Contact: Rosalie Doerr
Phone: 301-294-9481
Primary purpose
The primary mission of the Altar Linens Ministry is to provide clean altar linens (towels, purificators, corporals, etc.) for Sunday, daily and major liturgies.
Group activities
One person is assigned for each week. That person will pick up soiled linens, wash, iron, and return them by Wednesday. Training and illustrations are provided on proper liturgical folding of the different types of linens. Each person will serve about once every four months.
Contact: Fr. Linus
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-924-2284
Schedule is posted in the Church
Primary purpose
The altar server program at St. Patrick's has a two-fold purpose. First, it provides assistance to the celebrant in various liturgical settings. Second, it provides a setting for active involvement in Church activities for young men and women. It exposes them more intimately to the sacramental life of the Church; an exposure that will, hopefully, strengthen their spiritual life and be passed on to their children.
Group activities
The role of the altar server is a very important one in enhancing the solemnity of the liturgical moment. They lead the procession to the altar with crucifix and candles, they hold the Book for the priest, assist in preparing the altar and the gifts, and they lead the procession from the sanctuary out of the Church at the end of Mass along with whatever other help the celebrant may require. The altar servers primarily function at Sunday Masses, but they are also called upon to serve at weddings, stations of the cross, and other nonroutinecelebrations.
Goals
Each year (generally in the late Summer) we recruit new servers for training and service. Both boys and girls in the fifth grade and above are eligible to be servers.
Contact: Phil Doerr
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-294-9481
The Society of Arimatheans is comprised of a group of parishioners who perform the Corporal Work of Mercy of Burying the Dead at St. Patrick's Church. The name is derived from the man who offered Jesus a tomb after his crucifixion. The Arimatheans assist at all funeral masses as servers, ministers of Holy Communion, and as lectors if the family is not able to do the readings. They are a great service to the bereaved family by guiding them through the funeral and assisting them with the duties the family usually performs during the funeral. We currently have 16 parishioners serving in this important but "behind the scenes" ministry. We need additional people so that an individual Arimathean need service only once in a 5 to 7 week period. If you are retired or semi-retired, and own a dark suit, we want you! If you are interested or need more information, contact Phil Doerr.
Contact: Janet Limmer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-924-0706
The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest and deacons during Mass on weekends and Holy days.
Group activities
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion help by distributing communion to the parishioners, and also, some take communion to those in nursing homes. Each of the extraordinary ministers is usually scheduled about two Sundays per month. We would like to encourage more young adults to become involved in this ministry.
Contact: Phil Doerr
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-294-9481
Primary purpose
To provide order and direction to parishioners before, during, and after Sunday and Holy Day Masses at St. Patrick's.
Group activities
Our duties are: to greet people upon their arrival and make them welcome; maintain order and control traffic within the church; assist in the seating and keep communion time orderly; select a family as gift bearers and assist them; assist anyone who becomes ill during the service; assist the elderly in and out of the church if necessary; take up the collection(s); hand out bulletins at the end of the Masses; and last, but not least, to be at the beck and call of the celebrant if he needs any assistance. Any man or woman who is a member of St. Patrick's Church is eligible to become an usher.
We hold no regular meetings, but ushers are on duty at all six Sunday Masses and at all Holy Day Masses.