| Liturgical Ministries | ||
| Liturgy Committee | Liturgy includes the set forms for the rites, ceremonies, prayers, and sacraments that comprise the communal, as opposed to private, worship in the Church. The goal of the liturgy team at Saint Paul parish is to develop the worship and sacramental life of the parish so that all are nourished in faith and invited to full participation in the liturgy and prayer life of the church. The liturgy committee works within the guidelines of the church for liturgy to establish a consistent, prayerful, and inviting liturgy for each Mass. This includes planning for each of the seasons of the church year. Meetings: The Liturgy Team meets on the 1st Tuesday of every month in the Rectory. | Contact: Maria Stanton, Director of Liturgy Phone: 301-253-2027 x106 Email: mstanton@stpauldamascus.org |
| Lectors | Lectors proclaim the Sacred Scripture so that the community of faith may hear the Word of God. Lectors are people of faith who have good communication skills and develop the ability to announce the Word of God at the Liturgies to the whole community. Meetings: Training for this ministry occurs twice a year. Lectors usually serve twice a month at the Mass of their choice. |
Contact: Stephanie Caffrey Phone: 301-801-1422 |
| Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion | Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the clergy in the distribution of Communion at Mass. They also bring the Lord's Eucharistic presence to the homebound and are arranged as needed through Pastoral Care to the Sick. Candidates for this ministry must be at least 18 years of age; fully initiated (i.e., have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist); leading a life of faith in harmony with this ministry; in good standing under Canon Law (e.g., not in an irregular marriage); The most important qualification is a special love for the Eucharist. Training takes place generally twice a year - in the Fall and Spring. | Contact: Barbara Zellers Phone: 301-253-3064. |
| Art and Environment | The function of the Art and Environment Committee is the creation of a meaningful environment that will stimulate all the senses and help promote an understanding of the liturgy. The environment changes with each liturgical season and on special Feast and Holy days. Volunteers set up and take down the decorations with each change of season or special day. Do you have a flair for flowers, plants, and decorating? Consider offering those skills for the glory of God's house. Adults and teens are welcome to volunteer. | Contact: Patti Hinkle Phone: 301-414-2359 |
| Altar Servers | Boys and girls, from fourth grade through high school, are encouraged to volunteer for the very important ministry of assisting the priest and deacon at the altar. Training is provided, and volunteers are signed up in the fall and spring. | Contact: Deacon Maury Huguley Phone: 301- 253-6574 |
| Liturgy of the Word For Children | Children's Liturgy of the Word is an opportunity for adults to share their faith with children whose ages range from 4 through 11 years. A prayer leader reads the Sunday readings to the children from a Children's lectionary, and then spends time with the children sharing the message from the readings. This is done during Liturgy of the Word during the Mass. Children are dismissed with their prayer leader to a separate prayer space. No formal training is required. Interested prayer leaders meet with the coordinator to cover goals, objectives and logistics. Anyone interested is welcome to participate in an existing Children's Liturgy to prayerfully discern his or her level of involvement. Prayer leaders and assistants are always needed and welcomed. The schedules are based on the leaders or assistant's availability. Any level of involvement is appreciated. Detailed recommendations for activities or discussion are provided each week, so that Prayer Leaders can independently decide where to lead the discussion with the children. Anyone interested should attend a Children's Liturgy of the Word at a Sunday Mass. Currently, Children's Liturgy of the Word is provided at 9:00AM and 11:00AM Masses. |
Contact: Elizabeth Browning Phone: 301-576-4082 Email: eabrowning@yahoo.com |
| Ushers/Greeters | The primary goal of the Usher/Greeter ministry is to greet all who enter the church and care for them during the liturgy. It is important that all who attend services feel welcome and comfortable. The Usher/ Greeters will assist anyone who may have special needs and take care of the logistical requirements as needed (e.g. taking up collections, guiding, handing out bulletins, etc.). In the event of an emergency, the Usher/ Greeters will insure the safety and wellbeing of all in attendance. |
Contact: John Hughes, Usher and Greeter Coordinator Phone: 301-253-1175, 301-253-4507 Email: hughesdamascus@aol.com |
