Altar Servers:
There are 65 altar servers in our parish, these are youth from fifth grade thru high school. New training for the servers is in September of each year. The servers commit to serve for a year and serve in teams of four. They serve at all of the masses and are also available to serve at weddings when asked.
This is a hard working dedicated group of young men and women who assist our priests and deacons as they say mass.
Benedictine Oblates:
Benedictine Oblates are lay men and women who seek to deepen their relationship with God, self others and creation through formation in Benediction spirituality. They apply monastic values of Saint Benedict's Rule to extend Jesus to the world.
Saint Joseph oblates join area Benedictions five times per year for study and prayer. They attend an annual retreat day at Saint Mary's Monastery in Rock Island. There are 5 parishioners, and one candidate, as Oblates offering themselves in prayer, scripture study, hospitality and other Benedictine values.
The Oblates sponsor "Gifts for Jesus" during Advent reaching all parishioners through the bulletin.
Charismatic Prayer Group:
This group of 9 prayerful people meet every Tuesday at 7 pm for Praise, Worship and Scripture. The place of meeting may be found in the bulletin.
They come together to praise, to intercede for the body of Christ and to glorify God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Everyone is welcome to come and pray. If you need more information please contact Else Shaw or Karen McLoughlin.
Choirs At Saint Joseph's
Saint Joseph's Parish is blessed to have two choirs providing music to compliment and enhance liturgical celebrations.
The Adult Choir sings at Sunday Mass from the first of October through Pentecost Sunday as well as many special services. Some of those include: Deacon Mass of Thanksgiving, the Knights of Columbus, Veterans Day, the Elizabeth Ministries, First Communion and Confirmation as well as Anniversary Masses and some Baptisms. The choir also sings for special occasion Masses upon request. This choir has practice on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m..
The Resurrection Choir ministers through music to the families and friends of the deceased in their time of bereavement at absolutely no fee. The repertoire consists of over 50 selections ranging from traditional hymns to more contemporary pieces. Since founded, this choir has sung for 184 funerals at Saint Joseph's as well as other parishes in the Diocese of Peoria that have no music available for funerals in their parish. This choir has practice when needed, usually on a Saturday morning.
Cantors at Saint Joseph's are dedicated, talented volunteers that serve the parish by leading the congregation in song and praise at week-end and Holy Day Masses. Currently we have 10 cantors serving through song.
Membership in both the adult choir and the resurrection choir is open to all parishioners who are interested in ministering through music. It is not necessary to read music to participate in either of there choirs.
If you are interested in either or both of these choirs, contact on of the following: Kevin Stark, Music Minister/Organist at 346-1647 or Kathy Guy, Choir Director at 347-6665.
The Joyful Sounds are also a member of the Music Ministry of the Parish.
Elizabeth Ministry:
The Elizabeth Ministry is in its fourth year at Saint Joseph. This year this Ministry served approximately 15 mothers and families.
Training is offered by the Diocese and 29 women have gone through this training. There is also a core group which consists of 7 women, two are new this year, that take care of planning and other administration details.
Fund raisers include the sale of Father David's Rosary CD and Mothers Day corsages. This ministry also sponsors the women's softball team and the Memorial Mass for those who suffered a child death or miscarriage. This annual event will be held this year on November 14th. Pregnancy blessing are also given on the third weekend of each month.
To increase awareness of this Ministry they speak at RCIA and at baptism classes. This is not a Ministry just about the needs of a family and/or the mother this Ministry is a parish celebration as well as a parish support system for those in need.
First Saturday Devotion:
The request for this devotion was first revealed by Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, Portugal to three shepherd children on July 13, 1917. Mary then appeared with the Child Jesus to Sr. Lucia, the last living seer of Fatima, in the Dorothean Convent in Pontevedra, Spain in 1925 to enlarge upon Her request at Fatima for the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. Those who faithfully make this devotion, with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are promised at the hour of death all the graces needed for salvation.
Please join this ministry every First Saturday of the month beginning with Holy Mass at 8:00 am, and continuing with Exposition of the most Blessed Sacrament recitation of the Rosary, Fatima prayers, and procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.
Funeral Luncheon Ministry:
This ministry helps in the healing process when someone passes on. Many families request that a funeral lunch be served in the parish center and that when they serve. This past year 10 luncheons were catered to a total of 683 people. They also mailed out 56 sympathy.
Funeral Servers:
The funeral servers served 43 funeral masses last year. This is a group of 13 active servers most received refreshment training during the past year.
Mission Society:
The purpose of this Ministry is to include all parishioners who are unable to attend mass and participate in the active life of the parish. A membership certificate, signed by our pastor, is given to them. The certificate includes a prayer. We ask that the member say this prayer for their Saint Joseph parishioner.
Anyone knowing of a person in need of this Ministry please contact the parish secretary. To date 639 Saint Joseph Mission Society Certificates have been given.
Parish Nursing and the Health And Wellness Ministry:
The parish nurse and the seven volunteers who serve this ministry have strived to meet their goal of improving the health of our parish family, promote health education, and to minister to our parish family in time of illness, crisis, or life changes.
They have served 202 people in our parish this year with acts of service, support, and ministry. 119 people were screened for Hypertension. The Parish Nurse maintains office hours on Thursdays from 10 a.m.-Noon. Parishioners are welcome to contact the nurse during these office hours.
The parish nurse does Eucharistic Minister visits to Pekin Hospital two Thursdays month. Medical equipment donated by parishioners has been delivered to people in our parish.
This ministry also provided many educational including: Stroke Awareness Sunday, Organ Donation Education Program and Cardiac Risk Profiles. The Saint Joseph Relay for Life Team raised over $2,000.00 and provided prayer support for parishioners coping with cancer.
In cooperation with the Peoria Diocese, over the past year our Caring Presence Volunteer Program has been developed and implemented. They started with 10 volunteers to serve those facing the end of life. There are now 8 active volunteers who have to date served 5 families. Anyone in need of this ministry should call the parish nurse.
Prayer Ministry:
This ministry helps make us more aware and caring for our"church family's" needs and brings us closer together as the Body of Christ.
There are approximately 20-25 prayer warriors with additional prayer warriors on the internet and the homebound(about 35).
A request list is written about every two weeks and given to the warriors. This list is also sent by e-mail and given to the homebound.
Prayers are requested by word of mouth, phone(on the prayer extension line), and Father often has requests at morning mass. Requests are also written in the Book of Intentions(at the Church) which are remembered in general intercessions at morning mass.
Saint Vincent De Paul:
Your Saint Vincent De Paul Society is all about listening " to the call of the poor." This past year the Society has served over 10,000 people in Tazewell County. In the past three years your parish food pantry has distributed enough food to feed every man, woman and child in the City of Pekin.
This has only been accomplished by your prayers, and you generous gifts of food and cash donations.
This ministry is in need of caring men and women who have a true calling to serve those among us who are less fortunate. If you feel the call and have time during our pantry hours(M-W-F: 9-11:30) and would like to answer the call of the poor please join us.
Stewardship:
Once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option. A Christian steward is one who receives God's gifts gratefully and shares them with others.
Jesus not only calls people to Him but also forms them and sends them out in His service. Being sent on a mission is a consequence of being a disciple.
Here at Saint Joseph's we have many opportunities to participate in the Body of Christ, his Church. With over 40 Ministries there is surely something for everyone. Get involved become a disciple of Christ.