Liturgical Ministry for Children
Altar Servers are youth (boys and girls, 9 and older, in fourth grade) who assist the Presider at liturgy by holding the Roman Missal or Presider Binder; setting the altar at the presentation of the gifts; and carrying the cross or candles when needed. Training is provided. Servers are scheduled approximately once a month. More information from the Altar Server Q&As.
Contact: Kathleen Aschmann, kathleenaschmann@verizon.net
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Ministry involves study of each Sunday’s scriptures. Children are dismissed as a group from the 9:00 am and 10:30 Sunday Mass to the Parlor Lounge to read and listen to the readings from the Children’s Lectionary. Adult and Teen volunteers are needed. Sixth graders and older may serve as lectors. Click here for more information.
Teen Ensemble is open to teens in grades 9-12 and normally provides the musical leadership for the 12:00 pm Mass on the second Sunday of the month during the school year. Rehearsal begins before the Mass at 11:00 am. Watch the bulletin for the exact date, as it may sometimes change. Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org.
Shepherd's Choir is open to youth in grades 4-8 and normally provides special music at the 10:30 am Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month during the school year. Rehearsal schedule is provided but is typically the Wednesday before the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 5:00. Watch the bulletin for the exact date, as it may sometimes change. No special audition is required, however commitment to rehearsals is essential. Choir parents are also welcome to help with organizing. In November this group starts weekly rehearsals in preparation for the Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Mass. Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org.
Cherub Choir is opened to youth in grade 1 - 3 and normally provides special music for Christmas and a Spring Event. They will meet weekly on Wednesday at 5:00 starting November 8 leading up to Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Mass. Please contact Anne Shingler, anne@gs-cc.org, (703) 780-4055, to sign up and obtain a schedule.
Jr. Usher is opened to youth in grades 4th grade and higher. They volunteer at the 10:30 am Children's Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month from September - June. Training is required. Contact re@gs-cc.org for information!
Jr. Reader is opened to youth in grades 6th and higher. They volunteer at the 10:30 am Children's Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month from September - June. Training is required. Contact re@gs-cc.org for information!
Contact: Kathleen Aschmann, kathleenaschmann@verizon.net
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Ministry involves study of each Sunday’s scriptures. Children are dismissed as a group from the 9:00 am and 10:30 Sunday Mass to the Parlor Lounge to read and listen to the readings from the Children’s Lectionary. Adult and Teen volunteers are needed. Sixth graders and older may serve as lectors. Click here for more information.
Teen Ensemble is open to teens in grades 9-12 and normally provides the musical leadership for the 12:00 pm Mass on the second Sunday of the month during the school year. Rehearsal begins before the Mass at 11:00 am. Watch the bulletin for the exact date, as it may sometimes change. Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org.
Shepherd's Choir is open to youth in grades 4-8 and normally provides special music at the 10:30 am Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month during the school year. Rehearsal schedule is provided but is typically the Wednesday before the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 5:00. Watch the bulletin for the exact date, as it may sometimes change. No special audition is required, however commitment to rehearsals is essential. Choir parents are also welcome to help with organizing. In November this group starts weekly rehearsals in preparation for the Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Mass. Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org.
Cherub Choir is opened to youth in grade 1 - 3 and normally provides special music for Christmas and a Spring Event. They will meet weekly on Wednesday at 5:00 starting November 8 leading up to Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Mass. Please contact Anne Shingler, anne@gs-cc.org, (703) 780-4055, to sign up and obtain a schedule.
Jr. Usher is opened to youth in grades 4th grade and higher. They volunteer at the 10:30 am Children's Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month from September - June. Training is required. Contact re@gs-cc.org for information!
Jr. Reader is opened to youth in grades 6th and higher. They volunteer at the 10:30 am Children's Mass on the first and third Sundays of the month from September - June. Training is required. Contact re@gs-cc.org for information!
Liturgical Ministry for Adults
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are Catholics in good standing, twenty-one years of age or older, who assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at Sunday and Holy Day parish liturgies. They are enrolled by the diocese and attend training sessions within the diocese and in the parish. They also take Communion to sick and homebound members of our community.
Contact: Sharon Gurke (703) 780-5673, sharongurke@yahoo.com
Lector Ministry consists of teens and adults who study and prepare the sacred scriptures in advance, and proclaim these at the liturgies on Sunday, Holy Days, and special occasions. Initial training consists of a six-hour workshop and an annual two hour refresher workshop. Lectors are scheduled to read at Mass about once a month.
Contact: Jay Hyland, (703) 704-5285, jjhyland@cox.net
Liturgical Art & Environment Ministry is responsible for decorating the church for the different liturgical seasons through the creative design and use of appropriate banners, hangings, floral arrangements and other special seasonal decorative features which honor the sacred space. This ministry oversees the extensive decorating for Christmas and Easter and is in need of creative individuals who would like to lend a helping hand and some physical assistance. The ministry meets seasonally and as needed to plan and coordinate.
Contact: Anne de Dios, anne.dedios@verizon.net
Sacristans prepare all the physical needs of the liturgies. They set up the bread, wine and water, candles, altar cloths, vessels and ritual books used for liturgy. They assist the altar servers and EMHC as needed. In some instances they help with the laundering needs of the liturgies. Open to all members of the parish interested in serving in this “behind the scenes” ministry. Sacristans are also needed to assist with other liturgical rites, including baptisms, funerals and weddings. Our Sacristan ministry is overseen and supported by the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Contact: Sharon Gurke (703) 780-5673, sharongurke@yahoo.com
Usher Ministry consists of adults and teens who welcome parishioners as they arrive for liturgies and provide physical assistance as needed. They also hand out worship guides beforehand, distribute bulletins after liturgies, and take up collections as needed. They may also find someone to carry the cross and the gifts of bread and wine during Mass. Ushers help create a tone of hospitality for the whole parish, and usually commit to serving at one Mass a weekend.
