Must love people, be gracious and hospitable, love to smile and like to talk with people.  Arrive about 20-30 minutes before Mass to ensure that all is ready. Duties include reserving pews, greeting people at the door, seating people, keeping the communion procession orderly, taking up the collection, choosing individuals to present the gifts, passing out bulletins, warmly bidding farewell to parishioners. Sign up individually or as a family.

Initial Training: One two hour session.
Ongoing Formation: Annual workshop expected
Time Commitment: Serve about twice a month

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Lectors/Commentators (Adults and High School Students)
Must possess a love and respect for the scriptures and be gifted with public-speaking skills. Lectors proclaim the scripture readings, read the Opening Comment, Penitential Rite and Announcements, etc.

Initial Training: Two 2 hour sessions required

Ongoing Formation: Attendance at 1 – 2 workshops per year & practice at home before reading.

Time Commitment: Serve 1 -2 times per month.

Great site for Lectors!  www.lectorprep.org

Lectors/Commentators  (Children)
Children in grades 3-8 gifted with public-speaking skills who possess a love and respect for the scriptures.

Initial training provided

Ongoing Formation: Required monthly sessions to review skills and practice on the microphones (Sept – April)

Time Commitment: Serve a few times a year at some 9:00am and 12:30pm Sunday Masses, special
liturgies, Sacramental celebrations, prayer services and certain parish events.

Contact: Deacon Len Penkala at (630) 615-7616 or lpenkala@st-raphael.com

Our Mission is to represent, facilitate, and guide liturgical ministries, liturgical support ministries, music ministries, baptismal ministries, marriage ministries and funeral ministries.

To foster the spiritual development of the parish community to follow the guidance of

• the liturgical documents of Vatican II and post Vatican II (links: www.USCCB.org and www.vatican.va the scripture the tradition of the Catholic Church
• current ministerial practice

Flowing forth from, and leading back to the Sunday Eucharist, the center of our prayer life, we . . .

• Promote individual and communal spiritual growth; foster gospel values to bring about increased understanding and trust among all God’s people prepare for future ministerial growth requirements create open, welcoming community through inspiring worship experiences and educational programs
• Work toward the parish vision through our ministries

Commission Membership . . .

• Must possess a love for the prayer and ritual of the church and a desire for ongoing personal and communal spiritual growth. Members meet on the first Tuesday of each month.
• Members serve a three-year term

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Individuals skilled at sewing or serging are needed for mending or to sew new altar linens, baptismal bibs, banners, hangings, etc.

Time Commitment: Sewers are called as needed and work is done in your home at your convenience.

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Individuals with a couple of hours to offer on either a regular or occasional basis can help copy funeral booklets, collate information packets for sacramental preparation, file music, update choir binders and assist with other miscellaneous clerical duties.

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Must possess a deep love and reverence for the Eucharist and be good at organization. Mass Coordinators work with the Liturgy Director to ensure things run as planned at Sunday liturgy, coordinate all of the ministries at a particular Mass, ensure all ministry spots are filled, coordinate special activities with priest, liturgist, ministers & parishioners.

Initial Training: Mentoring by an experienced Mass Coordinator.

Ongoing Formation: Meets seasonally

Time Commitment: Serve 2 – 3 times per month

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Must love living plants and know how to care for them. Caring for the plants is arranged to fit the schedules and needs of the people and plants involved. (If you drop off your child at school, RE, or a rehearsal, you can do this as you wait.) “Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan, inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” – Pope Francis

Time Commitment: 2 hours per week

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

The rosary is prayed every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel.

Members of the Re-affirming Life ministry pray the rosary for all aspects of life, from conception to natural death. All are welcome to join in prayer as we pray for an end to a culture of death, for an end to a lack of respect for life in all its stages.  Come pray for a Culture of Life!

Contact: Barry O’Donnell at (630) 615-7613 or bodonnell@st-raphael.com

Daily Mass set up and clean up. Ensure ministries are covered.

Initial Training.
Time Commitment: 2 hours per week

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com

Must understand the Catholic marriage ritual and desire to serve others in a joyous ministry. Must also appreciate the importance of working with adults and their families at a critical stage of their faith life. Hostesses conduct the wedding rehearsal with another hostess (usually the evening before the wedding), arrive an hour before the wedding to make sure that all is ready and to greet the couple and guests. Hostesses ensure that the liturgy or ceremony runs smoothly and stay after to make sure that everything is put away before the weekend liturgies.

Initial Training: Hands-on training with an experienced wedding hostess
Time Commitment: 1 – 2 times per month (busiest time is May – end of October)

Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com