ALTAR SERVERS
Boys and girls of any age are welcome to become altar servers. The only requirement is that they have made their First Holy Communion and are interested in helping the priest and serving God in this unique and special way. Training courses are run and usually determined by the level of interest and demand. Please provide your details here if your child would like to participate in this ministry and you will be contacted OR speak to Fr Jerome.
FUNERAL ASSISTANTS
In the absence of a Master of Ceremonies or Adult Altar Servers, we have set up a small team of men and women to assist the priests at the celebration of funerals. This involves arriving about half an hour before the Funeral Mass/Service, helping the celebrant to prepare for the ceremony, setting up the church, being a welcoming presence for grieving families, greeting the funeral director and generally being on hand to help out as required. During the funeral they support the priest as needed and prepare the incense. Afterwards, they tidy up and clear everything away. It would be good to expand the team, so if you are interested, please speak with Fr Bob. Guidelines have been written and training is offered.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
This special ministry is an extraordinary one and the Parish Priest invites people to participate.
MASS READERS
From time to time we need Readers to offer themselves for the important ministry of proclaiming the Word of God at Mass. If you have a clear voice and good diction and would like to be considered for this role, please contact Father John.
MASS REPRESENTATIVES AND WELCOMERS
We are dependent on Mass Representatives to help create the right welcoming, inclusive ambience in our churches and parish and to ensure that everyone participates in the celebrations of the services as they wish. The Mass Representative is sometimes the only person that members of the congregation connect with as they attend services.
We are fortunate that our current Mass Representatives have been with us at St Joseph's a number of years and have great experience and knowledge as well as possessing the necessary attributes that are required of a Mass Representative.
We would like to expand our Welcoming Ministry to all Masses. We have a "Welcoming Team " at the 9.00am Mass (There is a Welcome Team at the 9.00am Mass. It is a group of 12 people forming six teams and organised on a Rota system ). If you are interested in this special Ministry please put forward your names to the parish priests. Our aim is to create a welcoming atmosphere at all masses, supporting all parishioners and help St. Joseph’s to be known for its friendly smile.
MUSIC
Today the Church acknowledges that the entire worshipping assembly exercises a ministry of music. Some members of the parish, however, have a special gift to lead the liturgical music. Different groups provide the music at the variety of services which we have in the parish.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Children sing and play musical instruments at 9am Mass each Sunday. The choir also sings at other services where children of the parish are particularly involved, including the First Holy Communion celebrations and special Christmas and Easter services. There are other opportunities when the choir participates in services in the community to bring comfort to the elderly and sick.
Practices are held after the 9am Mass in the Hall each Sunday. All are welcome. If a child is keen to join please speak to Mrs Jacobson or come along to the Hall on a Sunday.
YOUTH CHOIR
We have a Youth Choir at our monthly 11.00am Youth Mass- all musicians and singers welcome to join. Meet and make new friends. Refreshments / other activites offered after Mass. Please contact Father Theo via the parish office.
DENHAM CHOIR
The choir at Denham has been building in strength and numbers over the last few years. We have a small core group that gets bolstered now and then with some of our singing chums from St Joseph's. Richard Cottle, organist and choir leader, has written arrangements for the hymns and Mass parts. The first Sunday of each month is a sung Mass, while all the other Sundays include nice hymns, music and sometimes soloists to support the Mass at this lovely Church.