Serving Christ and His people in the Parishes and the Community of the Western Maine Lakes & Foothills
 

[THIS PAGE IS BEING UPDATED;  MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA PARISH IS BEING ADDED.]
 
This page is a general guide to the parishes’ many ministries, programs, and services we currently offer, and is a warm invitation to join us.  It briefly describes each ministry, and how to get involved or get help.  You are always welcome to contact the parish staff for more information.
   
Ministries and Opportunities to Serve
 

Some current opportunities for you to serve your church:

Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist - All churches, Masses & homebound 

Altar Server Coordinator - St Joseph 

Altar Servers - Our Lady of Ransom, St Catherine of Sienna, St. Joseph 

Lector - Our Lady of Ransom 

Sunday Sacristan - St Joseph

Recording Secretary - St Joseph Parish Finance Council 

Video Camera Operator - St Joseph Church

Please prayerfully consider if you are called to one of these important roles. If you can help, please contact Jodi or Gloria Vaznis in the Cluster office.

Read on to learn about ongoing ministries. 

Worship and Spirituality Ministries 

 
These ministers help parishioners celebrate the Sacraments and popular devotions, especially the Sunday Eucharist, by assuming various responsibilities supporting the liturgical and spiritual life of the parish. 
Altar Decoration Ministers decorate the church for feasts and special programs and create and maintain banners used in the churches. 
Altar Linen Ministers care for the linens used during the celebration of the Mass including fair linens (altar covers), corporals (linens placed beneath the chalice and paten on the altar for the Mass), purificators (linens used to cleanse the chalice), and towels (to dry the hands). 
Altar Servers assist the priest or deacon at liturgical celebrations by serving at the altar. The altar servers may be children or adults (both male and female) who have made their First Communion.  Altar servers are needed for daily and weekend Masses, weddings and funerals. It is a great joy and privilege to serve at the altar of the Lord.  Altar server training is ongoing. 
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist the priest and/or deacon in the distribution of the Consecrated Body and Blood of Our Lord during Mass.  They also may be called upon to take Holy Communion to parishioners who are homebound or in nursing homes or hospitals. Extraordinary Ministers should be people of faith and reverence, committed to following Christ through service to others and work for unity in the Church.  All Extraordinary Ministers must be approved by the Pastor. Training is ongoing.  Ministers are asked to find coverage if unable to meet a scheduled commitment. Other trainings and retreats as required are organized during the year.
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound The priests, deacons and Extraordinary Ministers are available to bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are in local hospitals and nursing homes or who are confined to their homes by illness or disability.  Parishioners are encouraged to notify the parish office if they or their family member is hospitalized or homebound and would like a Communion call. Parishioners are also encouraged to contact the Cluster office if their sick or homebound relative would like a visit from the priest for the sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick and/or Reconciliation.
The Nursing Home Ministry It includes leading Communion Services at area nursing homes or visiting and praying the Rosary with residents. 
Flower Ministers arrange altar flowers and decorate the church as needed prior to events and major feasts and celebrations.  
Lectors proclaim the Word of God in the first and second readings, and lead the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass in the absence of a deacon. The Congregation relies on the ability of readers to proclaim the Word of God in a manner that is clear, inspiring and worthy. Preparation for reading includes training, time, work, study, and prayer.  Meetings are held at various times throughout the year to help inspire and increase the skill and knowledge of readers.  Men and women of all ages, including high school aged youth, are eligible to become Lectors. Requirements are a clear speaking voice, an appreciation of Scripture, and a desire to serve the parish through proclaiming God’s word and living a life of witness to God’s word.
Music Ministers, the music director, cantors and choir, enhance liturgical celebrations with appropriate music and by fostering congregational involvement as a singing church.  The primary focus of this ministry is to encourage and support the sung prayer of the whole community.  Ministers may be requested to sing at devotional celebrations, weddings, and funerals. See the Music Director in your Church community for more information or to volunteer. 
Sacristans are men and women entrusted with the care and preparation of Liturgies, the sacred vessels, and sacred books for the various celebrations, as well as maintaining and fostering an organized, peaceful and dignified atmosphere in the sacristy.  If you are interested in serving in this ministry of prayer and service, please call the Cluster office. 
Ushers greet parishioners on arrival in the Church for the weekend Masses, seat them as the occasion arises, assist persons with disability, take up collections, direct parishioners at Communion time, and distribute bulletins as parishioners leave. Volunteers are always needed.  The Knights of Columbus sometimes assist the ushers.
Greeters make sure that parishioners and visitors arriving for Mass are welcomed at the entrance to the Church with a warm greeting and friendly smile.

