MINISTRIES & other groups

Similar to an iceberg, a huge percentage of organization and work happens behind the scenes.

The Property and Finance Committee are responsible for the financial health of the parish and the upkeep of parish property.

Our Custodial Staff ensure our worship space and meeting rooms are always fresh and ready for Mass, Funerals, Baptisms, social gatherings, etc.  Our gardens are bright and well maintained and are welcoming. Our parking spaces, walkways and steps always cleared of ice and snow.

Our Sacristy Committee cleans the chalices, ciboria, linens and ensures that everything is in place and in top shape for our various celebrations.

Our teams who are responsible to ensure accounting of the Offertory collection.  Our longest volunteer in the parish was Bill Dalton who became a member of one of the teams under the Pastorship of Father Scalisi from 1956 and remained in that role until 2012.

Our Priests prepare for the various liturgies – Weekend and Weekday Celebrations of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Baptisms, First Friday visits to the homebound, appointments, meetings, Deanery and Diocesan committees and functions, visits to the schools, hospital, and much more as needed.

Our Altar Servers are an important part of Liturgy.  The Youth Servers assist at Weekend Mass and School Mass.  The Senior Servers assist at funerals, weekday Mass and other celebrations when needed.  Both male and female servers assist at all liturgies.

Our Team of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist not only serve at weekend and weekday celebrations of the Eucharist, but assist the Priests on First Fridays taking Communion to the homebound and Long-Term Care Homes.  Eucharistic Ministers take Communion on weekends to the home bound and also are part of teams who take Communion to those in hospital.

Our Liturgy Team plans decorations for the various liturgies and special feasts which highlights Advent, Christmas, Pentecost, Remembrance Day, etc.  A great amount of planning and setting up the various themes has been a long practice for us.  (See examples in the “Archives” sections of the History.)

Our people over the years who have prepared the schedules Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Readers and Commentators, Ushers, Readers and Commentators, Sacristy Ministry, etc.

Members of Sacred Heart Parish have been active and continue to be active in the wider community.
Parishioners have been members on St. Joseph’s Hospital Board, the Ontario Catholic Hospitals Board, Hospital Volunteers, the Hospice, Royal Canadian Legion, Rotary, Rayjon Share Care, The Inn of the Good Shepherd, the Board of Directors for Huron House Boys Home, Sports Coaches for hockey, baseball, soccer, etc., for people of all ages, especially youth.  There are many more organizations and volunteer positions in the community where our Parishioners volunteer their time and talents.

As a parish, Sacred Heart has never been static.  As needs surfaced, ministries, organizations and personnel have been formed and added to meet current needs.  Some ministries have remained constant.  Other ministries which were formed, met the needs and disbanded when no longer needed at that particular time in the life of our parish, e.g., Stephen Ministry.  This ministry demanded large amounts of time on both the Coordinating Team and Caregivers was unsustainable on a long-term basis, so with regret this ministry was cancelled.

So many of our parishioners have graciously given their time to enable ministries to grow and flourish.  Their generosity of time and talents have, and continues to have a great impact on those with whom they share themselves.

It is impossible to name each volunteer, missing someone is not an option.  Please accept a very grateful “Thank You”.  Without you, all aspects of ministry would not have had such a great impact on our Parish Family and our community at large.