Each of us has been gifted in some unique way, and at the heart of stewardship is the belief that all of these gifts flow from God, the Source of all. As Christians, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, and cultivate them responsibly. It is our privilege to share them lovingly with others. The grateful return of time and talent to God in an ecclesial setting is accomplished when each person supports the Church’s mission of proclaiming, teaching, serving, and sanctifying.
You have unique abilities, skills, and interests. Matching your gifts with a particular ministry can heighten the spiritual experience and prevent any uneasiness. Jesus tells us not to hide our light under a basket but to let it shine forth. (Matthew 5:15-16)
To help you determine the ministry best suited to you, consider:
Below, you can find detailed information regarding the different ministries available at St. Peter.
As Catholics, the Liturgy of the Eucharist is our most important act of worship as a community praising and honoring God. With others throughout the world, we come together to celebrate the sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While the primary participants in the Mass are the priest and the assembly, there are many others, including lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, sacristans, altar servers, hospitality ministers (ushers), cantors, and musicians.
After completing the Safe Environment certification (click on link to the left for further information), liturgical ministers (with the exception of cantors and musicians) are assigned to one weekend Mass monthly (rotating the fifth week as needed) based on a team rotation schedule. Members of the parish's Music Ministry are assigned at the discretion of the Music Minister.
Please consider joining one of the liturgical ministries described below to participate more fully in the liturgy and serve your fellow parishioners. You may call the parish office at (859) 252-7551 for more information about joining. We are always in need of new ministers as our teens graduate, parishioners move, and current ministers become unable to serve. If you are unable to join any of our liturgical ministries, please pray that other parishioners will hear the call to assist at Sunday Mass.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist the priest in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ. The ministers attend an initial training session, followed by periodic trainings to update them on any liturgical changes affecting the distribution of the Eucharist. Through training, they are able to administer the Eucharist under both species with confidence, respect, and reverence.
Lectors assist the priests in proclaiming God’s Word to the congregation. When one answers the call to be a lector, he/she enters into a deeper relationship with the Word of God as revealed in sacred scripture. Christ speaks through our lectors to bring the printed word to life. A lector at St. Peter's is an adult or teen parishioner with deep respect for God’s word who is able to speak in public with confidence, poise, and clear articulation.
Sacristans work to ensure that our liturgical celebrations run smoothly. They are the first to arrive for Mass and the last to leave. Their role includes placement of linens, chalices, hosts, and water and wine. Sacristans are also responsible for the cleaning of the sacred vessels following liturgical functions.
Altar Servers, also known as acolytes, are parish boys and girls in the third grade or above who have received First Eucharist. They serve at regular Sunday Mass, and at holy day Mass and funerals when assigned. Servers assist the priest, prepare the altar, lead processions during Mass, and make sure that what is needed for the celebration is brought, carried, or moved into place. Outside of the priest or deacon, servers (more than any other liturgical ministry) are concerned with almost every aspect of the celebration of the liturgy.
Hospitality Ministers (Ushers) welcome and help parishioners with seating, and take care of the collection. Money is collected in baskets and then brought as a community gift to the altar. Ushers may help visitors find their way around the church. Men and women volunteers are always welcome to join this vital ministry that is is the oldest lay ministry in the Church, going back to the clerical order of Porter in the 3rd century.
Cantors and Choir Members. Music serves a vital role in enhancing and serving the liturgy. The music ministry at St. Peter Church seeks to fulfill our parish's spiritual needs through the medium of music. In turn, the ministry provides our volunteers with a closer spiritual connection to the mass and our parish community.
St. Peter Church Adult Choir is comprised of singers from high school through adults of all ages. A wide range of music is performed such as chant, traditional selections, contemporary music, and spirituals. The choir sings weekly at Mass in addition to holy days. Practices are held on Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary. No formal audition is required.
The church is a place for the community to gather for worship and celebration of the sacraments. Through architecture, sculpture, candles, flowers, plants, fabric, music, and more, the church's environment enhances these experiences.
Parish volunteers have committed themselves to keeping our church environment one of holiness and celebration. Some are responsible for the plants, flowers, and seasonal decorations that are in the church throughout the year. They ensure that our church is appropriately decorated for each liturgical season.
The manner in which we treat sacred things (even those of lesser significance than the chalice, paten, liturgical furnishings, etc.) fosters and expresses our openness to the graces God gives to his Church in every celebration of the Eucharist. Therefore, by the diligent care of altar linens, the Church expresses her joy at the inestimable gifts she receives from Christ's altar.