| Sacristan Ministry | Sacristans are responsible for setting up the sacred vessels, and for coordinating and cleaning those vessels used in the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ for liturgies on weekdays, weekends, and for special occasions. The requirements are to be a member of the parish in good standing, to have the desire to serve your fellow parishioners in the Ministry, and to have been previously commissioned as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. The sacristan also coordinates with the director of Liturgy to make sure the sacristy is adequately supplied. Training will be provided as needed. | Contact: Jim Serritella Phone: 301-253-3600 |
| Alter Linen Care | Care for the linens for the altar. | Contact: Jean Schreffler Phone: 301-253-2569 |
| Drama Ministry | Be involved in the Christmas Pageant or Living Stations of the Cross performances. Acting, singing, non-speaking parts, set design, costumes/makeup, script preparation, lighting/sound, etc. | Contact: Peggy Hall 301-540- |
| RETURN TO TOP | ||
| Music | ||
| Cantors | Cantors serve a major role in the liturgical celebrations by leading the congregation in sung prayer. Cantor training and rehearsal is provided as needed. Music and recorded CD's are provided to assist the cantor in preparing for ministry. | Contact: Maria Stanton, Director of Liturgy Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: MStanton@stpauldamascus.org |
| Children's Choir | The Children's Choir is for all children, kindergarten through 6th grade. The Children's Choir leads the singing at mass on a monthly basis. There are usually two field trips a year and a fabulous pool party in June. Meetings: The Children's Choir meets each Tuesday evening, from 7:00 to 8:00PM in the Main Church |
Contact: Gina Delgandio, Children's Choir Director Phone: 301-703-4248 Email: delgandio@verizon.net |
| Teen Choir | Teens from 8th Grade through High School who lead the congregation is music. This is generally done once a month, usually at the 5:00PM mass. Practice is on Wednesdays from 5:30PM-6:30PM. | Contact: TBD Phone: 301-253-2027 |
| Adult Choir | The adult choir is primarily responsible for enhancing the 9:00AM liturgy through traditional and contemporary sacred music, sung in harmony. Soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices are welcomed. No auditions are required, nor is the ability to read music essential to joining. Practices are held Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30PM in the church from September to June. Easter and Christmas celebrations usually require special music and additional voices are always needed for these days. | Contact: Jack Talamo, Director Contact: Mary Beth Talamo, accompanist/keyboardist Phone: 301-253-4457 |
| Four the Spirit Band | The Four the Spirit Band provides contemporary music at the Liturgy of the Eucharist each week during the school year. Practices are held each Monday at 7:00PM at the Church or in a member's home when needed. The band usually performs at a community event each year in Damascus. | Contact: Chip Burns, band member Phone: 301-916-8732 (H) 301-987-6061 (W) Email: burnsfx@comcast.net |
| Life Teen Band | The mission of the LIFE TEEN Music ministry is to lead high school teens in praise and worship during the liturgy by providing vibrant Eucharistic celebrations and opportunities for teens to grow in their faith, with songs that teens like to sing, and fun songs with hand motions so we can praise God with our whole being! We provide music for any Youth Ministry event such as Retreats, Reconciliation Services, Eucharistic Adoration, and of course, the weekly 5:00PM Sunday Mass. We occasionally provide music for Religious Education Masses, and community events, such as Damascus Days and the Peanut Butter and Jelly Concert at the Damascus Community Fair. The LIFE TEEN Band also does service Outreach by providing seasonal concerts to local nursing homes and senior centers. Meetings/Events-We practice at the Church every Thursday from 7:00PM-9:00PM and every Sunday afternoon from 3:00PM-5:00PM. |
Contact: Pat Welshon Phone: 301-253-3737 Email: pat@welshon.net |
| Sacramental Prep Ministries | ||
| Baptism Preparations | Parents who wish to have their child baptized attend our Baptism preparation class. It is strongly recommended that parents attend the session during the second trimester. Parishioners serve as catechists and share this spiritual journey with the family. We have recently expanded the role and size of this ministry team and are still inviting others to be involved. This is one of the most critical ministries that allow the Church to respond faithfully to our Lord's commission to "Go and Make Disciples." |
Contact: Lisa Nueslein Phone: 301-253-2027. |
| Marriage Preparation | The objective of the marriage preparation ministry is to provide sacramental preparation for matrimony and to cooperate with the pastor, priests, and deacons in preparing couples for the sacrament of matrimony. There are 10 sponsor couples who have been selected and prepared to provide engaged couples with guidance in preparing for the sacrament of marriage. A sponsor couple meets with an engaged couple for 5 two-hour meetings in the sponsor couple's house. An annual barbeque/meeting is held for all sponsor couples to share feedback and get updates and ideas on marriage preparation. | Contact: Steve and Michelle Carr Phone: 301-607-6160 Email: SACARRS5@netzero.com |
