Worship & Prayer Commission
Altar Servers – Children & Youth, who have at least received First Eucharist, are well-behaved, and capable of comprehending the required training are welcome! We don’t have enough altar servers yet to require formal scheduling of their service, so they simply arrive early for Sunday Mass, and offer their service! (Parents who sign up their minor children will be contacted to schedule a training session.)
Altar Society/Sacristan – be assigned to a team among several who rotate on Friday evening or Saturday mornings to freshen the Chapel for Sunday Masses, e.g. water the plants, dust the sanctuary furnishings and pews, change altar cloths and banners, launder washable vestments and altar linens, care for sacred vessels, change sanctuary light, care of altar candles, etc.
Choir/Liturgical Music Minister – join the 10 AM or 6 PM Choir, or share your skill as a musician
Commentator – share your good and clear public speaking voice, by reading the introductory script before Sunday Mass, lead the general intercessions when a deacon is not assisting, and the announcements at the end of Mass. Training provided.
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion – Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are “ordinary” ministers of Holy Communion by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Pastors are able to commission non-ordained religious and laity of good standing and unblemished public reputation in the Church and community to assist on an “extra-ordinary” basis with the distribution of Holy Communion at weekday and Sunday Masses as Ministers of Communion under both the forms of bread and wine. Pre-requisite: Sacrament of Confirmation, Commission by Fr. Randy. Training session required and provided.
Hospitality Minister/Usher – greet and welcome worshippers as they arrive for Sunday Masses, assist worshippers in finding a seat, help pass the collection baskets at Sunday Masses, usher the assembly at Masses for the reception of Holy Communion, identify disabled worshippers to the Celebrant, distribute bulletins to worshippers as they leave.
Lector - share your good and clear public speaking voice, by proclaiming one of the scripture readings at Mass on Sundays or weekdays. Pre-Requisite: Sacrament of Confirmation. Training provided.
Liturgical Environment – Special liturgical seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, call for decorum in the sanctuary of the Chapel that lends our attention to the focus of the season when we are at Mass. Lend your creative craft and arranging skills to this effort!
Liturgy Preparation/Writers – join one of several teams who, on a rotating schedule, draft the introduction and general intercessions which are read by the Commentator at our Sunday Masses. Resources provided.
Education Commission
"Children's Church" Catechist – Provided as a service to parents of very young children who are with them at Mass but not have yet received First Eucharist, take young children to the “Student Recreation Room” after the opening prayer at Mass, and for the duration of the Liturgy of the Word, conduct instruction based on the Sunday’s Mass readings geared to young children, and return children to Mass in time for the offertory procession and preparation of the gifts. All lesson plans, materials, crafts prepared and provided. (background check, child & youth protection training provided)
Children's Advent Program Helper – Conducted on several Sunday afternoons during Advent; helps young children better understand the season and prepare for the true meaning of Christmas (background check, child & youth protection training provided)
Confirmation Sponsor – volunteer to be a sponsor, if needed, for adults participating in our RCIA process who will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Pre-requisite: Sacrament of Confirmation.
Continuing Adult Formation – if you wish to participate in or research, propose, organize, or facilitate opportunities for continuing religious education opportunities for adults at St. Albert.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) – share your Catholic faith witness with those who are interested in learning more about and possibly joining the Catholic Church, and be a member of the team who conduct the process at St. Albert each year. Meets on Tuesday evenings from September through SLU’s fall semester when classes are in session, and again from the beginning of the spring semester when classes are in session until Easter.
"Kid's Catholic Kingdom" Catechist – provided as a service to families with young children of catechetical age (elementary school) Meets on a Sunday morning during each liturgical season, and for a week-long “camp” early in the summer. Supplements, but does not replace, catechesis received from a Church parish CCD program. (background check, child & youth protection training provided)
Renew Small Faith Group Member/Facilitator – join one of St. Albert’s Small Faith Communities who gather on a regular basis at homes for prayer and study.
Administrative Commmission
Church Grounds Beautification Committee – be one of our “green-thumbed” volunteers who gather periodically on Saturday mornings seasonally to spruce up our flower beds and shrubbery.
