Welcome to Our Parish Web Site!

The Church of St. Patrick
A Roman Catholic Faith Community
123 South Massey Street, Watertown, New York 13601
(315) 782-6086
Fax: (315) 788-4059
General Information: pastoralcenter@westelcom.com

St. Patrick's Church offers many opportunities for lay parishioners to meet their Baptismal vocation and the call of the Second Vatican Council to be full, active and conscious members of our community.

Contact the Pastor or Deacons to become involved.
Is there a ministry you are interested in pursuing for the parish
that you do not find listed? Tell us what it is!

Ministry Areas:

Vocation = Calls from God through the intercession of the Holy Spirit to active Ordained, Vowed and Commissioned ministry in the Church:

· Priesthood                                                                                    · Diaconate

· Religious Sister or Brother                                                            · Commissioned Lay Ministry
 

Speak with Father LaBaff or Deacon Kevin or visit the Diocesan Vocation Office website or Formation for Ministry web for more information.

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Governance and Parish support = Participation in committees of the Parish advising the Pastor on matters of importance to the life of the parish:

· Pastoral Council:  Read the most recent Council minutes available -    Next Meeting June 24

· Finance Council - Next meeting - June 24th     Download a copy of the Parish FY 06-07 Financial Report by clicking here.

· Liturgy and Worship Committee    Next meeting  - to be announced

· Marriage and Family Life Committee    Next meeting - to be announced

· Buildings and Grounds    Next meeting - June 18th

· Altar and Rosary Society  - Next meeting - activities resume in September 2008
       

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Liturgy and Worship = ministers assist the priest and deacon with the celebration of Eucharist and other liturgical activities:

Ministry Schedules for May 31st through September 7th

By Service                                    By Minister

Thank you for your help with this scheduling effort and for your ministry service at St. Patrick's.

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· Special ministers of communion (Eucharist Minister) during Mass, Communion Services, visitations to a hospital, nursing home or to shut-ins.

· Reader (Lector) of the Sacred Scripture during Mass and other services

· Altar Server—3rd grade to young adult - Interested in serving at the Lord's Altar? Speak with Deacon Kevin

· Adult Altar Server (during weekday Mass and at funerals): See Deacon Kevin

· Music Ministry—choir, cantor, instrumentalist  -New voices and musicians are always welcomed. Contact Ticia Marra after Mass this weekend or call the Pastoral Center. Regular choir rehearsals are held Sunday mornings prior to 10 a.m. Mass.

· Greeter -  Welcome parishioners and visitors to our liturgies with a smile and a warm hello.

· Usher - assist greeters, collect offerings, distribute occasional ballots and pamphlets and assist with seating at major liturgical events; i.e. Christmas Family Mass, Good Friday.

· Collection Counter - rotating teams of volunteers who tally the parish offering each weekend and prepare Parish deposit

· Refreshments for fellowship following Mass -  Set up / clean up refreshment area for hospitality time after Sunday liturgies.

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Catechesis and Catholic Education – Ministers are involved in the formation and preparation of young people and adults in the doctrines and practices of our church and preparation for the reception of the Sacraments:

· Catechist to children: Religious education is offered to children in grades K-8 who attend public schools. The classes begin in September and run through mid-May. Classes meet every Sunday morning from 9:00-9:50 in the Pastoral Center located behind the church.

· Catechist to adults—RCIA:    The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is coordinated by Sister Mary William, S.S.J. and a team of catechists from St. Patrick’s and St. Anthony’s. The journey to full communion through reception of the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation begins with Inquiry. Please call the Pastoral Center to arrange a meeting, 782-6086.

If you are interested in becoming a catechist, please contact Fr. Arthur LaBaff, Pastor, or Deacon Kevin Mastellon, Pastoral Associate, at the Pastoral Center, 782-6086.

· Children’s Liturgy- Pre-school and elementary school children participate at Children's Liturgy each Sunday during 10 am Mass.  Volunteers are needed. Call the Pastoral Center for more information.

· Nursery:  We have begun planning to reinstitute a nursery program during the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Liturgy for infants and very young children (3 year or younger.) We are currently searching for an adult coordinator for the program. If you are interested call Felicia Sinclair at the Pastoral Center, 782-6086.

· Catholic School teacher:  All hiring and placement of teachers for the Immaculate Heart Central School District is done by the district. Click on Catholic Schools in the selections above to learn more about opportunities in our pre-school through 12^th grade Catholic School system.

· Catholic School Board:  Please contact Fr. Arthur LaBaff, Pastor,  if you have an interest in serving on the IHC Catholic School Board.

· Catholic School administration: Administrative hiring and placement of administrators for the Immaculate Heart Central School District is done by the district. Click on Catholic Schools in the selections above to learn more about opportunities in our pre-school through 12^th grade Catholic School system.

· Baptismal preparation for parents: A one hour baptismal preparation is required before a child will be baptized at St. Patrick’s. Please contact Deacon Kevin Mastellon, Pastoral Associate, (782-6086).