We are grateful to a number of parishioners who perform this vital behind-the-scenes function of caring for the cloths used during our liturgies. However, additional help is always welcomed. Purificators and finger towels are purified and laundered for use in the following week's liturgies, as are corporals, altar cloths, and baptismal towels which are laundered less frequently. In addition, parishioners also assist in the care of albs used by our priests and altar servers.
If you are interested in helping us in any of these ministries, please contact the parish office.
What kind of church would our church be if the apostolate of proclaiming the Gospel rested solely on the pastoral staff? The laity (YOU!) are uniquely entrusted with the role of working in union with the pastoral staff to bring the message of faith to life in the lives of all who make up our parish. Our catechetical ministries with descriptions are listed below.
Sunday Morning Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation - Our children and young people need caring and committed adults as teachers and assistants to give approximately two hours per week in the preparation and presentation of their Sunday Morning Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation classes. Please give prayerful consideration to serving your parish community as a catechist or catechetical assistant in one of the following classes. In the fall, you can see below which classes need help in the upcoming formation year.
Youth Ministry - Our middle school and high school youth need caring and committed adults as youth leaders and support personnel to give regularly or periodically as needed in the preparation and presentation of their Sunday Evening Youth Group Meetings that are on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 5 pm to 7 pm in the Parish Center as well as other Youth related activities. Please give prayerful consideration to serving your parish community as a youth leader or youth support person in one of the following areas:
Adult Formation - Just as our children and youth need caring and committed adults to teach and minister to them, so do our adults. As we all strive to enrich our faith lives by constantly forming ourselves in our faith, we need people who are willing to walk the faith walk with others as catechists, assistants, and sponsors. Please give prayerful consideration to serving your parish community in one of the following adult formation areas:
If you feel call to any of our catechetical ministries or would like additional information, please contact the parish office.
A number of outreach ministries focus on the needs of our parishioners. For example:
All Souls Mass - Every year on the Feast of All Souls, November 2, the parish through our Bereavement Committee invites the relatives and friends of parishioners and others who have died in the last year to a special Mass in their honor. Please watch the bulletin in October for the time. This is a special time for outreach and giving support.
Emergency Food Preparation - Upon notification of an upcoming funeral, or other family crisis, the family is contacted about having a reception meal after the service/burial or food provided in the home. If so desired, the Bereavement Committee calls members on the Emergency Food Preparation team to help prepare and drop off items to the parish center.
Health Ministry - Parish members are available every month to conduct blood pressure screenings and provide health information to parishioners. This is held on the 2nd Sunday of the month between our two Masses. As parish health professionals agree to volunteer their time, inspiration, and energy to help the parish move toward overall health awareness, more services can be offered. To become a team member, call the parish office for more information.
Ponticuli Prayer Request Ministry - A group of dedicated members belong to this prayer chain. Ponticuli means "Little Bridges" to suggest how both praying for others and requesting prayers of others create bridges and sustains relationships with each other and with God. The Prayer Request Ministry at St. Peter Parish lifts up specific requests, concerns, emergency situations, prayers of thanksgiving, etc. To make a prayer request or to become a member of the prayer ministry, you may: 1) contact Scott Hunt at either shunt@cdlex.org or (859) 373-0543; or 2) complete and return a form located by the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, Blessed Virgin Mary statue, the campanile, or the Barr Street entrance.For more information about any of our ministries, please contact the parish office.
Many opportunities for community outreach are available at St. Peter. Some examples are:
Annual Faith and Community Christmas Store - This annual event of the Catholic Action Center is supported by Lexington's churches, businesses, and non-profit agencies. For over 15 years, it has provided free "pre-loved and gently used" toys, books, and games to children during the days just before Christmas. The Store is set-up to provide "shoppers" a pleasant and dignified experience when choosing toys for their children. The Store thus provides gifts to thousands of children who most probably would not have had a "Christmas." To volunteer in December, call the Catholic Action Center at (859) 255-0301.
Baby Bottles/Clothing for Right to Life of Central Kentucky - Each year on Father's Day at our Masses, baby bottles which were distributed on Mother's Day are collected which have been filled with donations of loose cash/checks. Throughout the year, requests are also made for clothing and baby items.
BUILD. Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action - is an organization of 21 faith communities in Lexington, including St. Peter Church, which have joined together to address local issues of social injustice. We became a member in 2005, and in 2006 some 50 parishioners took part in an assembly that convinced the mayor to support a drug treatment program for women in jail and persuaded the superintendent of schools to initiate a prevention program for bullying and violence in the middle schools. Using the power of numbers, the faith communities unite in the public eye to make demands and get commitments on issues which BUILD members have identified as priorities. Specifically, members act out of their shared religious values of mutual respect, dignity, and human worth.