| Prayer Ministries | ||
| Prayer and Healing Ministry | The Prayer Group ministers to the Parish through prayer. We pray daily for those individuals on the Parish and Regional prayer chains, and in the Parish's Book of Intentions. Also, we pray with and for the needs of those who have asked us to pray for them or their family and loved ones. We pray with the sick and dying when invited. Prayer for healing and intentions will be done by request, through the Book of Intentions, by contacting the Prayer Chain St.PaulsPrayerRequest@verizon.net, and at Healing Services. We pray for healing (spiritual, emotional, and physical) with individuals on the telephone, in their homes, at hospitals in the metropolitan region (including Baltimore and Frederick), at Saint Paul, at prayer meetings, and at Healing Masses at Saint Paul. A number of members are also Eucharistic Ministers, so prayer for healing can be combined with bringing Communion to the sick and dying. Meetings: 7:30-9:00 PM, Monday every week in the Norris Chapel. Meetings are not held on Holy Days or on other major parish events (e.g., mission, retreats); or snow closure days for Montgomery County Public Schools. |
Contact: Jerry Linn, Prayer and Healing Ministry
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| Charismatic Prayer Group | The mission of St. Paul's Charismatic Prayer Group is to support the mission of St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Universal Church. We do this by praying for our pastor, priests, deacons, lay leaders and staff; the fellowship of believers and the community as a whole; and by honoring requests for individual prayer from members of the Community. The Group is a praise and worship group using the gifts of the Spirit including discernment, wisdom, prophecy, healing and knowledge in its ministry to the Church. Meetings are held on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Norris Chapel. |
Contact: Pat Linn, Charismatic Prayer Group |
| Prayer Chain | The purpose of the Prayer Chain is to pray for any request communicated to us. Requests can be made by calling the parish office or email St.PaulsPrayerRequest@ verizon.net. All parishioners are invited to join the Prayer Chain. | Contact: Ginny Clifford Phone: 301-253-4910 |
| Prayer for Life | On the 4th Saturday of each month, parishioners from Saint Paul Catholic Church are called to prayer outside local abortuaries. This is an excellent time to pray for mothers who will turn away from death and choose life for their unborn baby. | Contact: Cathy Roth Phone: 301-972-5444 |
| Women's Sharing Group | Our group meets to reflect on and discuss Sunday's readings, to offer group praise and prayer for individual and parish needs, and to provide Mom-to-Mom support as we raise our children in the Faith. (Child care is provided.) Meetings are held in the Church Hall every Wednesday morning from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. |
Contact: Kay Mangan Phone: 301-482-2571 Email: copakay@yahoo.com |
| Charismatic Prayer Group | The mission of St. Paul's Charismatic Prayer Group is to support the mission of St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Universal Church. We do this by praying for our pastor, priests, deacons, lay leaders and staff; the fellowship of believers and the community as a whole; and by honoring requests for individual prayer from members of the Community. The Group is a praise and worship group using the gifts of the Spirit including discernment, wisdom, prophecy, healing and knowledge in its ministry to the Church. | Meetings are held on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Norris Chapel. Contact: Jerry Linn, Prayer and Healing Ministry Contact: Pat Linn, Charismatic Prayer Group |
| Social Concerns Ministries | ||
| Meals for Families in Crisis | The purpose of "Meals for Families in Crisis" is to assist families or individuals who are not able to make meals due to various circumstances (ex. a homebound person, someone who is recovering from surgery, or is chronically ill, a mom with a newborn, a family whose primary caregiver is hospitalized, or a family of a hospitalized or ill child) If you can cook dinner, this is an EASY MINISTRY for you! The coordinator calls you and asks what day is best for you to make and deliver a meal within the next couple of weeks. The coordinator will give you the name, phone number, address, number of people in the family, and any food allergies or special food requests of the family in crisis. You call the family the day before your appointed day to make sure they will be home when you are planning to deliver the meal. On your appointed day, you make and deliver the meal (packaged in disposable dishes/pans). It's that EASY! Meetings/Events- Meals are requested as needed. You prepare and deliver meals ONLY when it fits into your schedule. You prepare a dinner in your home and deliver the meal to a family in need. |
Contact: Carolyn Sherwood Phone: 301-515-1971 |
| Honduras Clinic | Support collections, trips and awareness of our clinic in Honduras. | Contact: Barbara Snyder Phone: 301-865-5823 (H) Email: bsobrn@comcast.net |
