LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
“Charity, justice, and evangelization are thus the normal consequences of liturgical celebration. Particularly inspired by sung participation, the body of the Word Incarnate goes forth to spread the Gospel with full force and compassion.” Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, #9
At Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, we hold firm that the liturgy is the source and summit of our lives. Not only do we gather for spiritual nourishment, we gather to celebrate the good work we have done throughout the week. We gather to encounter the Risen Christ in the Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, and in one another – the Church as she prays and sings.
Sunday worship at Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is a place where all are welcomed with a warm and kind embrace. Not only is this a parish in which we share our faith – but we embrace a vision of hope and love for our community!
Getting Involved
We are always looking for parishioners to exercise their baptismal call and serve in one of our liturgical ministries. If you are interested in any of the following ministries, or interested in discerning your role in the liturgy, please fill out the liturgical ministry interest form [see button below] or contact our director of sacred music and liturgy, Michael Ruzicki, With all of our ministries, you will be contacted about a time for training and formation before you serve.
An Invitation from our Director
In 2021, the communities of Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes merged into one canonical parish. The archdiocesan Renew My Church initiative has invited us to imagine a faith family that gathers to “celebrate vibrant, transformational liturgies.” To achieve this, we must be intentional and deliberate.
As I travel around the country giving workshops about liturgy, music, and parish leadership, I have experienced many vibrant, vital communities. What do they have in common? The liturgies themselves are truly vibrant and vital. They nurture our call to discipleship and propel us into mission. They are heart-warming yet, challenging. They are solemn, yet festive. The preparation and celebration of liturgy is both intentional and deliberate.
These vibrant liturgies transform us so that we may go forth and transform our families, neighborhoods, and the world.
The fruit of liturgy celebrated well is that we are thrust forth, on fire with our faith, to do the good works that Christ has commanded of us. Jesus did not say “leave,” to his disciples. He said, “Go! Make disciples of all nations.” We are reminded of this at the conclusion of each and every liturgy. Go!
I invite you to think more about your participation in the Sunday liturgy. What is your experience of the Catholic Mass? In what ways do you feel the presence of Christ in the sacramental celebrations? What keeps you coming back to church Sunday after Sunday?
After the Second Vatican Council convened, the bishops of the world published The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in 1963. It is profound that this first document focused on the way in which the Church celebrates the Mass and the Sacraments. By reason of our common baptism, we have the right and responsibility to be fully conscious and active in the way we participate in sacred worship.
Consider what it means for us to a Eucharistic people. Strive to uncover the mysteries we celebrate at the liturgy. Seek out Christ who is fully present in these celebrations.
As we build a vibrant and vital community, I invite you to consider the ways in which you contribute to a vibrant and vital liturgical experience. What helps you center yourself for worship? What aspects of the liturgy rouse your heart for transformation? What hinders your full participation? What can we do, as a community, to help you fully enter into our sacramental celebrations?
We invite you to exercise your baptismal responsibilities by serving as a liturgical minister. This is not about volunteering your time, but answering a call that will serve your brothers and sisters. Our full participation in the liturgy leads others to a transformation of heart and mind.
Consider if you are being called to any of the following ministries… Lectors proclaim Sacred Scripture. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist at Sunday Mass. Musicians lead us in songs of comfort, psalms of praise, and hymns of joy. Sacristans prepare our sacred space and attend to the details of liturgy. The Welcoming Committee invites guests and strangers into our family of faith. If you have participated in any of these roles in the past, whether in our parish or in a previous community, consider how you may serve here and now.
Finally, we all carry out the most important liturgical ministry when we participate as a member of the Eucharistic assembly. It is our right and our responsibility to participate in the ritual gestures, prayers, responses, songs, and silence of the liturgy. When intentional and deliberate about this role, we celebrate vibrant liturgies capable of transforming hearts and mind… and that has the ability to transform our world!
If you are called to serve at the Eucharistic liturgy in any way, contact me at mruzicki@saintmarys.org to start the conversation.
-Michael Ruzicki
Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music
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Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Claudia SanchezLos Angelitos Children's Choir
The Los Angelitos Children's Choir is a ministry made up of children and teenagers aged 7 to 17 who serve God and the parish community through song and music.
Through their voices and instruments, the children help the congregation participate in and experience Holy Mass more deeply, learning that singing is also a form of prayer and service.
Rehearsals
Voices and instruments:
Fridays: 6:30–7:45 p.m.
Saturdays: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Singing rehearsal:
Wednesdays: 6:30–7:15 p.m.
Liturgical service
The choir animates the liturgy on the third weekend of each month:
Saturday: 6:30 p.m. Mass
Sunday: 12:30 p.m. Mass
If your son or daughter likes to sing or play an instrument and wants to serve in the Church, this ministry is for you.
We look forward to seeing you!
