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FAX:732-828-0866 School:732-828-1402  Children's Ministry:732-828-3786 Pastor:Rev. Douglas J. Haefner

Liturgy Commission Ministries and Organizations (Updated 8/22/2007)

Altar Servers

Altar Server ministry is composed of boys and girls of the 5th grade age and above who wish to have a fuller involvement with the Mass. Severs serve regular weekend and daily Masses as well as special Masses, such as weddings and funerals.

Schedule: Recruitment for new servers starts in September with training starting in October. Regular assignments for new servers begins in Janurary.
Contacts:
Deacon Russ Demkovitz rdemkovitz@smpo.us and Mike Lanyi 732-828-8148 mdlanyi@bellatlantic.net


Art and Environment

.This committee's roles and responsibilities entail: planning and coordinating the decorations for major feasts and seasonal liturgies, putting up/taking down decorations, coordinating personnel and equipment, ironing, sewing and polishing materials, recruiting and training new members.

Schedule: Meetings are as needed. No special skills needed.
Contacts:
Frank Galtieri 732-249-6854 frankfrancso@hotmail.com and Claudette Gaspard: 732-937-8374, gaspard17@aol.com

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Eucharistic Ministers

Eucharistic Ministers help distribute the Holy Eucharist at the Liturgy. They also bring the Body of Christ to infirm and homebound parishioners. Special training is required for this important ministry of immense love.

Schedule: Eucharistic Ministers serve at weekend Masses and at Masses for special occasions.
Contact:
  Deacon Ron Caimi 732-828-1400 rcaimi@smpo.us
or Marian Yacone (732) 249-8156 myacone@telcordia.com

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Lectors

Lectors proclaim the Word of God, lead the general intercessions and make announcements at community worship. Training is provided. Procedures for Lectoring (Click Here)

Schedule: Lectors are scheduled to read the Scriptures at weekend Masses and Masses for special occasions during the week.
Contact:  Bob Palanca 732-356-0310 rlpalanca@aol.com

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Liturgy Committee

This team is made up of staff and parishioners who are the heads of the specific liturgical ministries - the Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Ministers of Hospitality (ushers). This entails keeping organized lists of members, scheduling throughout the year, and arranging for ongoing formation of the ministers and training of new ones.

This committee is made up of staff and parishioners.

Contact Sr. Barbara DeStefano, OSF 732-828-1400 bdestefano@smpo.us, Sheila Connelly 732-846-6539, Mary Francis Reavey 732-545-6425


Liturgy Preparation Team

Because this group is responsible for the actual liturgy preparation throughout the seasons of the Church year, it is composed of those who have experienced training in liturgy or are open and willing to do so. Through conferences, workshops, and reading resources provided, they keep up with what theologically appropriate according to the Church as well as what may be both creative and meaningful expressions of our communal worship here at St. Matthias. The LPT also meets on a regular basis to prepare our special liturgies.

Contact: Jay Vince-Cruz 732-764-1616 jay@faasm.org or
Sr. Barbara DeStefano, OSF 732-828-1400 bdestefano@smpo.us

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Ministers of Hospitality

Ministers of Hospitality, traditionally called ushers, aim to make all feel welcome in our parish. Present at all liturgical celebrations, they greet, seat, and see to the needs of the gathered community as well as accept contributions to the parish.

Schedule: For scheduled meeting times contact Rich or Lucille Gillio
Contact: Rich and Lucille Gillio gilliofamuly@aol.com
Deacon Steve Holzinger sholzinger@smpo.us

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Music Ministry

Music Ministry supports the Gospel message through song and challenges the assembly to live it more fully. Participants explore the sacred ritual music of different traditions and cultures, which adds a quality of joy and enthusiasm to worship. As of 2003, the parish has seven music groups.

Adult Choir, Archangels, Childrens Choir, Ensemble, FAASM, Folk Group, and Umoja Imani Singers.
Contact: Joan Best Seamon jseamon@smpo.us 732-828-1400

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Adult Choir

The Adult Choir leads the assembly in sung prayer and also sings SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) anthems from both traditional and contemporary choral repertoire to add beauty and solemnity to worship.

Schedule: The Adult Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Mass on Sundays. Rehearsals are on Thursdays,
7:30 - 9:30 PM.
Contact:
Eileen Casazza;ebcasazza@patmedia.net 732-246-0230 or Pat Toland dontoland@patmedia.net

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Archangels

The Archangels are a group of 7th through 12th graders who sing at the 5:30PM Sunday night Mass on the fourth Sunday of every month. The Archangels explore many different types of music ranging from hymns to comtemporary Christan rock.

Schedule: Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30PM in the church.
Contact:  Jill Szabo 732-247-3440/ jill@gti.net

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Children's Choir

The Children’s Choir is comprised of 3rd to 8th graders who offer their unique style of praise to God.
Schedule: The Children’s Choir sings at special children’s liturgies throughout the year.

3rd and 4th graders rehearse on Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:15 PM.
5th through 8th graders rehearse on Thursdays, 4:15 - 5:15 PM.

2006-2007 Children's Choir Information Letter for Parents
2006-2007 Children's Choir Calendar

November 2006 newsletter

Contact: Joan Best Seamon jseamon@smpo.us 732-828-1400

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Ensemble

Under the direction of Dr. Sandra Hayes Licitra. The ensemble sings once a month on Sunday morning. It is a select group of singers and instrumentalists who specialize in a capella singing. This group is a double quartet with 2 members on each voice part. Membership is limited; by audition.

Schedule: Rehearses on Wednesday evening at 9:15 in the church.

Contact: Joan Best Seamon jseamon@smpo.us 732-828-1400

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FAASM Choir

The Filipino-American Association of St. Matthias Choir convenes several times a year to sing at special diocesan celebrations hosted at St. Matthias including the Mass for San Lorenzo Ruiz in September and Simbang Gabi in December. The choir also sings holiday carols in the local community and surrounding towns during the last few weeks of December in an effort to raise funds for worthwhile parish projects and as an outreach to those in need in the Philippines. The FAASM Choir sings in English and Tagalog and often combines with other parish choirs for Christmas and Holy Week. Both Filipinos and non-Filipinos are welcome to join.

Rehearsal schedule varies.

Contact:: Jay Vince-Cruz: 732-764-1616 jay@faasm.org or Beth Dato beth@faasm.org

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Folk Group

The Folk Group explores the richness of sacred contemporary music with varied instrumentation and improvised harmonization.

Schedule: The Folk Group sings at the 5:30 PM Mass on Saturdays. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 PM.
Contact: Joan Best Seamon jseamon@smpo.us 732-828-1400

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Umoja Imani Songsters

The Umoja-Imani Songsters is a multi-cultural choir that brings a unique gift of Black sacred song and worship to the parish. Umoja means "unity" and Imani means "faith" in the East African Kiswahili language. The Songsters were formed in 1992 out of a desire to introduce Gospel worship and Black Catholic spirituality to St. Matthias. Their music is taken from traditional Gospel, contemporary Gospel and the Black Catholic hymnal Lead Me Guide Me.

Schedule: The Songsters sing twice a month at the 5:30 PM Sunday Mass. Rehearsals are on Mondays, 7:30 - 9:00 PM.
Contact: Mr Aaron Brown 908-822-1723 or the music office 732-828-1400

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Cantors

The Cantors lead the congregation in song at all liturgies and help motivate the assembly in prayer and musical praise of God.

Schedule:  Contact Joan Best Seamon for rehearsal times.
Contact: Joan Best Seamon jseamon@smpo.us 732-828-1400

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