Stewardship Prayer

“Almighty and ever-faithful Lord, gratefully acknowledging Your mercy and humbly admitting our need, we pledge our trust in You and in each other. Filled with desire, the Roman Catholic parish of St. Mary of the Woods responds to Your call for discipleship by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ. We profess that the call requires us to be stewards of Your gifts. As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully, cherish and tend them in a responsible manner, share them in practice and love with others, and return them with increase to you, Lord. We pledge to our ongoing formation as stewards and our responsibility to call others to that same endeavor.  Almighty and ever-faithful God, it is our fervent hope and prayer that You who have begun the good work in us will bring to fulfillment in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Stewardship Witness Talks – 2023

Stewardship Witness Talk 1 –

Leslie Leonard

Stewardship Witness Talk 2 –

Tara Kirkpatrick

Stewardship Witness Talk 3 –

Cory Smith

Stewardship Witness Talk 4 –

Brad Pedley

Ministry Name Ministry Description
Service Through Prayer  
1. Perpetual Adoration Adorer Volunteers commit to spending one hour a week with Our Lord.
2. Perpetual Adoration Substitute Volunteer to be on the sub list and spend one hour with Our Lord on an as needed basis.
3. Prayer Chain Prays daily for the special needs of the parish. Be part of the church family who receives prayer requests by text or phone.
4. Rosary/Chaplet Leader Lead the communal recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet before a weekend Mass.
Service Through Worship/Spiritual Life  
5. Worship/Spiritual Life Committee Prepares for various liturgical celebrations, parish retreats, and missions. Meets bi-monthly.
6. Art and Environment Committee Help with seasonal and monthly liturgical decorating of the church environment. Artist, seamstress, or flower arranger are needed. Assist in design, setup, and take down of decorations and/or care of flowers or plants in the worship space.
7. Altar Server (3rd Grade, after 1st Communion, to Adults) Serves at the Lord’s Altar for weekend, holy day, and funeral Masses. A great way to be involved and learn more about the Liturgy. Training required.
8. Children’s Liturgy of the Word Catechist (age 21 and older) Liturgy of the Word is a proclamation of the Word of God adapted for children, 5 years of age through Grade 2, at the 4pm, 9am, and 11am Masses. Training and safe environment certified required.
9. Sacristan (Adults) Arrives at church early and prepares for the liturgy for weekend Mass and holy days of obligation. Training required.
10. Eucharist Minister (9th grade confirmed to Adults) Assists in the distribution of Holy Communion with reverence and dignity during weekend and holy day Masses. Must be confirmed and an active parishioner with a deep love of our Eucharistic Lord and receives Holy Communion. Training Required.
11. Eucharist Minister – Sick/Homebound/Hospitalized Takes Holy Communion to the homebound, nursing home residents, and/or hospital patients. Training Required.
12. Lector (9th grade Confirmed to Adults) Proclaims the Word at weekend and holy day Masses. Must be an active parishioner with a deep appreciation of God’s Word. Training required.
13. Minister of Hospitality (Individuals or Families) Welcome and greet all who come to weekend and holy day Masses. You may be the only contact many people have with our faith community. Assist in taking up the collection, distributing bulletins, and helping in any emergencies that occur. Training required.
14. Gift Bearer Your family represents the Church family by bringing our offerings to the altar during weekend and holy day Masses.
15. Parish Choir (High school through adult) Opportunity with music ministry at weekend and holy day Masses.
16. Cantor Opportunity with music ministry at weekend and holy day Masses. The cantor leads the assembly in sung prayer.
17. Instrumentalist Opportunity with music ministry at weekend and holy day Masses.
18. Member of a Music Group Opportunity with music ministry at weekend and holy day Masses.
19. Cleaning Altar Linens Launder altar linens and albs. This a monthly rotation.
20. Seamstress Help to mend or to make altar linens, corporals, purificators, and other church items.
21. Altar Care Commit to dusting, cleaning, and vacuuming the sanctuary and sacristy of the church. The ministry includes dusting all the statuary and care of the holy water fonts. This is a monthly rotation.
Service Through Education/Formation  
22. Education/Formation Committee Members are responsible for setting goals and objectives to meet the faith formation needs of the entire community, and for monitoring and evaluating programs designed to carry out these goals and objectives. Meets quarterly.
