Saint Gabriel the Archangel

Saint Gabriel the Archangel Time and Talent Directory This directory shows the mission of each parish committee and ministry that will be listed on your Time, Talent, and Treasure Pledge Form. When you elect to help one or more group, a committee or ministry leader will later contact you with more details. For more information about any group in the meantime, call the parish office at 952-935-5536. A Community Caring for Life (ACCL) We encourage people to respect life through education on issues affecting people of various ages, including pregnancy, abortion, domestic violence, healthcare and more. We cooperate with the Respect Life Office of our Archdiocese. Altar Linens and Cloths Our coordinators contact volunteers to clean linens for a month to make sure there are adequate linens on hand. We meet yearly. Altar Servers We need servers to assist at Mass. The commitment is for once or twice a month, and to arrive 15 minutes before Mass. Meetings are once a year Arts and Environment Committee No auditions; all are welcome. Ensemble Choir This adult choral group sings 3 times per month at Sunday Mass. Rehearsals are one evening per week. Instrumentalists String, Wind, and percussion instrumentalists perform periodically with the choir. Schola Choir This adult contemporary choir and instrumental group performs at one Mass per month, with monthly rehearsals. Youth Choir Parish teens and children sing for Christmas and other special occasions. Funeral Choir Sings for parish funerals, and rehearsal is before the funeral. BeFriender Ministry We are trained to respond to the needs of parishioners by being a caring, listening presence. BeFriender Ministry may include visiting people who are homebound, those who are dying or grieving, and anyone experiencing mental illness, family abuse and sudden or chronic illness. We meet at least monthly and often twice monthly from September through May. Bible Study We study the bible together, bringing parish members together for a feeling of fellowship, and to help us better understand and appreciate the scriptures. We meet twice a year. Bridge Club Our goal is for you to have a good time playing bridge with other parishioners. We meet monthly, September through May. Cemetery Cleanup Following the Corporal Works of Mercy we as Catholics do all we can for the buried dead. Taking care of the physical aspect of the cemetery is important. Our goal is to have a nicely groomed landscape. Cleanup is done once a year in May. 1

Chapel View Care Center One day each week we escort residents to the Care Center s chapel for a prayer service, including a reading of the Gospel and a homily, and the Holy Eucharist served by one of our Eucharist Ministers. Background checks and training are required. No additional meetings are held. Charitable Giving We have a monthly collection that gives to a charitable organization approved by the Archdiocese. Members do not meet. Children s liturgy of the Word We need your help in proclaiming the Word of God to our young children at their level of understanding. You would be teamed with another helper and serve about once a month on a Sunday Morning during the 10:30 am Mass. Council of Catholic Women All women of the parish are automatic members. We have speakers on various current topics, and sponsor fund raisers for various organizations in the community, and across the nation. We meet monthly. Church Environment: Decorations and Flowers We enhance the worship space by creating a welcoming atmosphere and prayerful space for the praise of God, and we work closely with Father and staff on planning and scheduling. Christmas Tree Lot We raise money for our parish by selling Christmas Trees. The Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas trees arrive and are unloaded and set up on church grounds at the St. John campus. Trees are sold for the next four weekends, and we need many volunteers to cover shifts during that time. Dinner at Your Door We feed the homebound in the St Louis Park area by delivering meals to homebound people. Our drivers deliver the meals on the 3 rd Thursday and Friday of each month, and the 4 th Wednesday and Thursday of each month. Seven drivers are needed per month, so they may only have to drive every other month. Members do not meet. Doughnut Sunday We prepare and host Doughnut Sunday, which is normally the 1 st & 3 rd Sunday. Members do not meet. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion We distribute the Body and Blood of Christ. The commitment is 1 or2 times per month, and to arrive 15 minutes before mass. Meetings are once a year Faith Formation Catechist We are looking for Confirmed Catholic parishioners who will answer the call to help pass on the Faith to our young members: Preschool; elementary; Junior High and Senior High (including preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation). Sessions are once a week, Preschool on Sunday mornings, and grades 1 10 on Sunday evenings. Background checks and Children s Safety Training are required. Other training is also provided. Faith Formation Special Event Worker The Catechetical Ministry in our Parishes is supported by a wide variety of options: Office assistants, hall monitors, photographers, fund-raising projects, Parish Library work, retreat assistants, refreshment bringers, poster artists, Adult Faith Formation Discussion leaders, cleanup crews, etc. Length of service is flexible, depending on the project. 2

