St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Handbook

A FEW WORDS FROM THE PASTOR

"There are different gifts but the same Spirit; there are different ministries but the same Lord; there are different works but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone." (I Cor. 12:4-6)

All of us have gifts and talents given to us by God. Some of us are good with our hands, others are good with languages. Some of us can work with wood, others with clay. Some of us have great mental capacities and others great physical prowess. But all of us were given these gifts by God.. They were not given to be used selfishly but for the good of the community. If we use our talents well this parish and this world would be a better place for all of us.

This booklet is divided into five sections. It contains the five commissions that make up our parish council. These commissions serve the needs of the parish. They deal with human concerns, administration, parish life, Christian Formation and Spiritual Life and Worship. These are the main focuses of our parish. Your gifts and talents can assist one or more of these areas. If you are a good singer, one of our choirs could use your assistance. If you would like to share your faith with others, the Christian Formation Program could use your help. If you have expertise in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, etc. you could be of service to our administrative commission. We need you to truly serve the Church and this community

Please offer your assistance to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. It is a wonderful community. But it always needs to grow. And you can help that happen.

HUMAN CONCERNS COMMISSION

The Human Concerns Commission is responsible for identifying the social justice needs of the parishioners, the neighborhood and the world. This is accomplished by involving others in accepting the responsibility of their Baptism and reminding them every Christian is called to service and to work for justice.

CALL TO ACTION is a worldwide organization that lobbies for necessary changes in the Church. The local unit in Milwaukee meets twice a year.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP helps anyone whose life has been or is touched by cancer. Discussion, sharing and support happen in an atmosphere of prayer. They gather the third Thursday of the month for two hours in Church.

CROP WALK is a city wide endeavor supported by the parish through registration of walkers and sponsors and the collection of non-perishable food.

FUNERAL MEALS are available upon coordination between the family and the parish. A light lunch is prepared and served by parishioner volunteers in the parish hall following a funeral at Seton. Several hours are needed for preparation and serving that day.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP helps anyone who has lost a loved one. There is time for education, discussion, and prayer. Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month in church.

INTERFAITH is a group of churches that have organized to assist the elderly in the areas of transportation, visits, shopping, etc.

KLOTHES KEG collects new clothing during Advent for those in need.

LOAVES AND FISHES MEAL PROGRAM prepares and serves for the meal program at St. Joseph Parish, Waukesha. This group helps out on appointed Sunday afternoons about three times a year.

OUTREACH reviews requests for funding & makes donations according to parish policy.

ST. GALL MEAL PROGRAM prepares, delivers and serves for the St. Gall Meal Program in Milwaukee. This group helps out at 5:00PM on the fifth Monday of any month with five Mondays (about four times a year).

SANDWICH MINISTRY makes and delivers sandwiches to Guest House once a month. They meet on the third Monday of the month at 8:30AM in the parish hall for about one hour.

SETON AID is a committe which brings direct assistance to area residents in need of food, help with utility bills, etc.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION plans programs or print materials to address issues like intollerance, poverty, etc.

TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT GROUP is for anyone who is currently unemployed due to lay-off or downsizing. There is time for discussion, sharing of experiences and mutual support in a prayerful atmosphere. (Presently inactive)

"WE SHARE WEEKEND" is observed on the first weekend of the month. Parishioners are invited to make monetary donations or to bring non-perishable food items to church. These items, in turn are sent to various local food pantries.

ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION

The Administration Commission shall be guided by the biblical concept of stewardship. Specifically it is charged with making recommendations to parish council on matters concerning finance, budget, personnel, physical structures, real property, fund raising, planning, leadership development and any other duties assigned to it by the parish council.

BULLETIN STUFFERS collate weekly parish bulletins with inserts printed in-house or provided by outside organizations. Teams rotate and serve once a month on Saturday mornings (usually 9:00 AM) at church for about one hour.

FINANCE COMMITTEE aids in developing the budget. This is done in cooperation with the commissions of the parish so that a specific budget can be brought to the Council for its approval. Budget preparation is done in the spring of the year. Meetings are the 3rd Wed. of the month.

