at Mass and to the homebound.

LECTORS: This service of proclaiming the Word of God is open to adult Catholics and teenagers from the eighth grade through adulthood.

USHERS: An informal group of parishioners who collect the donations, assist with the offertory gifts, and help with the decorum at Mass.

HOST FAMILIES: Volunteers help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for parishioners in the vestibule before Sunday Mass. They give out the missalettes and hymnals.

REGARDING THE FAITH

The Pastor, along with many volunteers, is responsible for the religious instruction and Christian formation offered in the parish.

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION: The pastor or deacon presents this class each month (as the need arises) in the Parish House. Parents and godparents are instructed on the sacrament of baptism and the ritual as conducted here at Holy Spirit. Information sheets are also filled out that will later be used for the registry and certificates. It is recommended that parents attend the class prior to the birth of the child.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF CHILDREN: Our faith in Jesus and the Church is to be shared with others. High on the list of those to whom we are called to share our faith are our children. Parents share their faith first through their own witness and example. As a parish family, we hand on our faith through our religious education program (CCD). This program of formal religious education provides instruction and formation in our Catholic faith for all children of our parish who attend non-Catholic school and also provides sacramental preparation for all our children. If your child attends a non-Catholic school, it is a serious responsibility for you to enroll him/her in this program. Classes are on designated Sundays from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM with required Mass attendance at 10:30 AM. Classes include K to 8. A Pre-K program is conducted in the Parish House from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

BIBLE STUDY: The deacon offers periodic courses that study the Scriptures. Past sessions covered the Gospel and Letters of John and the Acts of the Apostles. They have met on Monday nights using the Little Rock Scripture Study program. The Fall 2003 program will explore the Captivity Letters of Paul. A Bible is needed and a modest fee covers the other materials: a commentary and workbook. A video support is used for background at classes.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION: The pastor holds these sessions on an appointment basis. Six months or more is the requested waiting period after the priest is notified until the actual date of the marriage. Prenuptial Investigation forms which verify freedom to marry and data for the records are filled out. Baptismal certificates are required and the couple may have to take Premarital Inventory testing to help the priest in counseling them. Beyond the practical aspects of preparing the marriage ritual itself, such issues as the sacramental nature of marriage, marriage and family life, the role of prayer and faith in marriage, natural family planning, etc. will be discussed.

RELIGIOUS BOOK CLUB: Every month, our reader's group gets together at the Parish House to discuss a book read the previous month. Joining is simple. You are registered for the next session when you buy the given book from Holy Spirit Parish. Each person shares his thoughts about the work and maybe any themes or ideas that emerged as important. Each session is limited to ten participants.

RCIA: Adult instructions in the Catholic faith are offered for Catholics interested in reviving their religious knowledge, for Catholics needing Confirmation, for non-Catholics curious about us, for Protestants desiring reception into the Catholic Church, and for the unbaptized seeking initiation into the Christian community. Reception and/or adult initiation into the Catholic faith usually takes place on the Easter Vigil. For the current time and day, contact the rectory. Parishioners are invited to come and are especially valuable as sponsors.

PRAYER & SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP: This is an informal group of parishioners and friends who meet on Monday nights from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Parish House. They study the bible, discuss how it impacts their faith life, pray, and sometimes watch a video.

REGARDING UNITY & FELLOWSHIP

There are many levels of cooperation and solidarity in the parish and in the local community.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: This is a fraternal organization of Catholic men who join together for the benefit of their families (and youth in general), the Church, and their country. Their charitable work for the needy and the oppressed is well known. Our community is made all the richer because of their strong moral presence and social responsibility. They host a multitude of activities throughout the year. While several councils are represented by the parish membership, our local council is St. Pius X in Forestville, MD. Our contact is Peter Weigand at 301-773-8180.

KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN: Founded in 1886, this is the largest and most prominent semi-military Catholic organization in the U.S., and the fastest growing such organization in Africa and Latin America. Working closely with pastors in service to our parishes and schools, this fraternity engages in many religious, civic, social, and charitable functions. Their activities raise money for charitable needs and for the building of mission chapels in under-served areas across the U.S. The Knights aid their brothers in times of sickness, death, and other tragedies. There is an annual retreat, special Masses, and the uniformed Knights serve as escorts to the Cardinal, particularly during Papal visits. They meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM in the parish hall for St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Upper Marlboro, MD. Membership is open to any Catholic man interested in promoting devotion to the Church and to her works. Our contact is Ellsworth Holley, Sr. at 301-336-4394.

THE LEISURE CLUB: This organization is geared to the socialization and recreation of Senior Citizens in the Forestville area. They meet in the Parish House on Monday mornings. BINGO is one of their fun activities and they often have very nice lunches.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: This organization meets at the Parish House on Friday nights. The support program is open to alcoholics wanting a life of sobriety. Trusting in a higher power, it has met with great success and is very much recommended.