| Healthcare Ministry | The Health Ministry of Saint Paul strives to promote health and wellness within our community using a holistic approach that involves mind, body and spirit. The health care ministry sponsors blood pressure screening the 1st Tuesday of each month, and a yearly health fair. It also brings an awareness of health issues to our parish. An initial confidential assessment visit will be made by the health minister to assess individual needs upon request. The health minister will coordinate community and parish resources for recently hospitalized, chronically ill, and elderly parishioners in order to assist them in maintaining or regaining optimum health. | Contact: Kathleen Hughes Phone: 301-831-5385 |
| Pastoral Visitors | St. Paul's Pastoral Visitors is a group of trained volunteers representing Christ and St. Paul's Catholic Church, coming together to supplement the Pastor's visits. We provide friendly visits in support of the elderly, homebound, sick and shut-ins, and group home residents, meeting them where they are, and walking with them in their experiences. Fulfilling our baptismal call and as adult disciples, we seek to be attentive to their loneliness and the spiritual and emotional needs they express. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| HOPE Committee | Healing, Opportunity, Peace, Encouragement The HOPE Ministry are parishioners who offer compassion and support to those who are grieving. We make phone calls and meet with parishioners who have experienced a recent death in their family, helping with funerals, providing resources and sending cards. Comfort shawls are needed. We also sponsor a coffee time once a month at the Music Cafe for those who are separated or divorced. |
Contact: Kathy Grapski Phone: 301-253-5509 |
| Elderly Care Outreach | Telephone companionship, references to community resources, pastoral visits, communion, shopping services, transportation, senior breakfasts and birthday parties. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Elderly & Shut-in Service to the Parish | What can you do to be a part of your parish? Offer telephone companionship; be on a phone tree, when we need calling to be done; share your expertise; pray for others; be on the prayer chain; knit or crochet baby hats and lap robes for Catholic Daughters. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Newcomers Committee | Our objective is to welcome newcomers to our parish family and to introduce new parishioners to members of our parish and acquaint them with parish activities and opportunities. We have a newcomers reception 2 or 3 times a year. All newly registered families are sent invitations by mail and announcements appear in the bulletin. | Contacts: Kim Gueterman Phone: 301-391-6888 Email: KimGBooks@comcast.net Contact: Kassy Foreman Phone: 301-253-4130 |
| Harris School Program | Twelve years ago, the Saint Paul Community formed a partnership with C.W. Harris Elementary School located in Southeast Washington, D.C. Over the years, we have regular monthly collections to provide school supplies, books, hygiene items, and much more for the students, teachers, and staff at the Harris School. We have especially been supportive of the sixth grade students by providing them with various items such as the graduation commemorative T-shirts, tickets to live theatre and class trips. Monetary donations toward student activities are always appreciated. |
Contact: Marilyn Adkins Phone: 301-253-3903 |
| The Good Heart Program | The Good Heart Program has been put in place in areas across the country by neighborhood associations so individuals can be prepared to handle emergencies themselves, and also for whole neighborhoods to pool their community resources to look after each other in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster. Several churches in Damascus are involved in implementing Good Heart Programs among their members, so that the Damascus area will be prepared to meet the demands of any natural or man-made crisis. The Good Heart Program is being set up within Saint Paul in order to prepare us to take care of ourselves locally for 72 hours, to check on each other, and to relay information about needs and resources to augment the county's emergency response. |
Contact: Marty Shinko Email: 4shinko@juno.com |
| Gospel of Life | Promote life issues for parish and religious education programs. | Contact: Diane Hess Phone: 301-253-0635 |
| Dorothy Day Shelter | Shop, cook and deliver meals to Rockville shelter. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Soup Kitchen - The Lord's Table | Prepare and serve a meal to homeless or people in need. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Legislative Network | Advocacy on issues supported by the Bishops. | Contact: Katie Junghans Phone: 301-253-0136 |
| Seasonal Ministries | ||