FORWARD SETON STEERING COMMITTEE has responsibility for overseeing all aspects of planning and building the facilities for our parish. The committee was an outgrowth of study and planning that was begun in 1992 under the Planning Committee and the Building Facilities and Use Committee. The Steering Committee is made up of the Pastor and Director of Administrative Services as well as members who act as liaisons to the various task forces. These task forces are working in areas such as construction, maintenance, finance, fund raising, fine arts, furnishings, worship requirements, accessibility, physical plant, communications, social, sound study and prayer. A parish council member is also a member of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee works closely with parish leadership regarding all decisions for the new parish facilities.

MONEY COUNTERS insure that weekly contributions are counted accurately and deposited in a judicious time and manner. This takes about 2 hours on a Sunday morning. Counting schedules are on an 8-week rotation.

OFFICE RECEPTION volunteers help out in the Parish and Christian Formation offices primarily to answer phones and do light general office duties. There are two shifts each weekday, 8:30 AM-Noon and Noon-3:00 PM. This is an excellent opportunity for work experience and for those wishing to return to the work force to get their office skills sharpened.

PARISH MAILINGS require help to collate, stuff, label, count, and arrange by zip code the bulk material being mailed.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE is responsible for overseeing the various salaried positions within the Parish. This includes establishing job descriptions, salaries, and benefits for employees as well as interviewing applicants for open positions. Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE promotes, through witness and education, a scripturally focused spirit of sharing that encourages parishioners to give generously of their time, talent and treasure in support of the community. The committee plans and implements an annual Stewardship program during meetings on the 3rd Wed. of the month. Extra time may be required during fall pledge time.

SPIRIT OF SETON NEWSLETTER to be published quarterly, welcomes aid in gathering articles, editing material and putting together the newsletter.

PARISH LIFE COMMISSION

The Parish Life Commission's responsibility lies in building community among parish members and its neighbors through small social groups, communications, social activities, welcoming, and hospitality functions.

BAKERS are needed on an on-call basis for special occasions or functions during the year.

BLOOD DRIVE facilitates blood donations from members of Seton so they do not need to go directly to the Blood Center. This happens twice a year and entails coordination with the Blood Center and arrangement for volunteers to greet, serve or bake.

CAMP SETON is a social, community gathering event for all parish members and their families. It includes an outdoor Mass, pot luck supper, campfire, and optional campout. This event is in June or July.

COFFEE AND DONUTS COMMITTEE helps to expand the feeling of friendliness and warmth among parishioners by welcoming them in the Parish Hall after mass on the third Sunday of the months of Sept. thru May for donuts, coffee, and sociability. The committee obtains donuts and milk, sets up, serves and cleans up.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK COMMITTEE sells as many books as possible in order to obtain funds for church needs. Books are sold before and after weekend Masses from October to January.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS celebrates Christ's birthday with the younger children of the parish, ages up to 10 years, to keep Christ in Christmas. The committee plans food and entertainment, takes reservations, and prepares and cleans up the hall. This event brings the focus back to what Christmas is really about. (3-4 hrs. planning time, 2-3 hrs. day of event)

NEWCOMERS' WELCOME BREAKFAST is in Sept. & Feb. to welcome new members and their families to the Seton community. The committee plans, prepares, sets up, serves, and cleans up. This is a good opportunity to meet new members as you serve them. (1-3 hrs.. meeting and prep time, 2-3 hrs. day of event)

NEWCOMERS' WELCOME/SIGN UP COMMITTEE welcomes new members during Registration Weekend (Third weekend of every month) by manning the Registration table after Mass for about 20 min. Afterwards, the chairperson contacts the new members by phone to welcome them again, explain parish organizations, and invite them to parish functions. Committee members choose Mass time and months that are convenient.

PICK-N-SAVE and CUB FOOD RECEIPT PROGRAMS capitalizes on an income opportunity benefiting the parish. Receipts are collected in the boxes in back of church. Pick-n-Save receipts require a sticker, Cub receipts need to be redeemed within the quarter of the purchase.

RECEPTIONS COMMITTEE coordinates on an on-call basis the food and decorations for special events in the parish. This usually happens 2-4 times a year and involves ordering or preparing the food and beverages, decorating, serving and cleaning up.

