Altar Servers – Altar servers assist the priest and our parish community for weekend, holy day, and special liturgies. This ministry is open to all parishioners currently in 4 ^th grade and older. Those altar servers who attend St. Mary School also assist at the weekday school liturgies. The Training Session(s) will be announced in the bulletin.  Please call the Parish Office if your child would be interested in becoming an Altar Server.

Baptismal Preparation – The Baptismal Preparation is necessary for those who wish to have their child age infant to 7 years old baptized in the Catholic Church. (For children 7 years or older see RCIC on pg. 37) The priest meets once with the parents, either before or after the birth of their child, and helps them plan and prepare for the sacrament of Baptism. We encourage the parents to look at their own faith, explain the symbols and meaning of baptism, and discuss any questions or concerns they may have about baptism. Anyone who is registered at St. Mary Parish is eligible to have their child baptized.

Bereavement Ministry – With Jesus as our model of compassion, this ministry seeks to comfort those who have suffered the death of a loved one. Each individual’s unique response to grief is recognized, and support and hope is offered. Our goal is “No Member of Our Parish Shall Grieve Alone.” This is accomplished by personal contacts, monthly grief support groups, bi-annual workshops, and a Memorial Mass each November. This ministry is open to anyone in the parish who feels a calling to share their heart in this way.

Bingo– All parishioners age 21 or older interested in volunteering at the Knights of Columbus Bingo Hall are encouraged to do so. Volunteer opportunities include counting pull-tabs, working the front desk, distributing payouts, etc. Bingo is held each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening. St. Mary Elementary and Pope John Paul II Middle Schools benefits from a share in the proceeds each month based on the number of parish/school volunteers.

Boy Scouts – Boy Scout Troop 39 is chartered by St. Mary Parish and provides the "Aims of Scouting" for boys ages 11 to 18. The "Aims of Scouting" include character building, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The Scouts are taught ideals based on the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Slogan, and Scout Motto. Any boy who meets the age requirements may join Troop 39. Boy Scout Troops are organized into Patrols. The Troop and Patrols are boy-led with guidance from adult leaders. There is also a monthly Troop Activity. These activities, selected by the Scouts, have included camping, caving, hiking, rock climbing, and skiing. We meet every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in Noll Hall.

Cub Scouts – Cub Scout Pack 42 is chartered by St. Mary Parish and provides learning experiences for boys in grades 1–5. Any boy, whether enrolled in St. Mary School, registered at St. Mary Parish, or simply a Delaware County resident may register with Pack 42. Small groups (dens) are organized by grade level and meet approximately once a month. The large group (pack) usually meets on the 3 ^rd Thursday of each month in the St. Mary School cafeteria. Parent and/or parish volunteers lead each group and plan activities and extracurricular outings. Nominal fees are involved and scholarships are available as no boy is denied the scouting experience.

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion – Any parishioner that has been fully initiated into the Church (i.e., Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation) may serve in this ministry. Extraordinary Ministers of Communion must have a deep love and commitment to Christ in the Eucharist. They are humble in their service to the assembly and may also assist in bringing Communion to the homebound and shut-ins. Ministers are trained annually and officially commissioned on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.  Within the group of Extraordinary ministers are those that volunteer to perform a very important service to the assembly by preparing the gifts of bread and wine before Mass begins. They set the communion cups, patens, and priest’s chalice in place in the sanctuary. They also ensure the proper number of altar servers, readers, and Ministers of Communion are prepared for the celebration of the Mass.

Garden Ministry – The Garden Ministry was initiated in the spring of 2007 as a form of stewardship of the St. Mary grounds.  Through the parish community, we beautify and maintain the parish campus. Each spring, individuals, families and/or friends participate by making a 1-year commitment to an available garden. This commitment entails cleaning, weeding, and maintaining an existing garden or developing and maintaining a newly established garden. This commitment can be renewed on a yearly basis. Others may participate in this ministry by providing perennials from their own gardens. This ministry is based on community, desiring to deepen ties between parishioners, the school, and the community at large.

Girl Scouts – Girl Scout Troop 420 is chartered by St. Mary Parish and provides learning experiences for girls in grades K–6. Any girl, whether enrolled in St. Mary School, registered at St. Mary Parish, or simply a Delaware County resident may register with our troop. Daisy Girl Scouts (K,1), Brownie Girl Scouts (2 ^nd and 3 ^rd grade) and Junior Girl Scouts (4 ^th, 5 ^th, and 6 ^th grade) meet approximately twice a month. Parent and/or parish volunteers lead each group and plan activities and extracurricular outings. Nominal fees are involved.

Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Volunteers – Any parishioner interested in helping with light maintenance work around the parish buildings and grounds is encouraged to become a grounds and facilities maintenance volunteer. Volunteer opportunities may include (but are not limited to) painting, grounds clean up, light construction repair work, etc. Any amount of time given is appreciated.