Fall Festival Games Entertain kids with carnival games during the Parish Fall Festival, first weekend in September. Many volunteers needed to run game booths in 2-3 hour sessions on Friday Night, Saturday, and Sunday. Fish Fry Our mission is to provide Friday Fish Dinners during Lent. Spanish Parishioners prepare and serve the food. K of C members and other volunteers help by selling tickets, setting up the Community Room, selling beverages, and cleaning up. Food Shelf We volunteer our time and help to a local organization that provides food, rent, and gas for people in need who live in the western suburbs, including Hopkins and Minnetonka. No meeting. Funeral Lunches-St. John s Campus We need volunteers to provide desserts (cookies or bars) for funeral luncheons. If you sign up to help us you might be called once or twice a year. We would be so grateful! Funeral Lunches-St. Joseph s Campus We need volunteers to help with setup, serving and cleanup. We would be so grateful! Gift Bearers Our ministry needs parishioners who will carry the gifts of host and wine to the altar for the 10:30 Sunday Mass. A coordinator will call volunteers to schedule a Mass, and to explain the process. There are no meetings. Golden Living Care Center Prayer/Communion Service Minister We conduct a prayer service (Rosary) and give communion to residents every Thursday. We could use help gathering residents together to pray and received the Eucharist. Healing Mass A Healing Mass is celebrated at St. Joseph's campus on the third Tuesday evening of every other month. Father Jim Livingston, Chaplain at North Memorial Hospital, is the celebrant. We begin with the Rosary at 7:00 pm followed by Mass at 7:30 pm. Healing begins in the heart. Where there is pain and hurt from old wounds and memories, there lies Jesus. One and all are invited to experience the profound peace of a Healing Mass and receive the blessing of God's healing love. Holiday and Fall Festival Craft Sale As part of the Catholic Council of Women, we sell crafts and at sales to turn over the proceeds to the CCW s St. Joseph campus, which supports many charities annually. Our goal is to give crafters the opportunity to use their skill and talents and donate their items for our sales. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, working during the sale, and clean up after. Members meet when needed. Holy Spirit Prayer Group Every Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the St. Joseph s Community Room, the Holy Spirit Prayer Group gathers for prayer, praise, music, sharing and finding a closer relationship with Jesus by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Homebound Ministry We visit people who are homebound in our parish, bringing them communion and praying with them. Volunteers are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. 3

Hospital Ministry We bring the Eucharist to Catholics at Methodist Hospital once a month. It takes about two hours, four times a year. Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast Once every three months the KCs sponsor a pancake breakfast, with proceeds going toward helping the youth of the Parish. Tasks at the pancake breakfast include preparing, cooking, serving, bussing dishes, and clean up. Shifts are 2 hours long. Knights of Columbus and Men s Club All Parishioners are welcome to help with projects to support our school and parish. In addition to many other service activities, we need help with the Fish Fry, Pumpkin Patch, Tree Lot, Back to School BBQ, Golf Tourney, and Scrap Metal Collection. Large Candle If needed, help by changing any large candles on the altar just before Mass. No meetings. Lector We need parishioners to read the scriptures at Mass. The commitment 1 or2 times a month. Meetings are once a year Legion of Mary Our members meet weekly on Tuesdays for prayer and lead the Rosary before each weekend Mass and after each weekday Mass. Legion of Mary requires 2 hours of volunteer service a week and a devotion to Our Lady. Loaves & Fishes We provide a hot nutritious meal to the hungry. Commitment time is 1-3 hours, 6 times per year, every other month February through December, 4:30-6:30pm. There are no additional meetings. Nocturnal Adoration Society The Society was established in 1810 and consists of over one million members in 36 countries. The local Society has been in St. Joseph s Parish for over 50 years. The Society's purpose is: 1) To provide a fervent response to Christ's invitation to keep prayerful vigil with Him, 2) To deepen the experience of communion with Christ Eucharistic, and 3) To live more consciously and actively the full significance of the Eucharist as the Sacrament of charity and unity for the Church and the world. Currently, members spend one hour in recited prayer and silent meditation in Christ's presence with the exposed Blessed Sacrament every first Friday of the month. The adoration hours are 8pm, 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. All St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish members are welcome. Office Operations We need volunteers to help as receptionists, answering calls and stuffing bulletins. We occasionally also need volunteers to prepare labels and stuff envelopes for parish mailings. Parents Night Out Our goal is to support families by giving the parents the respite of an evening out. Volunteers provide adult supervision for children up to 10 years of age. We need more volunteers. Poinsettia Sale Fundraiser We need help to organize and sell a variety of poinsettias during Christmas. 4