SETON SENIORS provides spiritual, educational, and social outlets for seniors (generally 50 years young) of Seton parish and promotes the Spirit of Seton through involvement in various parish projects. Their activities are published in the bulletin.

SPIRIT COMMITTEE is designed to brainstorm, plan and coordinate a calendar of activities for various age groups and interests. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for the parish community to work together and play together. Fund raising activities may also be included. Several sub committees will evolve to implement the activities.

STAY AT HOME MOMS SUPPORT GROUP offers support for parents staying at home with young children. They gather in church in an atmosphere of friendliness and prayer on the first and third Wednesday each month. Child care is available.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION COMMISSION

The Christian Formation Commission shall coordinate and integrate all aspects of Christian Formation and education in the parish. This is accomplished by advising the educational administrators on implementation and evaluation of educational and formational programs such as parochial education, religious education, adult enrichment, sacramental preparation, adult ministry and family ministry.

ADULT ENRICHMENT provides parish members with 4-6 programs yearly that will enrich their spiritual life. The committee meets monthly on the second Tuesday to plan the programs, their advertisement, and any necessary arrangements for the day of the event.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS deals with the beauty and the mystery of this sacrament of initiation. Baptism Preparation for parents of infants is offered every other month. First-time parents participate in two sessions, the first dealing with the experience of belonging to a church community and reasons for baptism, the second with ritual. Other parents participate in an update and session on Christian parenting. Sessions are facilitated by the Pastoral Associate and couples of the parish. All parents requesting to have their child baptized must attend baptism preparation. Parishioners should call the parish office to register for the necessary preparation well in advance.

CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL LIAISON is available to answer questions and address interest and concerns regarding Catholic Memorial High School and its students. The liaison welcomes contact from prospective families as well as current families at the school.

CATHOLIC READING CENTER offers current, interesting reading material with a view to spiritual enrichment. The center is located in the back of the church.

FOCCUS COUPLES (Ministry to the Engaged) is a program whereby couples planning a wedding at Seton meet with specially trained couples a minimum of two times. The FOCCUS couple interprets a special inventory in order to help the engaged couple begin their marriage as well as possible.

MATHAETAI is a parish-based discipleship formation program collaborated with other area parishes. It enables people to develop their potential for sharing in the descipleship of Jesus. Participants learn to live out their Baptisimal committment through explanations of how Jesus lived his mission.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOL FAMILIES COMMITTEE is an active group of Seton parishioners who value Catholic education and who take an active role in discerning issues affecting families with children in Catholic school.

RAINBOWS FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN is a support group for children experiencing loss. The group provides the guidance of nurturing and caring adults, peer support, and a secure place for sharing so healing and acceptance can take place.

RCIA is the preparation process for adults wishing to become Catholic. It culminates in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation--Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist--at the Easter vigil. A team of active parishioners acts as a small community to welcome and prepare the candidates and catechumens.

SMALL GROUPS is an excellent educational/formational experience for adults. In a home atmosphere, adults gather to share scripture, faith experiences, and prayer. Through this, they grow in faith, provide mutual support, and at times reach out to others. Sign up occurs before Advent and Lent, but people may join anytime.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is held jointly with members of Resurrection Lutheran Church. In a spirit of learning and fun, participants share Bible stories, singing, crafts and games as part of an intergenerational experience.

YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATION is a youth run parish organization that provides opportunities for teens and their friends to plan and reach out to persons in need within the neighboring communities.

20/30 SOMETHING invites those in their 20's and 30's, single or married, to participate in the events planned by and for people in this age group. (Presently inactive)

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES (a special religious education program) answers that call by providing a program of faith development and religious education to children with disabilities at St. Leonard Parish, Muskego.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (Preschool - Grade 12), FIRST COMMUNION, FIRST RECONCILIATION, and CONFIRMATION PREPARATIONS --please see the Christian Formation Policy Handbook "Imagine God's Mercy" or call the Christian Formation Office (782-8982)

SPIRITUAL LIFE AND WORSHIP COMMISSION

The Spiritual Life and Worship Commission's primary responsibility is to provide the parish with adequate opportunities to deepen their faith via prayer experiences and liturgical celebrations. This will be accomplished through the committees it oversees such as the Liturgical Ministries, Evangelism, Ecumenism, and the Prayer Network.