· Confirmation:  This two year program prepares students in grades 9 and 10 for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Classes meet twice a month on Sunday from 11:00- 12:00 in the Pastoral Center.

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Family Life – Ministers are involved in those aspects of Parish life which strengthen the faith of the domestic church:

· Marriage preparation  - Married couples assist with marriage prep by serving as sponsor couples. These couples meet with engaged couples to assist with their preparation for reception of the Sacrament of Matrimony. 

· Dinner for Two    Your marriage can not be taken for granted.  Remember: you are a couple first ! Engaged and married couples are invited to attend  DINNER FOR 2 sponsored by the Parish semi-annually. Reservations are required. 
 

· Pro-Life Activities     All of our Family Life activities are grounded in the Catholic belief  in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death

· Elizabeth Ministry is a woman-to-woman outreach which focuses on the childbearing years. Women visit and share with others facing similar experiences., a like-to like ministry. The areas of Elizabeth Ministry include, but are not limited to, pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, infant or child death, crisis or special needs, adoption, fertility and infertility. Referral forms are available at the Pastoral Center and here. For more information, visit the international organization site www.elizabethministry.com. or contact Kathy Mastellon through the Pastoral Center.

Do you crochet, knit, sew? Volunteers are needed to make craft items such as baby bonnets, booties, fleece blankets, and prayer shawls. Contact the Pastoral Center for more information.

· Sacred Steps     Special cards and gifts are prepared for our littlest members to celebrate first to fourth birthdays and three successive years of the anniversary of their baptism.     When your little one receives a card, stop to see Fr. LaBaff or Deacon Kevin Mastellon after Mass so they can celebrate with you and your child. 

· Ministry to Shut-ins (including nursing and transportation) Members of the parish staff and lay ministers routinely visit with those who are ill or convalescing at home or in the hospital or other facilities to share God’s Word and Eucharist. If you know of someone who is unable to attend Mass due to illness please contact the Pastoral Center at 782-6086. Occasionally our lay ministers will provide transportation to parishioners requiring a trip to a doctor’s office or to a pharmacy. A new ministry being developed at St. Patrick’s is intended to reflect the compassionate healing love of Jesus Christ through the promotion of health and wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Watch for further details on our Parish Nurse Ministry.       

· Bereavement Team: Members of the Bereavement Team assist families at their time of loss to prepare for the funeral liturgy .  Our team can also assist families with post funeral luncheons for out-of-town mourners.  Volunteers are always needed. Contact Felicia Sinclair at the Pastoral Center for information on how you might help.

· Parish social events (family picnic, dinner dances etc.) St. Patrick’s promotes the social aspects of our faith community by sponsoring a number of events throughout the year. Watch our bulletin for details.

· Young Adult Ministries: Check the Diocesan page at http://www.dioogdensburg.org/Youngadultministry/upevents.html

· Scouting: We support the work of our Diocese to foster the development of young people through Scouting. St. Patrick’s does not currently sponsor a troop for boys or girls.

· Card Ministry Those from our parish who are sick at home or in the hospital are consoled through the prayers of all our parishioners. Members of our Card Ministry see that those among us who are ill receive a prayer card from us to let them know they are remembered in our prayers.

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Social Justice – Ministers proclaim the Gospel message of love through their involvement in various parish and community activities:

· Parish Nurse Ministry - Contact Barbara O'Brien through the Pastoral Center for information on this new parish ministry. Watch for schedule of Blood Pressure screenings after weekend Masses at St. Patrick's. 

· Hospital Ministry - Remind friends and family to tell hospital officials they are Catholic and parishioners of St. Patrick's if they want parish staff to visit.  It also helps to call the Pastoral Center to ensure Father and the Deacons know when a friend or loved one is hospitalized. Ask at Pastoral Center if you would like to assist with hospital ministry.

· Nursing Home Ministry- St. Patrick's Eucharistic Ministers conduct a weekly service and distribute Eucharist at Samaritan Keep, Mercy Center and Angel's Inn. Contact the Pastoral Center for details on how you can help with this ministry to those in area nursing homes.

· Dollar Dinners- Watch for new schedule in Fall.

· Watertown Urban Mission- volunteers are always welcome. Please call the Urban Mission or the Pastoral Center for more information on how you can help out.

· LifeRight- Contact Pastoral Center for local contacts.

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Parish Life – Ministers support the work of the parish through various activities centered on the daily life of the parish community. We invite you to call the Pastoral Center to volunteer your stewardship of TIME.

· Church cleaning  - rotating teams of volunteers who vacuum, sweep and dust the Church in preparation for weekend liturgies.

· Special events planning and execution, i.e. set-up, cooks, waiters and waitresses - Our parish sponsors a number of events each year to celebrate our heritage and community as parish. Most events are held at Immaculate Heart Central Intermediate School. Kitchen help, wait staff and clean up crews are always looking for additional volunteers.

· Parish office assistance

· Parish Web site development & maintenance

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Comments and questions on this web site can be directed to kbmastell@twcny.rr.com

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