Facility Maintenance (skilled labor or repair services) – if you have practical skills or a company/ business which can offer the same to St. Albert on a donated or discounted basis when needed, e.g. plumbing, electrical, carpentry, HVAC, welding, general construction, landscaping, concrete, computer & printer repairs & maintenance, TV, Sound System, equipment & repairs, lawn equipment repairs, garden & landscape supplies, etc. please let us know! St. Albert can provide “Statements of Donation-in-Kind” for the value of such services to businesses/individuals for tax purposes.
Office Volunteer – volunteer to receive visitors and answer the phone, and help with office tasks, for several hours, half a day, or a day, on occasions when our Secretary must be away from the office during weekday business hours.
“Starving Student Fridge” supplier – help us keep stocked, as able, this refrigerator on the second floor of our Student Center with your “leftovers” and snacks from your office party, luncheon meeting, backyard barbecue, family dinners, during the semesters when SELU classes are in session. When students visit St. Albert, the first place they stop—just like when they came home every day from school—is this refrigerator. Just bring donations in a disposable container, and label it only with the contents and date. The students know where to find serving utensils and paper plates! There’s a microwave nearby for re-heating.
"St Matthew's Guild" (Collection Counters) – this confidential ministry involves serving on a team of several members who rotate on a weekly basis. (Please inform Fr. Randy directly of your interest in this ministry).
Student Lunch Supplies – Can we contact you to donate raw materials or $$$ needed for our free student lunches. Each lunch – up to 300 plates – costs about $300 – 30 hot meals prepared and served each semester. We use a lot of pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh produce, shredded cheddar cheese, red beans, white beans, ham hocks, smoked sausage, ground chuck or beef, chickens, and pork, hot dogs, sliced white bread, peanut butter & jelly. We can use all the contacts we can get from grocers and wholesalers, produce, meat, and deli department managers. We can use almost immediately anything with a fast-approaching expiration date that is about to get thrown out, marked down for quick sale, or otherwise discarded—meats, snacks, chips, dessert cakes and baked goods. You name it. Just think of us, and help us keep down the cost of this service so much appreciated by our SELU students in need!
Community Services Commission
Bereavement Committee – volunteer to be called upon to prepare a food dish or provide a sandwich or veggie tray or dessert which can be delivered on behalf of our St. Albert Community to families of our support community who gather after the funeral of a loved one.
Christmas Community Social & Supper – volunteer to bring a dessert and help set up for this annual fun gathering of our support community members!
Christmas Giving Tree for Needy Children and Nursing Home Residents – volunteer to help with this effort in the Advent season, set up our giving tree in the chapel, prepare and hang the paper ornaments with the Christmas wish list items, clothes sizes, etc. of needy children and nursing home residents. Volunteer to help deliver gifts returned and placed under the tree.
Fall Community Social & Supper -- volunteer to bring a dessert and help set up for this annual fun gathering of our support community members, celebrating the Eve of All Saints (within the week before or after the actual date)!
International Night – volunteer to help set up, decorate, clean up, and/or prepare a dish for this annual event and pot-luck supper to welcome SLU’s international students. Conducted on a Monday night each September.
Receptions and Socials – volunteer to help with periodic receptions and socials, order, pick up, and deliver cakes, set up and decorate tables.
Special Occasion Suppers – volunteer to help set up, decorate, prepare food dishes and desserts, and otherwise help facilitate special occasion community suppers periodically during the year.
Spring Community Picnic – volunteer to help with this fun-filled afternoon for the family at Jellystone Park in Robert: help with games for the kids, call bingo, bring a “pot luck” salad or dessert to supplement the provided entrées and beverages
Student Lunch Volunteer Cooks & Servers - Tuesdays or Thursdays - during spring & fall semesters – help cook or barbecue, make salad, staff the serving line, clean up and wash cookware afterwards, provide a friendly, smiling face to greet SLU students; up to 300 plates served at each lunch! Thirty free hot lunches served each semester!
Thanksgiving Food Baskets for the Needy – volunteer to help deliver boxes of non-perishable food items to needy families in our community – usually on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day each year.
"Welcome Newcomers" Committee – (A NEW MINISTRY!) volunteer for this committee, which will help welcome households new to our St. Albert Support Community, by making a call, arranging a home-visit to deliver a fruit basket and printed information packet to familiarize newcomers to St. Albert with our mission and community life, and give them a good introduction to being a member of our family of faith!
