Liturgy & Church

“By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday.The liturgical celebration involves signs and symbols relating to creation (candles, water, fire), human life (washing, anointing, breaking bread) and the history of salvation (the rites of the Passover). Integrated into the world of faith and taken up by the power of the Holy Spirit, these cosmic elements, human rituals, and gestures of remembrance of God become bearers of the saving and sanctifying action of Christ.” From the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Read more: Catechism of the Catholic Church

Every weekend over 1400 people attend one of six Sunday masses: in English and Spanish, at our church or at the Brooksby Village chapel. Priests, deacons and lay people take active roles in worship so that we can all experience the presence of Christ in words, songs silence, and sacrament. Not a weekend has passed - even in the fiercest storms - when the Eucharist was not offered for the people of our parish. The Lord comes each time and waits for us to meet Him!

Among those participating in our weekly worship are Lectors, Communion Ministers, Altar Servers and Greeters/Ushers. These ministries are described below. Monthly schedules for these ministries can also be found below. For more information please contact Deacon Leo Martin at 978-826-7515.

Lectors - “When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the gospel.” (GIRM 29).(1) According to ancient tradition, and the teaching of the Church, the readings other than the Gospel are proclaimed by lay ministers called lectors.

Guidelines: Read more at usccb.org
Lector’s Schedule - Jun 28-29 - Sept 6-7 (PDF)

Communion Ministers are laypeople who volunteer to bring the Body and Blood of Christ to the community. Ministers serve as needed at liturgies, assisting the priest and/or deacon in distribution of Communion. They visit sick or homebound parishioners, bringing them Communion and making them feel a part of our parish community. Parishioners in nursing homes and hospitals are also visited by our homebound ministers.

Guidelines: View & Download PDF
Communion Ministers Schedule: Jul 26 through Aug 17 (PDF)

Youth Altar Servers - At a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (on October 17, 2007) to honor Altar Servers, Cardinal Sean O’Mally had this to say to Altar Servers: “Every time you serve at Mass you are helping Jesus to perform a miracle — He could perform that miracle without us, but he wants us to be a part of it,” and “At Mass, you are serving the greatest King of all.” “Jesus calls each of us to a lifetime of service… We are blessed to have so many young people so willing today to become active members of their parishes and to share their energy and talents with our Catholic faith community. Today we celebrate their accomplishments and their love of the Church through their important commitment to the Mass and parish life.”

There is a need for more boys and girls, fourth grade or older, to serve Mass on weekends and holydays. For more information about becoming an Altar Server at St. John’s contact Fr. Paul Coughlin.

Guidelines: Read more at usccb.org
Altar Server Schedule: June 21-22 - Aug 23-24(PDF)

Adult Altar Servers - Adult volunteers serve an hour or two a month, assisting our priests at funerals. Experience is not necessary, just a willing heart! Contact Phyllis Murphy 978-531-0007.

Ushers/Greeters are the doorkeepers in the house of the Lord, a friendly and welcoming presence to those coming to worship. This team of volunteers welcome parishoners, distribute worship aides and bulletins, take up collection and attend to parishioners needs at Mass.

Usher Schedule: View Usher Schedule (PDF)

At St. John’s we have a church with architecture that provides beautiful surroundings in which to worship. Many volunteers work to keep it beautiful for God and for God’s people.

Sanctuary Team clean the church sanctuaries, change altar linens, etc. There are special tasks such as cleaning candlesticks and other brass items, polishing pews, etc.

Sanctuary Team Schedule: 2007 - 2008 Schedule (PDF)

Linens/Vestments Care Team launder small and large linens used at Mass (corporals, etc.) and altar server albs, check the cleaning status of priest’s vestments, etc.

Linen Team Schedule: 2007 - 2008 Schedule (PDF)

Baptismal Robes Team make robes given to children at baptism. Rita April is the contact person, and can be reached at 978-535-4380.

Seasonal Church Decorators help in the decorations of the church for seasonal and for special liturgies.

Flowers and Plants Team (Green Team) care for the plants and flowers in the upper and lower churches, i.e., watering, pruning, fertilizing, etc.

• Greeters / Ushers
• Lectors
• Communion Ministers
• Pastoral Visitors
• Adult Altar Servers: Contact Phyllis Murphy
• Youth Altar Servers: Contact Fr. Paul Coughlin

• Sanctuary Cleaning Team
• Linens/Vestments Care Team
• Seasonal Church Decorators
• Baptismal Robes Team: Contact Rita April at (978) 535-4380
• Flowers and Plant Team (Green Team): Contact Fr. John