Our parish community is richly blessed by the ministry groups which enhance and enrich so many aspects (the visible and not so visible) of our parish life. During this Year of Community, we will focus on a number of these. After the moving and deeply transforming liturgies over the Easter Triduum and during Lent and Holy Week, it seems appropriate that as a worshipping community we bring our focus on and give thanks to those who planned these liturgies and brought them to fruition.

The Liturgy Committee is a group of just five parishioners and the two Carmelites. All the liturgically associated activity falls within the committee’s responsibilities. These include:

• Music Ministry
• Reading Ministry
• Eucharistic Ministry
• Newsletter Reflection writers
• Communion Service Ministry
• Sacristan Ministry
• Data Projection Ministry
• Communion to the Sick
• Liturgical environment.

The committee oversees the induction and formation of those within each ministry; coordinates the annual Ministry Sunday; supports the volunteer roster coordinators – this includes briefing them on needs for Feast days and the Liturgical Seasons and through a process of reflection and discernment the theme for each Liturgical Season – Advent, Lent – is identified. This is then interpreted through the prayers and reflections, the music selection and the church environment setting.

Key in deliberations of the committee is the Carmelite charism of Contemplation, Prayer and Service as stated in the OLMC Vision Statement:
Inspired by the Gospels and charism of the Carmelite tradition, and living in Resurrection hope, we seek to fulfil our mission by partnering with Jesus in transforming the world by • Being a vibrant, worshipping community, seeking to deepen our spirituality • Welcoming and supporting one another in our shared journey of faith…

The committee is supported by the most amazing group of people from within our community. These people generously volunteer their time, energy, vision, and faith experience to enable our parish to flourish as a ‘vibrant worshipping community.’

Within the Liturgical Ministries are two not so visible but invaluable ministries.

The Sacristans
This is a small group, who volunteer to set up for each of the Liturgical Celebrations each weekend. They come early for Mass, prepare the altar and the other necessities for us to gather and worship prayerfully. At the end of Mass, they put everything away, close the church and head home. It is a very Christ like role – almost unseen and maybe taken for granted. Yet it is essential, allowing the community to pray without distraction and the Celebrant to confidently lead our Eucharistic Celebration. They are a treasure for our community.
  
The Facilitators for the Ministry of the Word.
Every Thursday evening those who have volunteered to read at the weekend Masses gather to prayerfully study the scripture passages that form the weekend readings. Each Thursday one person prepares and leads this reflection; guides the group in understanding the scripture background, allows for a quiet contemplation of these and proposes the most helpful way to proclaim the readings for the community’s understanding. The Facilitators – as we call them – carefully prepare, come ready to guide the group and thus help the wider community to benefit from the Scriptures proclaimed at the Masses. This is a hidden ministry. Not seen or noted by many but essential to our depth of understanding in the way our scriptures are proclaimed each weekend.
Our ministry groups are the strength of our community, and our community is as strong as it is because of them. Let’s celebrate them all in this year.

Jane Connolly
Chair of Parish Advisory Council