Knights of Columbus – Please see the Muncie Knight of Columbus website

Legion of Mary – The Legion of Mary is an international apostolic organization of Catholic lay people. Members of St. Mary Parish that belong to the Legion of Mary meet weekly. They provide spiritual support to the sick and shut-ins of our parish at their home, hospital, or nursing home. The group also visits inactive Catholics. Legion of Mary members work in pairs. All parishioners are welcome and encouraged to join the Legion of Mary.

Liturgical Art & Environment– Parishioners take care of arranging and maintaining flowers and plants for the different seasons of the liturgical year along with making, maintaining and arranging other seasonal decorations. They water when needed and in general help to create an environment of peace and beauty throughout the church. No special skills are necessary, but a love of flowers and plants helps. All parishioners are encouraged and welcome to participate in this ministry. Training is provided and any time you are able to give is appreciated.

Marriage Preparation – A major part of marriage preparation at St. Mary Parish includes four sessions in the home of a sponsor couple. Sponsor couples are parishioners who have been married at least five years and are willing to share their married life experiences with engaged couples. We welcome sponsor couples whose life journey may include a previous marriage or a marriage that celebrates the blending of religious faiths. Sponsor couples receive training which incorporates video presentations, workbooks, and facilitation by the sponsor couple.

Men’s Bible Study – St Mary Men’s Bible Study is open to all men of our parish. Prayer, passion and the thirst for expanding the knowledge of our faith are the main elements of our meetings. The group meets weekly on Monday evenings. Our mission statement is: Guided by the Holy Sprite we are men thirsting for a greater understanding and appreciation of our Faith. We yearn to be the strong, spiritual foundation for our families. We will attain this through prayer, study, fellowship and service.

Ministry of the Fibers – Women of the parish join together for spirituality, community, and to learn knitting, crocheting or other skills to make prayer items, such as shawls, to be given to those in need, as a celebration, for illness, or for bereavement. Currently, two groups of women come together on the third Wednesday of each month – one in the morning and one in the evening. All women parishioners are invited to join this ministry.

Music Ministry – The Music Ministry of St. Mary Parish exists to use the gift of music to glorify God, edify the Church, and evangelize souls for Christ.  Parishioners are invited to join as singers and instrumentalists.  Please see our Music Ministry page.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) – Natural Family Planning, or NFP, is a method of family planning that uses the natural fertility cycle of a woman’s body. The classes at St Mary teach the Sympto-thermal Method that is promoted by the Couple to Couple League. The class series consists of three classes taught over a three-month period. For more information visit the Couple to Couple League website at www.ccli.org or contact the Lundys.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Orphanage Foundation) – Please see their website at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Orphanage Foundation Website.

Parish Archives – Parishioners who work in the St. Mary Parish archives catalog and access materials, write articles based on the archives, and conduct oral history interviews. Thousands of parish documents and photos have been filed, but the work is ongoing. The archives staff is always looking for additional help and all parishioners are encouraged to participate.

 

Parish Office Volunteers – Several volunteer opportunities exist for parishioners wishing to help in the Parish Office. Activities may include copying, assembling the bulletin, filing, preparing mass mailings, etc.

Pro-Life Ministries
            Spiritual Adoption Corner - The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen encouraged the spiritual adoption of an unborn child; praying every day that one unknown baby be spared death and be allowed to continue to live. Those participating say the prayer that Archbishop Sheen composed every day for 9 months beginning Jan 22, the anniversary of legalized abortion. At St Mary, a Spiritual Adoption corner has been set up in the vestibule. Several prayer aids are available to help with this effort.
            40 Days for Life - St. Mary participates in the 40 Days for Life twice a year.  40 Days for Life is the largest non denominational pro-life witness in the world and encompasses an intensive effort designed to raise awareness, save lives, bring healing and lead our nation to repentance for the sin of abortion through three components: 40 days of prayer and fasting, 40 days of peaceful vigil and 40 days of community outreach.  
  40 Days for Life was first started in 2004 in College Station, Texas when four Texas A&M pro-life college students organized a grassroots movement of volunteers to do penance, to pray for and witness to an end to abortion. During this time 1000 people committed themselves to doing something over the course of 40 Days to promote the Culture of Life and put an end to abortion.   Their goal: The Body of Christ seeks God’s graces to change to a Culture of Life, end abortion. Through their efforts, abortions were reduced 28%.
 