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Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Claudia SanchezSanta Cecilia Choir
“Christ is present when the Church prays and sings” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 7)
Singing is a living and essential part of our liturgy. Week after week, our parish music ministers help us pray through songs of comfort, psalms of praise, and hymns filled with joy. By singing together, we make Christ present among his people.
We invite you to join the Santa Cecilia Choir, a ministry open to all who wish to serve God and the community through music.
Choir – 12:30 p.m. Mass
The choir leads the 12:30 p.m. Mass every second and fourth Sunday of the month. No previous experience is required. The only thing necessary is to be able to hold a melody. If you can read music or learn by listening to recordings, you are welcome!
Would you like to try it out without a long-term commitment? That is also possible. We understand that schedules change and that unforeseen circumstances can arise.
Rehearsals:
Second and fourth Sundays of the month, at 11:30 a.m., before Mass.
Throughout the year, additional rehearsals are organized during the week, depending on the group's availability.
Choir members have access to sheet music and recordings and are asked to review the hymns before each rehearsal or celebration.
Instrumentalists
If you play an instrument (wind, string, piano, or organ) and would like to collaborate, you are welcome to participate in any of our weekend liturgies.
Singers
If you have experience as a singer and feel called to lead the assembly in liturgical singing, we would also love to have you.
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Language: English
Staff Contact: Michael RuzickiThe Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (7) states that Christ is present “when the Church prays and sings.” This is an awe-filled reality of our Catholic worship. Week after week, our music ministers lead us in singing songs of comfort, psalms of praise, and hymns of joy. We invite you to explore our parish’s music ministry opportunities:
10:30am Choir – Our choir sings each Sunday at 10:30am Mass. While no experience is necessary, potential choir members must be able to hold a melody. Whether you can read music or learn through recordings, you are welcome to join. If you are new and want to give choir a try without any long-term commitment, that works, too! While we strive to have a choir year-round, we understand that individual schedules vary and conflicts arise. We meet at 10:00am each Sunday to review music. Choir members have access to music and recordings and are asked to review hymns before arriving. Throughout the year, we hold occasional weeknight rehearsals based on everyone’s availability.
Instrumentalists – If you play an instrument (woodwind, string, piano/organ), and would like to get involved, we will welcome you at any of our weekend liturgies.
Cantors –If you have experience as a singer and feel called to lead the assembly in liturgical singing, we would also love to have you.
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Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Gabriel MayhughOur community relies on a group of dedicated parishioners who take care of setting up for our liturgical celebrations. In addition to opening and locking the church, sacristans prepare the liturgical books, sacred vessels, and other important elements needed for the celebration of the liturgy.
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Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Sr. Claudia SanchezThe altar server group is a community of children, adolescents, and young adults who joyfully and responsibly serve Jesus at the altar and assist the priest in the celebration of Holy Mass and other liturgical celebrations.
Their main mission is to serve with love, respect, and devotion, collaborating so that celebrations are conducted with order, beauty, and reverence. Through this service, altar servers learn to love the Eucharist more, to grow in faith, and to live values such as responsibility, obedience, respect, and teamwork.
Being an altar server is not just “helping at Mass,” but responding to Jesus' call to be closer to Him, learning to serve others, and setting an example with their behavior inside and outside the church.
The altar server group is also a school of human and Christian formation, where children and young people strengthen their friendship with Jesus, learn to pray, become more familiar with the liturgy, and live their faith with joy and commitment.
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Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact:
Michael Ruzicki - English
Sr. Mayra Jimenez - SpanishPope Francis said “the Eucharist is meant to nourish those who are tired and hungry along the journey, let’s not forget this! The Eucharist is not the reward of saints, but the bread of sinners.” Week after week, we are nourished by the Eucharistic feast. For us to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, we require several Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communio for each Mass.
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Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact:
Gabriel Mayhugh - English
Fr. Jesus Romero - SpanishFirst and foremost, welcome ministers are hospitality ministers. They put a face onto the parish by being the first person to greet all who enter our church. While we greet many parishioners each week, we recognize that others may be visiting. It is their task to give a warm greeting and help everyone feel welcomed. These individuals also assist with taking up the weekly collection by serving as ushers.
The Welcome Lead is trained to oversee Welcome Ushers and the flow of liturgical services. The Welcome Lead oversees the communal action by welcoming people to the service, taking up the collection, recruiting gift bearers to take up the gifts, and directing the communion procession when needed.
Together with the Welcome Lead, the Welcome Ushers participate in the parish liturgical ministry and are to be models of participation in the worship as they assist in creating a prayerful atmosphere and ensures a dignified flow to the liturgy. A sense of cheerful service is essential to allow for reverent silence, prayer, and purposeful action.
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Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact:
Michael Ruzicki - English
Fr. Jesus Romero - SpanishAs we gather each week for the celebration of the Eucharist, the faithful are also fed at the Table of the Word. At liturgy, Christ is present in the Sacred Scripture that is proclaimed. Our parish lectors are more than individuals that read from the Bible, they are proclaimers of a living and effective Word.