Contact: Mike Viani (703) 360-8799, mandcviani@cox.net
Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org for all Music Opportunities listed below.
Accompanists and Instrumentalists are teens or adults who accompany the choirs and/or cantors on piano, organ, guitar, woodwinds, brass, strings, or percussion at weekend Sunday Masses, and/or special liturgies. Previous training and ability required, as well as regular and special rehearsals.
Cantors are skilled singers (adult or teen) who lead the assembly in song, especially when a choir is not present, and who sing the responsorial psalm and gospel acclamation verses, and other special acclamations that are used in the liturgy. Previous training and ability required, as well as regular and special rehearsals.
Music Ministry for Funerals (Resurrection Choir) is open to anyone who is interested and available, especially during the weekdays. Rehearsals are held 30 minutes before a funeral liturgy. This ministry provides an essential ministry of hospitality and support to families in their time of grief.
Sunday Morning Music Ministry is a committed energetic group of adults and teens who provide the musical leadership at the 9:00 am Sunday morning Mass. The music is an eclectic mix of contemporary, traditional, and multicultural music. All singers, cantors, accompanists, and instrumentalists for the Saturday evening Vigil and Sunday morning Masses rehearse on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Church. We'd like to see more parishioners come forward so that we could form a second group to serve the 10:30 am Mass. The rehearsal time would be the same. Come join us!
Sunday Evening Music Ministry (Cornerstone) is a dynamic group of adults and teens who rehearse at 5:00 pm each Sunday in preparation for the 6:30 pm Mass, as well as once a month on a Monday night. The music has a contemporary and upbeat sound in the Praise and Worship style with varied instrumentation.
Contact: Elmer Bigley, (703) 533-3642, elms22182@yahoo.com
Contact: Sharon Gurke (703) 780-5673, sharongurke@yahoo.com
Lector Ministry consists of teens and adults who study and prepare the sacred scriptures in advance, and proclaim these at the liturgies on Sunday, Holy Days, and special occasions. Initial training consists of a six-hour workshop and an annual two hour refresher workshop. Lectors are scheduled to read at Mass about once a month.
Contact: Jay Hyland, (703) 704-5285, jjhyland@cox.net
Liturgical Art & Environment Ministry is responsible for decorating the church for the different liturgical seasons through the creative design and use of appropriate banners, hangings, floral arrangements and other special seasonal decorative features which honor the sacred space. This ministry oversees the extensive decorating for Christmas and Easter and is in need of creative individuals who would like to lend a helping hand and some physical assistance. The ministry meets seasonally and as needed to plan and coordinate.
Contact: Anne de Dios, anne.dedios@verizon.net
Sacristans prepare all the physical needs of the liturgies. They set up the bread, wine and water, candles, altar cloths, vessels and ritual books used for liturgy. They assist the altar servers and EMHC as needed. In some instances they help with the laundering needs of the liturgies. Open to all members of the parish interested in serving in this “behind the scenes” ministry. Sacristans are also needed to assist with other liturgical rites, including baptisms, funerals and weddings. Our Sacristan ministry is overseen and supported by the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Contact: Sharon Gurke (703) 780-5673, sharongurke@yahoo.com
Usher Ministry consists of adults and teens who welcome parishioners as they arrive for liturgies and provide physical assistance as needed. They also hand out worship guides beforehand, distribute bulletins after liturgies, and take up collections as needed. They may also find someone to carry the cross and the gifts of bread and wine during Mass. Ushers help create a tone of hospitality for the whole parish, and usually commit to serving at one Mass a weekend.
Contact: Mike Viani (703) 360-8799, mandcviani@cox.net
Contact Anne Shingler at (703) 780-4055, anne@gs-cc.org for all Music Opportunities listed below.
Accompanists and Instrumentalists are teens or adults who accompany the choirs and/or cantors on piano, organ, guitar, woodwinds, brass, strings, or percussion at weekend Sunday Masses, and/or special liturgies. Previous training and ability required, as well as regular and special rehearsals.
Cantors are skilled singers (adult or teen) who lead the assembly in song, especially when a choir is not present, and who sing the responsorial psalm and gospel acclamation verses, and other special acclamations that are used in the liturgy. Previous training and ability required, as well as regular and special rehearsals.
Music Ministry for Funerals (Resurrection Choir) is open to anyone who is interested and available, especially during the weekdays. Rehearsals are held 30 minutes before a funeral liturgy. This ministry provides an essential ministry of hospitality and support to families in their time of grief.
Sunday Morning Music Ministry is a committed energetic group of adults and teens who provide the musical leadership at the 9:00 am Sunday morning Mass. The music is an eclectic mix of contemporary, traditional, and multicultural music. All singers, cantors, accompanists, and instrumentalists for the Saturday evening Vigil and Sunday morning Masses rehearse on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Church. We'd like to see more parishioners come forward so that we could form a second group to serve the 10:30 am Mass. The rehearsal time would be the same. Come join us!
Sunday Evening Music Ministry (Cornerstone) is a dynamic group of adults and teens who rehearse at 5:00 pm each Sunday in preparation for the 6:30 pm Mass, as well as once a month on a Monday night. The music has a contemporary and upbeat sound in the Praise and Worship style with varied instrumentation.
Contact: Elmer Bigley, (703) 533-3642, elms22182@yahoo.com