ACOLYTES serve at the altar, assisting the priest. They prepare the altar and the vessels and, as an auxiliary minister, assist the Eucharistic Ministers. Teams of an adult & a youth (Jr. High & older) are encouraged.

ART AND ENVIRONMENT decorates the Church for liturgical seasons of the year. People with creativity and a desire to beautify the church are welcome to join.

BAPTISMAL GOWNS COMMITTEE embroiders baptismal gowns as a "remembrance" for new babies baptized at Seton. Time commitment is flexible, work is done at home. Enjoyed by stitchery enthusiasts.

ECUMENISM: For many years, the communities of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Resurrection Lutheran Church have been closely connected. Recently, the two parishes have joined during the seasons of Advent and Lent to celebrate Evening Prayer, or Vespers, a form of communal sung prayer common to both traditions.

During Lent, a Soup Supper precedes Evening Prayer, gathering members of the two faith communities to break bread together in the spirit of fasting. Also, on Good Friday the two communities participate in a walking Stations of the Cross between the two churches. These activities provide an ongoing link between these two Christian communities.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS serve the Host and the Wine in a reverent manner to the members of the congregation who come to the Altar.

LECTORS proclaim the Word of God at all weekend Masses and Major Feast days. Materials are provided for proper preparation and guidance is given at the beginning of this ministry so that Lectors will feel comfortable performing this important task. Assignments are monthly.

MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY (USHERS) offer a sense of welcome and hospitality at each Mass. Adults and teens are invited to join this group. Ushers welcome worshipers, distribute Mass pamphlets and assist with seating worshipers, with the offertory collection and with the communion procession. You choose the Mass you wish to attend and the frequency of commitment.

PRAYER NETWORK supports parishioners, their families and friends with prayer during times of special need. Prayer intentions are submitted through forms in the entrance of church. It is up to the individual member for a time commitment.

PURIFICATOR CARE COMMITTEE washes, starches, folds and irons the white cloths used during the Mass at Holy Communion and on the altar. Each member takes a one month period, usually picking up the used cloths on Mon.

SACRISTANS care for the church on a weekly basis (Friday mornings, after Mass) tending to vestments, plants and the altar area.

MUSIC MINISTRY is a vital and fundamental part of our liturgies. For that reason there are many opportunities for service. The general areas are as follows:

** Adult Choir and Ensembles--Persons of high school age and older who like to sing, practice every Wednesday evening for weekend liturgies. The large choir usually sings for the 9:00 a..m.. Mass, with smaller groups or Cantors providing leadership in song for the other liturgies. The ability to read music is not required. The music ministry is also present for Solemnities, major Feasts, and the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. All of the music ministries combine for a special, non-liturgical "performance" in the late fall. The ministry functions all year, divided into three trimesters.

** Children's Choir--The Children's Choir is open to students in the third grade in the fall and second grade in the spring. They provide musical leadership for the first Saturday (5:00 p.m.) Mass each month, as well as Children's Liturgy of the Word during the seasons of Advent and Lent. The choir practices every Saturday afternoon. In addition, the children and adults combine for a special "performance" outside of liturgy.

** Resurrection Choir--This special music ministry gathers to provide support and comfort to families in the Funeral Rites of the church. The musical repertoire is limited and familiar, requiring minimum rehearsal before the funeral liturgy. Please contact the Director of Music if you might be available for this ministry of compassion.

** Cantor--The role of Cantor includes elements of Minister of Hospitality, teacher and song leader as well as its traditional liturgical function. Requirements include a pleasant singing voice, the ability to read music, and a strong desire to lead the people of God in prayer.

** Instrumentalists--Much of the music used at Seton either has published parts for various instruments or is readily adaptable for virtually any instrument or combination of instruments. Instrumentalist with several years of experience may contact the Director of Music for an interview. Opportunities include regular weekend liturgies plus Children's Liturgy of the Word, grade level liturgies (Religious Education), Evening Prayer and special performances with the combined musical resources of the parish.