Confirmed adults may become sacristans. Sacristans commit to arriving about an hour before each Mass begins and to helping prepare for the celebration. The ministry requires a general knowledge of the Sacred Liturgy, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, and basic sacramental theology. Training is provided. The team of sacristans is responsible to the chief sacristan, who in turn is responsible to the clergy. The chief sacristan supervises the others and is responsible for the sacristies, the care of the precious objects and cleanliness and order within the church. Because the good order of the Sacred Liturgy depends on this ministry and because of the time required by this ministry, the sacristan ought to be treated with respect by all who minister at the altar. Contact: Michael Horvatin @ (907) 745-3229 ext. 14.

Confirmed teens and adults may serve in this important liturgical ministry. The priest’s hands are consecrated with sacred chrism so that he alone is the proper and ordinary minister of the Sacred Host. The deacon is also the ordinary minister of the chalice. Because “the harvest is abundant and the laborers few,” while praying the LORD of the harvest to grant us many more vocations to the Priesthood and Diaconate, we permit the ministry of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. These assist the priest and the deacons in the distribution of Holy Communion. Because of the holiness and extreme privilege of this ministry, E.M.H.C.s must be duly trained with due spiritual and practical preparation. If you would like to be trained: Contact: Michael Horvatin @ (907) 745-3229 ext. 14.

Youth and young adults, who have received their First Holy Communion, may be trained for this ministry. “It is altogether laudable to maintain the noble custom by which boys or youths, customarily termed servers, provide service of the altar after the manner of acolytes, and receive catechesis regarding their function in accordance with their power of comprehension” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, §47). The reason for this statement of the Holy See is that from the ranks of altar servers come a significant number of vocations to the Priesthood and Diaconate. The duty of an altar server is to assist the ordained clergy in their ministries at the altar. In addition to the office of serving the altar, this ministry includes the office of (1) thurible-bearer, (2) cross-bearer, (3) candle-bearer, and (4) book-bearer. If you are interested in being trained as an altar server: Contact: Deacon Harry Moore @ (907) 746-6369.

Teens and adults that are strong readers and able to proclaim the Word with passion before the assembly at Saturday and Sunday Mass may serve in this ministry. The order of lectors, from which the present office derives, received its form and beginning from the prophets. For it is the lectors who proclaim the word of God, to whom it is said: “Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!” (Isaiah 58:1). The reader must take time to read, reflect on and study the assigned reading prior to the Sacred Liturgy, so that the people may not suffer from a poor interpretation. The reader should perform his office with an authoritative, sufficiently loud, clear and distinct voice (for, he speaks on behalf of God Most High). The reader must take care to proclaim the reading in a sober and authentic tone, shunning any affectation or theatrics. If you would like to be trained for this ministry: Contact: Michael Horvatin @ (907) 745-3229 ext. 14.

People who enjoy singing and/or playing instruments are always needed for Mass on Saturday and Sunday, in addition to other community gatherings that take place throughout the year. Practices occur regularly, so, please, join our choirs and music groups. The ministry of cantors and of the choir is to assist the worship of the people gathered for the Sacred Liturgy. From the ancient custom of David, Asaph and the children of Asaph (1 Chronicles 25:1), the Church took up the example of fostering psalmists by whose chanting the minds of the hearers were stirred to the affection of God. The care of the cantor and choir is to be very clear and illustrious in voice and skill, as well as to nurture in their ministry a sound and melody fitting for sacred religion, demonstrating a Christian simplicity and directed towards producing, by the Truth of the Gospel, compunction in the hearers. If you are interested: Contact: Ashleigh Hecimovich @ (907) 745-3229.

The heads of the various ministries must be willing and able to commit to participating in committee meetings for the Sacred Liturgy so as to promote a reverent, devout and ‘smoothed-out’ sacrifice of praise. Contact: Michael Horvatin @ (907) 745-3229 ext. 14.