Prayer Ministry On the second and fourth Sunday after the 8:30 Sunday Mass, our team is available to pray with anyone who has a special intention. We also respond to prayer requests received through the website. We meet once each week. Prayer Shawl Ministry We bring people together for the purpose of providing warmth and comfort and a connection to our faith community. Our prayer shawls, made by parish volunteers, are offered to all members of St. Gabriel s and their loved ones. Recipients may be in the hospital, recovering from illness, homebound, or in service to our country. Knitters and crocheters of all levels of experience are welcome to help us. Twice a month during our Doughnut Sundays, our shawls are displayed and offered to those who want one; a donation is appreciate, but not necessary. Meetings are once a month get-togethers. Pumpkin Patch This is a fund raiser to benefit and support the Knights of Columbus because they generously support various programs in our parish. Our goal is to sell 130 pumpkins at the event. Workers are needed for three weekends in October. RCIA Sponsor We meet weekly on Tuesday evenings, September through April. The sponsor walks with those who wish to enter the Catholic Church, learning with them and sharing their experiences of being Catholic. Rummage Sale Rummage sales are held twice a year. Our goals are to earn money for the parish Women s Club, and to offer low priced items that will help the needy in the area. Spring Plant Sale We need help to arrange and sell plants during this one-day fundraiser, held prior to Mother s Day. St. Clare s Guild We sew baptismal gowns for parish members. We meet once a month September through May. St. Nick's Dinner Parishioners dress up in their fancy outfits, and bring their Christmas cheer to enjoy a dinner and sing Christmas carols. Volunteers are needed to plan the event (one hour meeting 4 weeks prior to event), and many more volunteers are needed to sell tickets after Masses (15 minutes), set-up (including decorating, 3-4 hours), and clean-up (1 hour). St. Nick's Visit and Doughnut Sunday St. Nicholas visits the children after 10:30 am Mass during Doughnut Sunday, which is the first Sunday in December. Volunteers needed to play the part of St. Nicholas (one hour), set-up doughnuts and coffee (one hour), clean-up (20 minutes.) Sacristan A coordinator works with members who are responsible for getting everything (such as wine, hosts, and candles) ready for Masses on Sunday, weekdays, and funerals. There are no meetings. Senior Ministry-St. Joseph s Campus Six times a year the senior members of our parish gather for Mass, Anointing or Reconciliation. Services are on Tuesday at 10:00am in the Church, followed by refreshments and fellowship in the. Twice a year a senior topic is presented after the Mass followed by a luncheon. Volunteers are needed for set-up and hospitality. 5

Senior Christmas Party-St. Joseph s Campus Volunteers are also needed for setup and hospitality for the Saturday Christmas Party in early December. Softball Open to men of the parish 28 and older, and their teenaged sons. We play Monday evenings during the summer at local softball fields against neighboring parishes. It s a great time for families to come out, cheer on the men and enjoy food and drink during and after the game. Stewardship Committee We offer opportunities to live the Gospel through works, such as feeding the hungry, which help us deepen our faith, our compassion, and our prayer life. We act on our faith by sharing God s gifts and love unconditionally, and we strive to see Christ in those we serve, and in ourselves. We meet monthly, August through May, plus occasional service outings. Sunday School We serve 3, 4, and 5 year olds during the 10:30 am Mass at St. John's campus. Children participate in Bible stories, work activities, games and songs. Volunteers are needed for one hour sessions to assist as Sunday school teachers, three to four times per month, October - May. Must be Virtus trained. Summer, Lent, and Advent Family Retreats At our seasonal workshops, families come together to learn and grow in their faith. Each retreat is a 2-3 hour event including breakfast or dinner, prayer time, activities and crafts. Volunteers are needed to help make and serve food (2 hours), and assist with crafts and activities (2 hours). Sunday Nursery We serve infants and toddlers during the 10:30 am Mass. Volunteers are needed for child care for one hour sessions, three to four times per month, October - May. Must be Virtus trained. Tuesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament As a volunteer, you would commit to one hour with the Lord each Tuesday between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm, ending with Benediction. Take this opportunity to feel the joyful outpouring of God s grace, blessings, and love. During your time with the Lord, you will experience His blessings, grace, and love. Usher/Greeter There are four ushering teams who usher for a month at a time, three times per year. We greet parishioners to make them feel welcome, especially new people who may become members. We keep the service running smoothly by helping people find seats and to assist anyone who may have an emergency or special need. Collecting the money is also an important task. We meet yearly. Vigil Lights Once a month we need helpers to check the bins in room behind chapel, to make sure the votive holders are clean and sorted by color in the bins. We make sure the brass and glass followers are always clean and polished. No meetings. Women's Club Pizza Night The women of the parish occasionally have a social night to taste a variety of Pizzas from Pizza Luce, and enjoy adult beverages. Volunteers needed to help plan the event and help set-up and clean-up. A one night event, 2-3 hours. 6