Chairperson - Ray Bielicki

Liturgy Committee:  In cooperation with the Pastor and Parish Staff, the Liturgy Committee provides for the dignified and reverent celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, in a manner and at times that support the spiritual welfare and the convenience of the parish faithful.  Specifically, the Liturgy Committee prepares and implements liturgies for the major seasonal celebrations (Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter Seasons);  provides ministers at specifically designated liturgies; and works for the liturgical education of the parish at large.  The Liturgy Committee includes, or is closely involved with,  many other ministries within the parish, such as: Music Ministry; Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion; Lectors; Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers and Greeters; Church Decoration and Environment.

Music
IS MUSIC IN YOUR FUTURE? Overall, music ministry at Saint Augustine Parish has been rejuvenated...and now, opportunities abound for you to become involved in this exciting ministry. We are always seeking new voices and instrumentalists. So, there is a place for you in music ministry—a place for you to add your God-given gifts to praise our Lord in worship. Whether your interest is in vocal music, keyboard, guitar, woodwind, brass, or percussion, Our program offers a wide variety of opportunities for praising God through music. We would like to invite each of you to consider ministering to each other through music ministry at Saint Augustine parish. Please consider joining us for fellowship, music and personal enrichment. We want to get to know you better!! Click here for more information on Music Ministry and Choir Rehearsal throughout the liturgical year.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
The role of the Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (EME) seems simple enough: to minister the Body and Blood of Christ to the assembled faithful. In reality, the role is to draw faith from the people of God, to become more and more like the Body and Blood of Christ. EME are called not only to minister the Body and Blood of Christ, but also to take on Christ’s likeness. EME accomplish this by strengthening their faith from within and sharing it with the faithful at communion.

EME are called to a most beautiful ministry of serving the people of their community. Time taken to reflect on its meaning and practice will deeply enrich your own awareness of Christ and of the people you serve. The communion into whom Jesus invites us is a personal communion, a communion of persons. A primary requirement is that you are by nature interested in, caring about, and at ease with other people—without regard for status in the community or for distinction of age, race or sex.

All who gather at the table of the Lord do so as sisters and brothers in the Lord, and must be welcomed there as such. EME, like all ministers, present an outward sign to the faithful. By answering the call to serve, the minister becomes a witness of Christ's church to the congregation. Being an EME is open to anyone who has been confirmed. In our parish, EME are on a rotating schedule, usually serving once a month at the Mass they generally attend. If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister, please contact the Parish Office.  You must be eighteen years old and have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

New Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist Application

Lectors/Proclaimers
Lectors usually read for Sunday and Holy Day Masses. They are required to attend a training session at least once a year and, after the training they are commissioned to serve. Commissioned Lectors who wish to serve at weekend liturgies can pick the Mass time which they prefer and also select second and third preferences, if they wish. Schedules are prepared to assure that each Mass has the required number of Lectors. They are usually scheduled for the Mass they most prefer to attend. If they have second and third Mass preferences, they can be scheduled accordingly.

Any planned absences can be scheduled in advance by contacting the parish office. For any unforeseen absences which arise after the schedule has been prepared, the Proclaimer must arrange for a substitute by contacting another member of the ministry who would be willing to fill-in. For more information, contact Bill Sonnik , the ministry coordinator, at (301) 223-6413 or the parish office.  You must be in high school to be a Lector or Proclaimer.

Sacristan
The ministry of sacristan involves set-up before Mass and clean- up after Mass, as well as keeping things in order for Sundays, holy days, and other special liturgies. Training is provided on an individual basis. The sacristan works with liturgy committee to meet the liturgical needs of the parish. The service of the sacristan includes preparing the altar, preparing incense, ringing the bells of the tower, maintaining all liturgical vessels and vestments, and much more.

Altar Servers
From apostolic times, altar servers have always had a place in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as other liturgical rites. From the very beginning of the celebration of the Breaking of Bread there were those who prepared for the celebration, assisted at the table, and put things back in order afterwards.

We are actively seeking more altar servers. Candidates must have at least received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Minimum age and scheduling procedures are left to the pastor’s direction through the Pastoral Associate, April Dietrich. The recommended minimum age for youth is about the fourth grade.

New Altar Server Application

Ushers/Greeters
PURPOSE - Our brothers and sisters who serve the parish community in the capacity of ushers and greeters are much more than collection takers and distributors of the weekly bulletin. They are representative of our overall community. In addition to welcoming visitors, they assist new parishioners and help the disabled experience an accessible environment.

SKILLS - The best ushers and greeters are helpful and outgoing; they realize that they have a role to be the welcoming face of our community. Many people who come to celebrate the liturgy may only talk to the usher or greeter. In this way, the ushers and greeters must be able to provide a friendly and welcoming smile. Ushers and greeters must be able to balance their facilitation of movement and action with sensitivity to people's feelings and personal needs. They should also be prepared, if the need arises to render assistance in emergencies.

BENEFIT - The door of the church is a symbol of our baptism, which is our entry into Christian life. Ushers and greeters welcome the followers of Christ at the door. Matthew 7:7 reads: "Ask and it will be given to you search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Ministers of hospitality are graced with the opportunity to extend Christ's love in this way to both friend and stranger.

TIME COMMITMENT - Each team of ministers is asked to serve at one of the two weekend liturgies. Ushers and Greeters need to arrive about fifteen minutes before Mass and stay for a little while after the assembly has left.

Decorating & Environment
Our Decorating and Environment Team develops our worship space in such a way that the Christian faithful can experience worship more fully through symbolism and imagery. Using so much more than banners and flowers, the teams uses just about every resource available to them for the enhancement of the worship space.

The team is made up of parishioners who create design proposals and implement them for the various sacred seasons and solemnities. All plans are reviewed by the Liturgy Committee. While in most parishes the two major times of duty for Decorating and Environment are Christmas and Easter, in our parish it is all year round. Major celebrations that our team plans for are Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Solemnity of Saint Augustine, Easter, Confirmation, First Communion, and novenas throughout the year.

While there is no fixed meeting time for the Decorating and Environment, our team is always looking for help. For more information, please contact the parish office.