Liturgical Ministries

The life of our Parish revolves around the celebration of the Eucharist. Active participation by the laity enhances this experience for us all. We welcome your input and interest in these ministries. No experience is needed and training is provided if necessary. One of the goals of St. Julia Parish is to nurture a vital Christian community through the participation of each parishioner. We welcome you to consider assisting with one of these parish functions. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact the person listed by phone or email below.

Lectors

Lectors proclaim the Word of God during the Liturgy of the Word and read the general intercessions at each of Masses. Men, women, and adolescents who read well in a public forum are invited to volunteer. Training is provided. For St. Julia Church, contact Susan Bayard. For St. Joseph Church, contact Karen Boyce.

Altar Servers

Altar servers assist in the very necessary work of helping to make the Mass celebration flow smoothly. Altar servers include boys and girls in Grades 3 through high school. Contact Janice Carroll Hammond, for St. Julia Church. Contact Michele Baltay, for St. Joseph Church. New altar servers may sign up in the fall. Training is provided separately at each church.

Eucharistic Ministers

Eucharistic Ministers are parishioners who assist the priest in the distribution of the Eucharist at each Mass. Training sessions and ongoing opportunities to deepen appreciation of this ministry are provided to those who are interested in serving in this way. For St. Julia Church, contact Susan Bayard. For St. Joseph Church, contact Karen Boyce.

Ministers of Care

Ministers of Care are Eucharistic Ministers who bring the Eucharist to parishioners living at home who are unable to attend Mass, or to those who live in Assisted Living or Nursing Homes. Contact the Parish Office for more information.

Music Ministry

The Music Ministry at St. Julia and St. Joseph Churches includes three choirs, cantors and musicians who enhance the liturgical celebration. At St. Julia Church, the cantors, the senior choir, junior girls and junior boys choirs provide music for the 11:15 AM Sunday Liturgy. Contact Brian Moll for information about joining these choirs. At St. Joseph Church, the adult choir sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass. Contact Mary Lou Sallee for information about the St. Joseph choir.

Ushers

Serving as an usher is a special ministry open to people of all ages. Ushers welcome parishioners to the Sunday liturgies, and assist in making the liturgical space more comfortable for all to enjoy the service. For St. Julia Church, contact Prem Menachery. For St. Joseph Church, contact Jim Kjellander at 781-259-8968.

Sacristans

Sacristans provide assistance in preparing and caring for liturgical items used during the celebrations of the Mass on Sunday and during the week, and for other special Masses. This assistance involves mostly the set-up needed before the Mass and some of the clean-up after Mass. For St. Julia Church, contact the Parish Office.  For St. Joseph Church, contact Sylvia Kennedy.

Altar Guild

The members of the Altar Guild in St. Joseph Church are the people who care for the needs of the altar and church on a daily, weekly or monthly basis throughout the year. They are responsible for the care of the altar linens, holy vessels, and brass ware. They prepare the church for Funerals, Weddings, and Baptisms, and make the Baptismal robes for the children who are being Baptized. The Altar Guild fashions the decorations and floral arrangements for the church for Christmas, Easter, First Communion and other special holy days during the year. The strength of this program comes from the dedication of the people involved, who make a real contribution to our church community. Since the Altar Guild covers such a wide scope of activities during the year, we always welcome people who would like to share their particular talent with us, or just work beside us. For information contact Sylvia Kennedy.

Flower Committee

The beautiful flowers, plants and banners that adorn the interior of the church are the work of parish volunteers. The Flower Committee decorates for Christmas, Easter, and other special occasions. For St. Julia Church, contact Madeline Gens at 617-797-0542. For St. Joseph Church, contact Sylvia Kennedy.

Funeral Assistants

Funeral Assistants are needed to help prepare for funeral Masses. This ministry includes helping to organize the service, reading at the Mass, or serving as an altar server. Contact the Parish Office if you would like to volunteer for this ministry.

Family Mass

The “FAMILY MASS”  is at the 9 AM Mass during the religious education calendar year and will continue until Father’s Day in June. Features of the Family Mass include:

• Music appealing to the children
• Readings from the “Lectionary for Masses with Children”
• Homilies addressed to children, but also enriching for adults
• Family members serve as greeters and gift bearers
• Children participate in the choir with adult assistance

On certain Sundays, grade levels of the religious education program will help prepare and take part in some of the Mass ministries with their classmates and catechists. For other Sundays, we will need help from everyone in the parish – children and adults. This participation helps breathe new life into this special time of worship, helps all of us grow closer as a parish community, and especially helps us to grow closer to God. If anyone would like to help with the Family Mass in any way (greeters, gift bearers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choir or choir assistance, help with grade level Masses, etc.), please contact the Ann Marie Huff.