Social Justice and Peace Ministries  

These ministries strive to bring the resources of time, talent and treasure in each parish to bear in projects combating hunger and assisting the aged and needy both locally and abroad. They seek as many members of the parish as possible and help to conncect people's gifts with the needs of the parish and the wider community.

St. Joseph Food Pantry (Bridgton) collects food and distributes it to those in need.  Volunteers are always needed to unload the food trucks, store delivered food and food donated by parishioners, and distribute food. 

Food Pantry Dates
Learn More Here

Oxford Hills Food Pantry (Norway)
A basket to receive donations of non-perishable food items is in the narthex at St. Catherine's. The pantry itself is located across the street in Christ Episcopal Church and is jointly staffed by volunteers from both churches and elsewhere. 

Community Dinners (Norway)
Parishioners and members of other congregations help with picking up food, cooking and setting up, serving, and clean up. Most importantly, they serve those who come together each Wednesday for a delicious and nutritious meal. All are welcome to come to dine or to help - meals are free, though donations are gratefully accepted. A ministry of the Oxford Hills Area Association of Churches, the meal is prepared and served at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Main Street in Norway.

Dinner Bell (Fryeburg)

The Fryeburg Fair Ministry comprises parishioners from both Church communities who assist at Fryeburg Fair Food Booth or the SEAS parking lot.
Fryeburg Fair Food Booth: Parish volunteers help to sell comfort food to people attending the Fryeburg Fair in late September and early October.
Fryeburg Fair Parking Volunteers : The parking lot at SEAS is used during the Fair to raise money for the parish. Manned by parishioners from both SEAS and SJ, the money raised helps support both churches

The Christmas Giving Tree at SJ and the Community Giving Tree at SEAS set up in each church's narthex in December collect gifts for needy persons in Bridgton and Fryeburg.  These are joint porjects between parish congregations, First Congregational Church and the Fire Station in Bridgton and MSAD (Maine School Administrative District) 72 Fryeburg.  At Christmas the Parish participates in an "adopt a resident" program that collects Christmas gifts for residents of Bridgton and Fryeburg nursing homes who otherwise would receive no presents. 

The Protecting God’s Creation ministry fosters awareness of and responsibility to protect our world’s natural resources including but not limited to our air, water, and production and use of energy.

Thanksgiving Baskets are provided to needy families in November prior to Thanksgiving holiday.  In addition to gifts from St. Joseph Food Pantry, parishioners donate food and money to support this joint ministry between St. Joseph Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, and First Congregational Church, Bridgton.

Church & Family Life

These ministries bring the community together via social and ecumenical activities during the year. 

Hospitality Ministers coordinate and publicize social gatherings in each church and encourage participation by all members of the parish in scheduled events.
 
Coffee and Donuts: ( Due to the current Pandemic, Coffee and Donuts has been placed on HOLD at this time)
The Ministers provide refreshments after the 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Church, Bridgton every Sunday in the Church hall. At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Fryeburg, ministers provide refreshments after the 10:30 a.m. Mass each Sunday in the Church hall. Two team members at each worship site work together to prepare and serve the coffee, juice, milk and donuts to our Parishioners. It is a great way to serve God and to meet and welcome new people into our Parish communities, reaching out to all our friends and keeping in touch with them.
The Lazarus Ministry in Saint Joseph Parish assists terminally ill parishioners and supports their families for a year after the death of a loved one.  The ministers assist with arranging the funeral, inform parishioners of funeral arrangements, coordinate a reception (if requested), and stay in touch with the family for a year. In Saint Teresa Parish, the Saint Catherine of Sienna Sodality can provide funeral luncheons. A funeral ministry, similar to the Lazarus Ministry in Saint Joseph Parish, will soon be forming - if you are interested in assisting with this important, comforting ministry, please contact Jodi or Gloria in the Cluster office.
Ecumenical Lenten Lunches are held weekly on Wednesdays at 12 noon during Lent and are supplied by a different church/denomination each week.  Each church/denomination is responsible for the soups and breads, and its pastor presents a short reflection for that week based on a theme chosen by the association of pastors in the region for that year. 

The Welcoming Ministry strives to welcome visitors and newcomers into the life of the parish as warmly as Jesus would.  

Evangelization and Catechesis
Please visit the Faith Formation tab for more on these programs.


The annual cluster Friendship Day includes an outdoor Mass followed by a cookout. Prizes and games for the children round out the activities for this wonderful gathering. 

 

 

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Subsidy of Catholic Schools

Since there are no parochial schools in our Cluster and since there are some in Portland and Lewiston/Auburn, it is now Diocesan Policy that a neighbor parish whose parishioners attend that school should subsidize one-third the tuition costs.
To be eligible for Catholic Education funds, the family should be active, contributing members of the parish.