“ How can I help?”
1.   Commit to do something for the 40 Days for Life, either praying and/or fasting (with the specific intention of promoting life and seeking an end to abortion. 
     2.   Join us each Friday morning in Lent.  We will leave St. Mary after the 8:15 am Mass and head to an abortion center to pray and witness in front of the center.  Meet in the Church after Mass.  Even if you can only make one of the Fridays, it would be great.  Last year we had a wonderful showing from St. Mary and Muncie.
3.   For more information on 40 Days for Life go to their
 web site: www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm

Queen of Angels Gift Shop – Please see their webpage at Queen of Angels Gift Shop web page

Readers – Readers prayerfully proclaim the Word of God during the celebration of Mass. Readers receive periodic training in the art of public proclamation of the Word of God and should possess a clear, projecting proclamation voice. All parishioners are welcome to join this ministry.

Sacristans – Sacristans work behind the scenes to clean and maintain the sanctuary and sacristy, to clean and prepare altar linens, and to set up for special occasions. No special skills are necessary, but anyone willing to give an hour once a week is most welcome. Additional assistance is needed for heavier cleaning or setup on various special occasions throughout the year.

School
        School Library Volunteers: Any parishioner wishing to help children check out books, read to the younger children, or help organize and reshelf books is encouraged to volunteer in the school library. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the week and volunteer schedules are prepared on a monthly basis.
 
      Substitute teachers:  Parishioners who have Indiana Teaching Certification or who obtain an Indiana Substitute Teaching License may apply to teach in the school.  In addition, substitute teachers may be called upon to administer state required tests.

S.E.E.D. (Seeking Evangelization through Eucharistic Devotion) – The purpose of this group is Seeking Evangelization through Eucharistic Devotion, in word and action, and developing a more intimate relationship with God in community. This group is open to all parishioners and will meet once a month to pray, encourage, and promote Eucharistic Devotions, whether it is through the rosary, silent prayer, scripture meditation, study of the saints, small retreats, or Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Ushers – Ushers assist members of the parish community during Mass. They help those with special needs, take up the collection during Mass, and distribute bulletins following the liturgy. Ushers can be either male or female and must be warm, helpful, engaging, and welcoming to all who enter the church. They receive on-the-job training and the support of the entire parish.  The ushers need to be in the Church 15 minutes before the start of Mass to greet the people.

Women’s Bible Study Group – Women of the parish of all ages come together to study the Bible and other materials so that they may grow in faith. This group also participates in small service projects throughout the year. All women of the parish are welcome and encouraged to attend. The group meets every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. from September through May.

 

Youth Ministry - With Jesus as our model, the Youth Ministry works with our Middle and High School students to:

Soup Kitchen of Muncie – The Soup Kitchen of Muncie prepares and serves meals to the needy in Delaware County. The Soup Kitchen was established in 1994. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., serving more than 100 guests daily. Parishioners may volunteer by helping prepare food to be served in the dining room or by making sack lunches for take-out. Sack lunches can also be assembled off premises and brought to the kitchen before 9:00 a.m. each day. The kitchen also accepts food donations, such as canned food, purchased or home-grown vegetables and fruit, pastas, rice, and meat.

Knights of Columbus – The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's fraternal benefit society that was formed to render spiritual and social support and financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled, and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief, and public relief works. All men of the parish, age 18 and older, are welcome and encouraged to join the Knights of Columbus. Please see the Knights of Columbus of Muncie website.

Secular Franciscan Order – The Secular Franciscan Order (formerly the Third Order of St. Francis) is an official, canonically -established Order of the Catholic Church that traces its beginnings to St. Francis of Assisi himself in the early 13 ^th century.  The order is open to Catholic lay men and women, single and married, who strive to follow Christ in the footsteps of Francis and Clare while living in the secular environment. After  a period of initial formation, members profess a Rule (promulgated by Paul VI in 1978) that calls for continuous striving toward a Spirit-filled, Gospel-centered, holy life characterized by love of God, neighbor, and all creation; fidelity to the Church and its teachings; humility; detachment from material things; a preference for peace; and commitment to serving others.  The Order is organized into local and regional fraternities, whose regular meetings serve as “community” for members.  St. Anthony Fraternity, Muncie, includes members from all three Catholic parishes.

St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) – The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an international Catholic lay organization founded in France in 1833 by Blessed Frederic Ozanam. Under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul, the Society seeks to foster the spiritual growth of its members through person-to-person service to the poor and marginalized in society. The local SVDP conference, started in 1980, includes men and women from all three Catholic parishes in Muncie and is committed to serving needy residents of Delaware County, regardless of religious affiliation. Throughout the year, local Vincentians collect and deliver food to indigent households, provide financial assistance for rent and utilities, and operate and staff the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, located at 920 E. Charles Street. The store offers donated clothing, household and miscellaneous items at low cost to the general public or free to our clients, depending on need. Other projects sponsored by the Muncie conference include the annual “Blanket Sunday” collection and preparation and distribution of Christmas baskets to needy families.