Ministries
We hope you can participate in our many ministries. You are the hands and feet of Christ!
Administrative Ministries
Money Counters
Every Wednesday morning, volunteers work in assigned teams to count the previous week’s collection and prepare the deposit. Please call the Parish Office at 630-860-2975 and ask for Kelly Scardina.
Protecting God’s Children
This VIRTUS ‘best practices” program, is used to identify the most effective protocols, procedures, and methods to ensure the safety of children at all parish run activities. The program, which consist of a series of authoritative, facilitator-run sessions, is designed to help parishioners prevent wrong doing and promote “right doing” when interacting with our parish children.
Volunteer Office Helpers
There is an occasional need for help in either the Parish Office or Faith Formation Office for special projects. Those interested must be available during day hours as your schedule permits. . Anyone interested in helping call the Parish Office at 630-860-2975 or Faith Formation Office at 630-766-1045.
Volunteer Kitchen Helpers
There is occasional need for help to serve food and clean up the kitchen for parish events. Most events are in the early evening hours. Call the Parish Office at 630-860-2975.
Church Cleaners
Volunteers lightly clean the liturgical items and furnishings, and straighten up the Church. Cleaners are always needed and welcomed. Please contact the Parish Office at 630-860-2975.
Welcome Center
In order to be more inviting and hospitable to those who come to worship each weekend, we have added a “Welcome Center” in our narthex. Having a Welcome Center opens up the opportunity for a new ministry at our parish. We are looking for people who will come 15 min. early to the mass of their choice, to be scheduled monthly to stand at the welcoming center and answer questions, or give out requested forms or envelopes. We would be able to assign one person before each Mass and one person after Mass for each week of the month. If you are interested in becoming part of this new and easy way to serve our parish please call the Parish Office at 630-860-2975.
Liturgical Ministries
Art and Environment Committee
This ministry team plans and decorates the church throughout the year. Meetings are held with the change of each liturgical season. Teams are involved in creating a sacred environment through planning, designing, sewing, and floral arranging. Anyone high school age or older is welcome. Contact Dennis Bero at 630-989-0758.
For the following ministries contact the parish office at 630-860-2975.
Altar Servers
This ministry is open to young people 5th grade and older. They assist the presider at weekend liturgies, and weddings. Training is provided.
Adult Altar Servers
Adult Altar Servers assist the presider during wedding and funeral Masses. Adults available on weekday and Saturday mornings serve as acolytes for funerals. Adults available on Saturday afternoons serve as acolytes for weddings. Adult Altar Servers also assist the presider during the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturdays. Training is provided. Commitment to this ministry is as your personal schedule permits. Couples often enjoy participating in this ministry.
Cross – Bearers
Cross-Bearers carry the processional cross during our liturgical celebrations. Volunteers must be of high school age or older and are welcome to sign up and be scheduled for the Mass they are attending.
Hospitality Ministry
Members of the Hospitality Ministry welcome people as they arrive, hand out a songbook, take the collection, seat people, acknowledge people as they leave, and clean up the worship space after Mass. This person must be both friendly and welcoming. It is also necessary that a minister of hospitality knows what to do in case of an emergency. Being able to think on your feet is a helpful quality for a person who chooses this service to the parish. It is open to church members who are high school and older. You may choose the week and the Mass at which you minister. It is a great ministry for families to do together. One-on-one training is provided.
Reader (Lectors)
Readers proclaim the Word of God at Mass by reading the Old and New Testament Scripture readings. Anyone gifted in public speaking, high school age and older, is invited to read the Word of God at liturgy. Training is provided. You can choose the Mass time at which you minister and substitutes are available if needed.
Eucharistic Minister
This minister serves the community by sharing with them the mystery that makes us one body, the Eucharist. They are entrusted with the special responsibility of assisting in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. High school age and above are welcome to be part of this ministry. Eucharistic ministers can choose the Mass time at which you minister. Substitutes may be called if the need arises. Training is provided.