Catholic Pro-Life Committee - This committee was established for the purpose of enhancing respect for all life. Its members work in coordination with the Diocese of Lexington Respect Life Committee and promote many of its activities, including the Bishop's Respect Life Mass held in October, and publicize their Project Rachel retreats, offering men and women who suffer from the effects of abortion an opportunity to find peace and forgiveness in a private setting. At Saint Peter Parish, members erect 400 little white crosses on the church's front lawn every January as a memorial to the 4,000 lives lost every day to abortions.
God's Pantry Food Bank - St. Peter's has a collection bin in our bell tower (campanile) entrance for donations of non-perishable food items. The mission of God’s Pantry is to reduce hunger in Kentucky through community cooperation. In 2009, God’s Pantry collected and distributed over 17 million pounds of food to 390 non-profit agencies serving 50 central and eastern Kentucky counties. Nearly 3 million pounds of that food was fresh fruits and vegetables.
Golden Age Society - This society is a group of men and women (50 years and older) who come together monthly for comraderie among themselves blended with reaching out to others. At any given meeting, they may not only have guest speakers or exciting entertainment, but also give to charitable works. From members' donations, they give 25-50 pounds of non-perishable food items monthly to God's Pantry Food Bank. They also have supported the Annual Faith & Community Christmas Store, the Catholic Action Center, Saints Peter & Paul Regional School, the Galilean Children's Home in Liberty, KY, and other worthy organizations. They greatly enjoy celebrating the holidays together at their Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners. New members are welcome to attend their open meetings on the 2nd Sunday of the month starting at 2 PM. Check our bulletin on the 1st Sunday for more information about their upcoming meeting and location.
Habitat for Humanity - Each year, Saint Peter Parish is involved with the building of a new home. Besides donations, Habitat recruits volunteers to help with the build, prepare lunches, and serve as telephone callers.
Rosary Club - The members of this club make chain and rope rosaries and send them around the United States whenever they hear of those who need them. They meet on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 PM. The club prays the rosary at every meeting.
Thanksgiving Coat & Blanket Drive - Each year this drive supports the Catholic Action Center and the poor of our parish. We collect any clean and useable coats, blankets, gloves, or new socks that can keep a child, young adult, or adult warm. Other items include: shirts, jackets, trousers, or suits (mens' or ladies'). Used shoes are also appreciated. Donations are collected in the entrances of the church throughout the season.
For more information regarding any of these opportunities, please contact the parish office.
The members of our Parish Council and committees reflect the varied and committed concerns and interests found among our parishioners.
Parish Council - Craig McCloud - President
The purpose of Parish Council is to assist the pastor and the parish in achieving its mission as expressed in our Mission Statement. Its members are elected by the parishioners in an annual election and each member serves for 3 years. The pastor meets monthly with the Parish Council which is his advisory board in decision-making in matters involving ministries, service, community, buildings & grounds, as well as others which may be presented either by the community or our Pastor.
Council members are: Bryanna Carroll, Jake Cruz, Les Foster, Kelly Latiff, Kara Marino, Craig McCloud, Cindy McDonald, Melanie Noe, Cara Collard Wrona, Lauren Young.
Building & Grounds Committee - Paula DeBoor, Chair
The Buildings & Grounds Committee works with the pastor and the Maintenance Manager to ensure that our property and buildings look their best, inside and out. This includes the preventive maintenance and repairs of the buildings as well as the year-round upkeep of the church grounds.
Finance Committee - Paul Pezel, Chair
with Gary Davis, Jim Fackler, Theresa Pezel, and Leo Tubridy
The Finance Committee assists the pastor in planning, providing for, and supervising the parish resources, budget, and plant maintenance. The committee develops the budget with the pastor for approval by the Parish Council. The committee also reviews, approves, and signs the annual financial report of the parish. Consent of this committee is required before an amount in excess of $3,000 is spent on unbudgeted items.
Recommendations of this committee are regulated by Church law, by decisions and norms of the Bishop, and by the diocesan Finance Council. The committee also communicates and cooperates with the Parish Council regarding parish fundraising efforts.
Liturgy Committee - The purpose of this committee is to plan and provide for the spiritual development of our parish community through liturgies, devotions, and other programs that enable people to pray and to love God. They are responsible for Sunday worship through solicitation and formation of special ministers of Liturgy, including extraordinary ministers of Communion, lectors, sacristans, servers, ushers/greeters, and caretakers of the altar and sanctuary. They also assist in preparing for holy days and special days of prayer.
Social - The Social Committee plans parish activities which bring everyone together so we can get to know each other better. The committee hosts holiday events and plans receptions for special occasions.