Introduction to the Worship Commission

The St. Mary Parish Worship Commission, reflecting on God’s presence among us, invites, encourages, and inspires the prayerful participation of our parishioners in the Liturgy. In order to worship as One Body of Christ, we attend to the visual environment, musical atmosphere, liturgical formation, and scriptural knowledge of our parishioners. With a focus on the Eucharist, we encourage the entire faith community to make a difference in the world.

The Worship Commission brings together all the liturgical and music ministries of the parish, to help celebrate the Church’s liturgy with style and grace, in accord with church law and Pastoral directives. Such liturgies will be spiritually appealing and nourishing, in order to empower parishioners to worship God actively and enthusiastically, and to live the gospel message of Jesus Christ as they go about their daily lives. These Liturgies are planned by the Pastor, the Liturgy Coordinator, and the Music Director, in consultation with the parish clergy, worship staff, and worship commission members, and in conformity with the directives of the Sacramentary, the Lectionary, the Ordo, and local diocesan directives. The overall responsibility for the celebration of the Liturgy is entrusted to the priests and deacons, in consultation with the worship staff and the members of the Worship Commission. The training and scheduling of the liturgical ministers are entrusted to the Liturgy Coordinator, in consultation with representatives from each of the various liturgical ministries. The selection of music and the scheduling of musicians are entrusted to the Music Director, in consultation with representatives from each of the various music ministries.

The Worship Commission consists of the following ex-officio and discerned members: The Liturgy Coordinator and the Music Director are ex-officio members of the Worship Commission, whose joint efforts are coordinated under the supervision of the Pastor. Commission members are discerned each year by the participants in each ministry that comprises the commission, through a special discernment process that is guided by the Liturgy Coordinator. The representatives from each liturgy and music ministry assist the Liturgy Coordinator and the Music Director in the recruitment of and training for their respective liturgical and music ministries. The Worship Commission discerns a Pastoral Council representative, a commission chairperson, and commission secretary each year, who assist the Liturgy Coordinator in planning and leading the commission meetings. Please consult the Pastoral Council Charter for more information about membership on commissions.

Worship commission members have four main duties: prayer, study, training, and policy formation: First, they engage in group prayer for mutual support in their ministries, and help plan fall and spring seminars and workshops for the spiritual enrichment of all the worship ministry volunteers. Second, they study liturgical documents and directives to deepen their understanding of the Church’s Liturgy, under the guidance of the priests who are ordained to lead the parish in liturgical worship. Third, they assist the Liturgy Coordinator and the Music Director, in the ongoing training of all the volunteers who participate in the different liturgical and music ministries of the parish community. Fourth, they help formulate liturgical policy through the regular review and updating of ministry guidelines for each of the various liturgical and music ministries of the parish worship program.

St. Mary parishioners look forward to worship at all our sacred liturgies because our church feels like home. All who enter the doors of our church are warmly welcomed by members of our Catholic Christian community. We come early and participate in lively fellowship in the Narthex before and after Mass. All parishioners share their faith and spiritual growth since all are actively involved in church ministries, fulfilling their roles as dedicated and loving parish family members. The number of young adults and teens who eagerly and enthusiastically participate in liturgical ministries far surpass other church communities in the area. Daily Mass has expanded to two morning Masses because we have a new associate pastor. Those who are able, happily come to daily Mass during the week. Our daily Mass is attended not only by a large number of our own parishioners, but also attracts a number of parishioners from surrounding parishes. The size of the congregation at our daily Mass is getting close to that of the weekend Masses. Those who are visitors, new to the parish, or curiously seeking a "home" are joyfully caught up in the welcoming atmosphere; an attractive element for which St Mary Parish has become known. Many lukewarm Catholics have come back "home" and our Christian love, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has attracted many new members who desire to become Catholic and join our warm vibrant community.

We delight in the fact that our church is filled to capacity at all weekend Masses. Our courteous and helpful ushers assist and seat all who enter. The altar and church interior is a color rich canvas that reflects the liturgical season and provides a prayerful environment. Our large choir, a new organ, and a state-of-the-art sound system are masterfully coordinated by our Music Director creating a heavenly atmosphere that inspires everyone to enthusiastically sing praise to the Lord who is truly our life and our salvation. Prayer and praise are lifted up to the Father, Son, and Spirit with great love and devotion by the entire congregation. All young children look forward to the Children's Liturgy of the Word in Burnett Hall. A group of warm, loving adults and teens minister to the children. They are fed, on their level, with the Word of God while the rest of the congregation fully participates by listening intently as the parish clergy and lectors proclaim the Word of God with reverence and meaning. Our captivating homilies inspire our congregation to live out the Gospel message. The Body and Blood of Christ is lovingly distributed by clergy and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion with honor and respect, calling all to become the Body of Christ. At the conclusion of the Mass, the entire congregation willingly stays to enthusiastically sing the entire recessional hymn. Some stay to pray silently afterwards while others gather in the Narthex or Burnett Hall for fellowship. It’s like no one wants to leave. Everyone who participates in Mass at St. Mary Parish leaves spiritually nourished empowering them to be Christ for everyone in their families, school, work communities, and all whom they encounter.

Our church is filled to capacity. People are standing at every Mass. Our prayers and our singing raise the rafters of our church in joyous praise to the Lord who is truly our life and our salvation. Our welcoming liturgies and comfortable atmosphere have brought many Catholics back to the Church, keep our regular parishioners coming back for more spiritual nourishment, and bring new people into the community of the Catholic Church. Through the positive and uplifting communal experience of our sacred liturgies, we are committed to achieve the following objectives: We grow in faith and love as devoted and practicing Catholic Christians, our lives are renewed in Christ, and our families and communities are better because of it. We are drawn more deeply into the life of our parish community through our spiritual, educational, and service ministries, as well as our parish programs and organizations. Because of our growth and the Pastoral activities that stem from our worship together, our church building must be expanded and updated with an enlarged congregational seating area, better accessibility for the disabled, more restrooms, new altar lighting, new sound system, new organ, new carpet, a better air-conditioning system, and a quiet-room for small children. We wish to expand and upgrade our current worship facilities as we preserve the architectural integrity of our current worship space in which we feel so comfortable.

For your daily prayer and devotions, we recommend Magnificat magazine.

For helpful information about baptisms, weddings, and funerals, please go to the  Spirituality web page.