| Angel Tree / Holiday Basket program | The Angel Tree is part of the Holiday Basket program that provides Christmas gifts to needy families in the Damascus area. We sponsor families whose names are given to us by the Faith Connections Organization and Damascus Help and ask Saint Paul parishioners to purchase items written on tags hung on the "angel tree" in the church during Advent. Angel Tree Volunteers are each given a family to sponsor. The sponsor is given a list of needs and wishes for the family. He or she writes these items on individual tags, which are hung on the tree. Parishioners take tags, buy the items, and return them to the church. The sponsor then gathers all the items and returns them to the Norris Chapel on the designated day (usually the middle of Advent). The gifts are then either picked up by the families or delivered to them. Being a sponsor is a gift of time and love. The more sponsors we have, the more families we can help. This is a great way to help your family focus on others at Christmas. Meetings: A potluck dinner followed by an organizational meeting is held for the sponsors each year before Thanksgiving. Each sponsor collects gifts delivered during the 1st two weekends of Advent and works with the coordinator to ensure that all gifts are collected or purchased in time to deliver to the Norris Chapel in time for Christmas delivery |
Contact: Barbara Zellers Phone: 301-253-3465 Email: bztower@yahoo.com |
| Lenten Soup Suppers | Support the soup suppers that occur on the Fridays of Lent. | Contact: Katie Junghans Phone: 301-253-0136 Contact: Gary Hand Phone: 301-253-5046 |
| Watershed Cleanup | Coordinate a group to clean-up the watershed (corner of Route 108 & Route 124) | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Rebuilding Together | Rehabilitate homes of low income elderly. Skilled and unskilled labor needed as well as safety coordinator and small-project group leaders. | Contact: Sherrie Wade Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: swade@stpauldamascus.org |
| Valentine Gifts for Women | Collect toiletries and candy for women's shelter. | Contact: Joan Donovan Phone: 301-253-6099 |
| Vacation Bible School | Children (pre-school to seventh grade) meet for one week during the summer for Bible stories, crafts, music, snacks and games. Children are also involved in a community service project. Students in 8th to 12th grade are encouraged to volunteer as teen helpers. A letter is sent to all families with children registered for Religious Education in early summer with the dates, times and other information concerning VBS. There are usually two or three planning meetings prior to VBS. VBS meets Monday through Friday in the morning during the week. There is also a closing program Thursday evening at 7:00 PM in the Church. | Contact: Julia Sparacino Phone: 301-831-9219 Email: JSparacino@stpauldamascus.org |
| Middle School Youth Week | Plan and coordinate a summer day camp for 6th-8th graders. | Contact: Lisa Nueslein Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: lnueslein@stpauldamascus.org |
| Easter Basket Collection | Collect candy and baskets for shelter children. | Contact: Miggy Burns Phone: 301-253-2820 |
| Summer School Supply Collection | Collect and distribute school supplies to local children in need. | Contact: Jennifer Settlemire Phone: 301-253-9624 Email: Jennifer.Settlemire@verizon.net |
| Epiphany Celebration | Help plan the parish's Epiphany celebration. | Contact: Julie Kirk Phone: 301-916-6067 Email: julie@julielenzerkirk.com |
| Good as New Sale | The first "Good as New Sale" was in the spring of 1959. Bette Marshall, Denise Brohawn and Libby Cavanaugh initiated this fundraiser, recycling used clothing within the parish to raise money for the church. We now have two sales a year (May and November). Not only do the parishioners get two chances to clean our closets, but we support all the projects that Social Concerns has with the money raised from the sale! The recycling doesn't stop there. After the sale, leftover books go to the Damascus Library, baby clothes and items go to Shady Grove pregnancy center, some of the ladies' clothes go to the women's shelter, and still others items go to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Montgomery County for more recycling! The coordinator for the Good as New Sale, Jane Thorne, says, "I just want to Thank You for all your cool stuff!". Volunteers are always needed to help sort and organize all the donations for the sale in the days just before each one, and to help with distributing the items that remain after the sale. | Contact: Jane Thorne Phone: 301-831-7980 Email: jtabc123@yahoo.com |
| Other Ministries | ||
| Marriage and Family Ministry | Promotes strong marriages and healthy families. Visit www.ForYourMarriage.org Schedule a Fun Date |
Contact: Maria Stanton Phone: 301-253-2027 x106 Email: mstanton@stpauldamascus.org |
| Administrative Support | Provide administrative support to the parish either in the office or at home. Sign up to be on a 'call' list. You'll be emailed or called when a project comes up. | Contact: Patty Whitehouse Phone: 301-253-2027 Email: pwhitehouse@stpauldamascus.org |
| Building and Grounds Committee | Meets once a month to discuss maintenance solutions for our parish facilities. | Contact: Joe Donoghue Phone: 301-253-6989 Email: joegrump@stpauldamascus.org |