Worship
Under the Worship ministry is the following groups: Worship Committee, Altar Servers, Environment, Extra-ordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Lenten Mission, Music Ministry, Liturgy of the Hours, Parish Retreats, and Share the Word.
Worship Committee
The entire Worship Committee, composed of representatives of the parish, meets periodically to plan and coordinate the various aspects of our parish liturgies. Some responsibilities are:
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To plan for the major liturgical feasts and seasons
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To recruit, train and schedule Extra-ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, and Altar Servers
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To decorate the church, especially during the major feasts of the liturgical year
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To assist in the educating of the parish in all the varied components of our liturgical worship
Throughout the year, workshops, training sessions and evaluation meetings are held to further the education of those involved in the liturgical ministries of the parish.
Adult Choir
Besides our various musical instruments and our community signing, we have a long tradition of a parish choir whose primary purpose is to lead the congregation in sacred song. The choir welcomes new members. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday nights at 7:30PM, with special emphasis on the special liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. The Adult Choir provides the music at the 11AM Mass during the months of September through June. During the months of July and August the Summer Choir occasionally sings at the 11AM Mass.
Our music program also includes an opportunity for instrumentalists to contribute their talents as accompanists.
Please contact Heather Skidds for information. She leads the music at the Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday 11AM Mass.
Emmaus Ensemble
The Emmaus Ensemble includes dedicated singers and instrumentalists who sing and play for the Saturday Vigil Mass. Singers and instruments such as guitars, flute, bass, violin, clarinet or other musical instruments are welcome. The group rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings. The Emmaus Ensemble also participates with our choirs in concerts and holiday Masses.
Youth Ensemble
Children's Choir
All children in the third grade or higher are invited to sign in the children's choir. There is one rehearsal per week during the months of September through April and the children sign at the 9AM Mass once a month, including the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
Please see Anita DeLuca for information. Anita leads the music at the Sunday 7:30AM and 9:00AM Masses.
Lectors
The purpose of the Lector Ministry is to provide parish members who will proclaim the scripture:
- In a manner that the author of the Scripture would have presented it
- In a manner that can be easily heard and understood by the congregation
- With the reverence appropriate to the Word of God and to the liturgy in which it is being presented
General Principles of the Lector from the Committee of Divine Worship of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Extra-ordinary Eucharistic Ministers at Mass
In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
New Guidelines for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion
Bishop Tobin in November 2009 revised the guidelines for extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion serving in the Diocese of Providence to become effective on January 1, 2010, replacing those issued in August 1997. The new norms reflect changes in both the Church’s universal law concerning the Eucharist, and in particular law for the dioceses of the United States.
In addition to introduction of these new guidelines for the Diocese, the pastor must now submit the name of any new candidate who aspires to become an extra-ordinary minister of Holy Communion to the Bishop for approval. Anyone interested in participating in this ministry should speak to Fr. Ricci.
Click here for the new guidelines.
Click here for a diagram of the Communion Stations here at St. Gregory's.
Altar Servers
The goal of our altar server program is twofold:
- To assist the priest during the celebration of the Eucharist
- To help young boys and girls become involved in the life of the parish and the Church
Any boy or girl in grade 4 and above who is interested in becoming an altar server should submit their name and telephone number to the parish office.
Liturgical Environment Committee
At the heart of every parish must be a deep union with God in the worship space. Therefore, it is critical that the parish create sufficient space for God, for reflection, growth and prayer.
The purpose of of the Liturgical Environment Committee is to create an atmosphere through seasonal decorations that are conducive to prayer and to experiencing the presence of God through the beauty of our worship space. Therefore the primary responsibility of the committee is to assist in creating this environment is our sacred space, the Church, where we encounter the presence of God both in our Church and in the people who worship here together in our Christian community.