Lay Presider
Parishioners help in presiding over Liturgy of the Hours, Communion Services and other prayer services, such as wake and cemetery services. Training is provided.
Sacristans
Sacristans work behind the scenes to ensure that our liturgies run smoothly. Prior to the Mass, they prepare the sacred vessels, linens, and vestments that will be used, and afterwards, they clean and put away all the sacred items.
Music Ministry
Cantors
Skilled singers lead the assembly in song for weekly and special liturgies. This ministry requires specialized vocal skills and an appreciable amount of training, which we are glad to provide. People interested in this ministry are welcome to make an appointment with the Music Director for an interview and further information.
Good News Singers
We are fortunate to have a family choir called The Good News Singers, which ministers at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, September through May. Choir rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7:00-8:30 p.m. If you like to sing and can make a commitment to the rehearsals you are cordially invited to share your voice with our parish community.
Instrumentalists
Skilled musicians accompany our cantors and choir for weekly and special liturgies. Attendance at all choir rehearsals is required. If you are a skilled instrumentalist and are interested in sharing your talent with the parish, you are welcome to make an appointment with the Parish Music Director for an audition and further information.
For more information contact Music Director, Tracy Monteleone at 630-860-2975.
Outreach Ministries
In Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 25, we read, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine you did it for me.”
Ministers of Care
The Ministers of Care bring Communion to those who cannot worship at Holy Ghost Church on Sundays due to illness or advanced age. In addition, ministers visit and pray with hospitalized patients and resident of several local nursing homes, offering them time and kind words. They bring the love of the parish community to those not able to come to Mass.
If you know of someone who is hospitalized or who would like to receive the Eucharist as an extension of the Sunday Eucharistic celebration at Holy Ghost, or if you feel that the Holy Spirit may be calling you to serve in this ministry, contact the Parish Office at 630-860-2975.
C.O.R.E. - Christian Outreach Effort
CORE is Holy Ghosts charitable action ministry. Its primary function is to give immediate assistance to people in need. CORE’s services start with our church community and then extend out to the local community in general. The assistance rendered by CORE is grounded in satisfying the three basic human needs for food, shelter and clothing.
Some of the ongoing programs conducted by CORE are:
- Holiday Meal Support - Provides assistance to families for Thanksgiving/ Christmas and Easter meals.
- Advent Giving Tree- Fulfills the special Christmas wishes of local children whose families require additional help for the holidays.
- Utility Assistance- Emergency one time financial assistance in urgent situations.
- Food Pantry-Supports local year round food distribution centers in Wood Dale and Bensenville.
These services, as well as others, are accomplished through the generous contributions of time and treasure of our parishioners. Our parish collection for CORE is usually taken on the 3rd Sunday of each month, but donations can be made at any time. Please indicate CORE on your check or envelope.
Anyone interested in helping with this Christian outreach ministry should call the Parish Office at 630-860-2975.
Faith, Hope, Love and Transitional Housing
The Faith, Hope and Love ministry, in collaboration with Bridge Communities, provides housing, education, and life’s necessities to help get single parents on the track to learning essential life skills.
The Faith, Hope and Love committee has come to the decision that for now we are going to end our relationship with Bridge communities which is also known as Faith, Hope and Love. Because of funding issues, several years of staffing issues, and the pandemic, constraints were put on our ability to recruit and train mentors. This does not mean that we would not be open to renewing a housing program in the future.
Thank all of you for your support of this ministry. The Faith, Hope and Love committee has decided that the remaining funds would be transferred to CORE to help the needy. If you would like to help with your time and your talent CORE is always looking for people to help. Please contact the office and we will get in touch with Marge Thomka who is the chair of the CORE committee.
We would like to thank all those who helped in any way that served with the Faith, Hope, Love Ministry and Transitional Housing.
Thank you again for your kind generosity!
