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Check out the various ministries of our parish and discover ways of living out your Baptismal calling. Become a working member of the Body of Christ and a volunteer in the parish. Follow the links below to discover the possibilities... SERVICE TO THE CHURCH Outreach: See our page in the Ministry section of this website by following this link... Bringing Eucharist to the Homebound: Always there is a great need for us to bring Christ to the world. This wonderful ministry allows the homebound faithful to continue being part of the community, and to receive Christ as they desire.
Prayer Line: Pray for the intentions of our Parishioners. Go to the Prayer Center on this site or call the Parish phone at 424-3456 and select the Prayer Line option to leave your intentions by voicemail. Ladies Guild: For the women of our Parish who would like to volunteer their efforts for ministering to the community. Follow this link to learm more... Sisters in Faith: A women's scripture study share group that meets on Thursday nights from 7:00PM to 8:30PM. Read more about us by following this link... Knights of Columbus: For the men of our Parish, discover more about our organization by following this link... Men's Breakfast: A monthly faith sharing opportunity for men. Also watch the parish bulletin and calendar for meeting dates and times. Building and Grounds: Contribute to the beautification of our church grounds. Donate flowers, help with a current garden, or share your ideas about future improvements. Coffee and Donut Ministry: Pick up the donuts, make the coffee, and serve! Social Committee: Help plan events like the Parish Picnic, and the Christmas Party. Parish Council: Contact Father Ray Finance Committee: Contact Father Ray St Francis Parochial School: The parish has always maintained a parochial grade school serving all residents of Litchfield, Manchester, Londonderry and surrounding towns. Visit the school website by clicking this link... Web Ministries: Help with this website as we work to grow it into an amazing parish resource! Service During Mass: Usher: Greet those arriving at Mass, take up the collection, help with seating as needed.
Lector: Proclaim the Word of God.
Eucharistic Minister: Distribute Holy Communion. Altar Server: Assist the Priest during the Mass. Music Ministry: There are four music groups at St. Francis to choose from. Adult Choir: Youth Choir: Adult Contemporary Group: Youth Contemporary Group:
Religious Education: Traditional Catechism: Our program extends from Pre-K to Grade 10. If you want to pass along your faith to the future of our parish, this is the place for you. Whether you want to be a teacher or an aide, know that you will be required to go through a background check as well as attend the Protecting God's Children Workshop put on by our diocese. Rite of Dismissal: For the very young, a program where children are dismissed from Mass to learn at a more appropriate level for their age group. CYM: High School Youth Group meets on Sunday nights from 6:30-8:00PM. CatechiCYM: Catholic Adventure in Truth, Encountering Christ Here In CYM...a group for junior high students. An opportunity for them to grow in faith in a community of their peers. Also meets on Sunday nights from 6:30-8:00PM CYO: St. Francis Basketball and Cheerleading (watch the bulletin for information). Working with the Youth: To help with the education of our youth contact the Religious Education office or speak to one of the youth ministers.
RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults): For those wishing to become Catholic. This ministry team helps in the preparation of people desiring to learn about our Catholic Faith and gives them the knowledge and tools to accept it. At the Easter Vigil Catechumens are able to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. CCC 1273 Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful have received the sacramental character that consecrates them for Christian religious worship.84 The baptismal seal enables and commits Christians to serve God by a vital participation in the holy liturgy of the Church and to exercise their baptismal priesthood by the witness of holy lives and practical charity. Sacraments: To prepare youth for sacraments, contact the Religious Education Office. Baptismal Prep: Meet on Monday nights once a month and help couples prepare their children for this wonderful sacrament of initiation. This Sacrament calls all of us to live out our faith through our actions. Reconciliation: Prepare youngsters to deepen their relationship with Christ through open communication with Him. CCC 1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship." Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation." Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.
First Holy Eucharist: In this Sacrament Initiation continues. In receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, we say Amen, we do believe.
"Do this in memory of me"
Confirmation: In the final Sacrament of Initiation, students are given an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The indelible mark of Christ is annointed on their forehead.
CCC 1309 Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.
Marriage Prep: And the two shall become one...help prepare couples to give their lives to one another.
CCC 1603 "The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. . . . God himself is the author of marriage." The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.
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