Liturgy

For more information about our liturgies, please contact our parish director of Liturgy and Music, Estelle Tunley.  Please call the office at 816.444.5406 or email [email protected]

Celebration of the Liturgy

Our  9:00 Mass is a prayerful yet spirited celebration of worship.  The music for this liturgy is led by the Gospel Choir with contemporary and traditional gospel music.

Welcoming Ministry 

This ministry was formed to enhance the already welcoming environment that Greeters and parishioners share.  Those assigned to this special way of “welcoming” reach out to those who may be visitors as they enter the church.  The Welcoming Ministry also facilitates “Name Tag Sunday” so that we can greet each other by name, especially visitors and new members.  This ministry also offers a small loaf of bread and a special message to our visitors to thank them for sharing in our Mass and to invite them to return again. 

Ministers of Hospitality

There is nothing like entering a church and being greeted by happy and friendly people. And this holds if it is a person's first time or their hundredth time.  These are our Greeter/Ushers at St. Therese.  This ministry of hospitality assists in welcoming worshipers, seating, distributes worship aids and assists in coordinating Offertory collection and Communion lines.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist 

Many members of our parish delight in being part of this ministry. Eucharistic Ministers are entrusted with the special responsibility of helping the priest distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at liturgy. They receive training from the diocese as well as from our parish.  We have some people who share their ministry with those who are unable to attend Mass.  

Gospel Choir and Instrumentalists

The Gospel Choir is committed to leading the musical worship at Mass and other parish liturgies throughout the liturgical year.  Music includes hymns, contemporary and traditional gospel and spiritual music.   The Lead Me Guide Me Hymnal is used as a primary resource for the choir. The choir and other parishioners take their ministry to visit parishioners who live in long-term care or assisted living facilities so that they can continue to feel the love of the parish.

Praise Dance Ministry

The Praise Dance Ministry is committed to bringing praise, prayer and worship to the liturgy using the gifts of dance and sacred movement.  This group includes youth and adults who mentor children in the ministry to offer development for the future.

Lector

When we gather to celebrate the Mass, God is present in our Church community, our priest, the scriptures, and the form of the consecrated bread and wine.  The first part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, focuses on the Scriptures.  The lector is the minister who brings these to life for all to hear.  Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord and therefore require good reading skills.  They devote time and preparation to understanding the Word of God so that all may hear and be open to God transforming their lives. 

Baptism

Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift.... We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship. (USCCB)

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The United States Conference of Bishops tells us the Sacrament of Penance is an experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy.  Not only does it free us from our sins but it also challenges us to have the same kind of compassion and forgiveness for those who sin against us.  We are liberated to be forgivers.  We obtain new insight into the words of the Prayer of St. Francis: "It is in pardoning that we are pardoned." Individual confession is available upon request.  There is a seasonal communal penance service during the seasons of Lent and Advent.  

Annointing of the Sick

Is anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the presbyters [priests] of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

At St. Therese, this sacrament is offered during or after Mass occasionally throughout the year. For individual requests contact Fr. Don at the parish office.

Eucharist for the Sick

The mission of this ministry is to bring Jesus Christ, in the form of the Most Holy Eucharist to parishioners of our parish who are homebound, hospitalized or incapacitated in some way that they are unable to attend Mass.  Please contact the parish office to arrange.

Preparation for Marriage

Because Christian marriage is a sacrament, the Catholic Church wants couples to be well-prepared. Dioceses and parishes offer marriage preparation to help couples develop a better understanding of the sacrament; to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live married life; and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple.  Preparation begins at least 9 months before the wedding.  Contact Fr. Don at the parish office.

Environment

Our more artistic and creative members develop a liturgical environment representing our deep love for the Eucharist.  We experience this beautiful environment on Sundays throughout the liturgical year as well as all during liturgical seasons.  Contact Estelle Tunley at the Parish Office.