Services

Parish Ministries
Bereavement
St. Mary’s parish offer Bereavement Ministry to individuals and families.
Bereavement volunteers are involved in several areas…
--attend funerals to greet people, pass out programs, and join in the Prayer; serve as a Lector, Server, or
Distributor at the funeral services;
--meet with families to plan the funeral liturgy;
--conduct Wake Services and the Graveside Rite;
--help to plan and prepare the annual All Souls Day memorial mass;
--provide follow-up contact to families.
Training is provided. For information, call (256-5633).

Bible Study Groups: Sunday mornings and Thursday mornings.
These groups meet on Sunday during the fall and winter after the 9am Mass, in the St. Mary Center and in the St.
Mary Center at 10am on Thursday morning from Sept. til April. It is a chance to reflect on and learn about the
Sunday readings and the Scriptures in general, and to connect them to their lives. Call the Office and leave a
message for Les/Karen Weller about the Sunday group and the parish office about the Thursday morning group.

Liturgical Ministries
Choir
The Choir practice on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. from Sept. to June. For more information call the Parish
office at 256-5633.
Eucharistic Distributors
Eucharist Distributors (cups and bread) are needed for each liturgy. For information call the office and leave a
message for Bob Wolff
Lectors
For those who can speak well, and are willing to prepare for the proclamation of the Word at our liturgical
celebrations. For more information call the office and leave a message for Les Weller.
Servers
Consider this ministry for yourself and/or your family. For more information call the office at 256-5633.
Ushers/Greeters
Consider becoming an Usher/Greeter to welcome, provide assistance, and gather the collection at our
liturgies. For more information call the office.
Petition Writers
Help compose the Offertory Petitions for our liturgies. Composers provide this ministry for a month at a
time. For more information call the office and leave a message for Les Weller.
Offertory Gift Bearers
Simply inform the usher at the door of the Church if you desire to provide this ministry at a particular liturgy.
Sacristans
Provide for the fitting adornment of the Sanctuary. Call the office and leave a message for:
Contact Kay Wolff (SM)

Collection Counters
The collection counters count the weekend collection and make a deposit each Sunday after Mass.
Counters count once a month. For more information, call Jim Buerschen at 256-5633.

Pastoral Visitation
Once-a-month/week visits
A ministry of St. Mary’s. Volunteers are needed for both friendly visits and communion calls
to shut-in and nursing home residents of the two parishes. Training is provided. If interested, call 256-5633.

Prayer Chain
The prayer chain is a group of parishioners committed to praying for requested intentions--an individual in
special need, a personal or family situation, or a community or world situation of particular concern to the one
requesting prayer. When prayer requests are received, the word is passed along to prayer chain members.
To volunteer to be a pray-er, call the parish office, 256-5633.

Religious Education & Formation
RCIA Team
RCIA/C is the process by which a person discerns if he/she is being called to become a member of the
Catholic Church. The Team includes hospitality people, catechists, and sponsors. If any of these roles interest
you, please contact Les Weller at 256-5633.

Spiritual and Faith Formation Opportunities
Apostolic Communities Core Team
The Core Team meets regularly to oversee and support the SCC’s, and to plan ways to help us “do
everything we do differently,” by providing opportunities for people to connect with fellow parishioners
and connect our lives and faith whenever we gather..

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS
Parish Committees
Parish Councils
The Parish Council works through prayerful consensus to discern priorities, determine the
best distribution of resources, and plan for the future of the parish. Members are chosen from among those
who are interested and able to serve, as well as those who bring specific skills. The Council usually meets
every month. For information call the Office and leave a message for Rose Ebel .

Finance Committees
This group oversees the parish and school budgets, meeting 6-8 times per year. For more information, call
the Office and leave a message for Jim Buerschen (SM) at 256-5633

Fundraising Activities
Throughout the year, the parish sponsors several fund raising activities to help support the
Church's operating budgets. These include our Fish Frys in the Fall and in the Spring, Market Day and
Entertainment Book sales. To volunteer, or for more information, call Jim Buerschen 256-5633.

Spiritual Life Committee
The St. Mary’s committee plans and coordinates regular and special liturgical
celebrations and oversees the liturgical ministries for both parishes. Contact the office and leave a message
for Les Weller.

St. Vincent de Paul Societies
The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides emergency assistance to residents of our twp neighborhoods
for numerous needs on an ongoing basis. Supported by parishioner donations. There also is a Food
Pantry that operates out of the St. Mary Center which is open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 9
AM to 11:45 AM. For more information, please call the office and leave a message for Tim Kinney and the Food
Pantry.

Other Parish Organizations
St. Anne’s Society
A women's group focusing on the specific needs of the sanctuary of the church, including fundraising for
liturgical needs. St. Anne's Society meets on the third Wednesday of each month from Sept. til June.
Activities include a rummage sale in March, a Christmas Bazaar in October, and the cleaning and
decorating of the sanctuary throughout the year. For more information contact the office and leave a message
for Kay Wolff.

Holy Name Society
The Holy Name Society is a group of men who have regular prayer and organizational meetings on the
second Wednesday of each month. They also gather each Monday evening for a Fellowship of Work.
Through fund raisers (2 Fish Fries – one in November and one in February) and their Fellowship of Work
efforts, they assist the parish and the maintenance staff in taking care of maintenance needs of the parish
plant and grounds. For more information contact the office and leave a message for Jerry Woeste.

Jubilee Club
This seniors’ group meets in the SM Center on the first & third Thursdays of each month for
lunch and socializing. For more information, call the office and leave a message for Chris Deavers.

Parish Consolidated School (Pastoral Region One and Two)
Mary Queen of Peace Catholic School
St. Mary Parish is part of a consolidated Pre K-8 Catholic grade school. MQofP offers a
faith-centered education for all in a safe, structured environment - “A neighborhood school that cares about its
children.” There is always a need for volunteers with numerous activities, including fundraising and other
activities. Call the MQofP central school office for more information about volunteering at 228-3091.

Parish Ministries & Organizations

ST. MARY CHURCH
DAYTON, OHIO