23. Families of Faith Catechist Faith formation program for Catholic students who attend public school, Kindergarten through 8th grade. Classes held one Wednesday night a month at 6:00PM during the academic year. Must be Safe Environment Certified.
24. Families of Faith Aide Assists the religious education Catechist in the families of faith classroom during the academic year. Must be Safe Environment Certified.
25. Families of Faith Substitute Catechist Volunteer to be on a sub list.  Must be Safe Environment Certified.
26. RCIA Sponsor RCIA – (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is process is for adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith to discern initiation. Sessions held Tuesday evenings.  An RCIA Sponsor is to be a Spiritual friend to the Candidate/Catechumen.
27. RCIA Refreshments & Hospitality Team Provides refreshments for the participants in the RCIA process on specific Tuesday evenings during the year. Hospitality Team will alternate being host for the night, greeting people and serving refreshments.
28. Adult Ed Facilitator/Coordinator Guides discussion and reflection of an adult education (Bible/faith study) group. Materials are supplied to assist in leading.
29. Sponsor Couple Mentoring Married couple meets in their home with engaged couples to help them prepare for the vocation of marriage. Minimum of 10 years of marriage. Training required.
30. Vacation Bible School Aides and Volunteers Help with a one week religious education program in the summer for children 4 years of age through 6th grade. Requires Safe Environment training if volunteer is an adult.
31. Youth Ministry Core Team Member (Adults, 21 years of age and older) Plan and execute gatherings for our parish youth. Training provided.
32. Youth Ministry Food & Refreshment You will be called upon in advance to provide a meal, snack and drinks for youth ministry activities, generally feeding 10-15.
33. Young Adult Core Team Member Plan and execute gatherings for the young adults of the parish ages  18-39. Training provided.
St. Mary of the Woods  
34. SCRIP Volunteer Volunteers needed after weekend Masses to sell scrip.  Each team volunteers 2-3 weekends a year.
35. SMWS School Council As an advisory school council members make recommendations and support the school through active involvement with fundraising activities.
36. Endowment Fund Committee SMWS Oversees the appropriate, timely allocation and tracking of funds. Communicates the need for additional funds and insures appropriate disbursement. Members are nominated by Parish Council.
37. SMWS Office Volunteer Answer phones, make copies, and miscellaneous projects.
38. SMWS Cafeteria Volunteer 11:15am -12noon – Help K-2 students’ open items and wipe down tables.
39. SMWS Watering/Landscaping Help with watering and landscaping needed during spring and summer.
40. SMWS Summer Maintenance Volunteers to help with summer maintenance issues, including but not limited to carpentry, electrical, painting, plastering, plumbing, snow removal, and welding.
41. SMWS PTO Volunteers Help faculty and staff with various projects to benefit the school and its students.
42. SMWS Elementary Coaches Volunteers needed to coach varying sports and ages.
43. Bus Driver SMWS Volunteers needed to transport students to various school and athletic events.  Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with passenger endorsement.
Trinity High School  
44. THS Office Volunteer Help with stuffing envelopes, updating alumni contact information and the messaging system, answering phones, etc.
45. THS School Board The board oversees school operations, makes recommendations, and supports the school through active involvement with fundraising activities.
46. THS Endowment Fund Committee Oversees the appropriate, timely allocation and tracking of funds. Communicates the need for additional funds and insures appropriate disbursement. Members are nominated by Parish Council.
47. THS Bingo Volunteers (18 years or older) Bingo is the second largest source of income for THS. Volunteers work one night a month, Monday or Thursday, selling bingo papers, calling games, selling pull tabs.
48. Coaches for THS Athletics Volunteers needed to coach varying sports and ages.
49. Bus Driver THS Volunteers needed to transport students to various school and athletic events.  Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with passenger endorsement.
50. THS Summer Maintenance Volunteers to help with summer maintenance issues, including but not limited to carpentry, electrical, painting, plastering, plumbing, snow removal, and welding.
51. Horn Center Volunteer Serve as a volunteer in the Horn Community Center concession stand for sporting and other events and would be willing to occasionally serve by assisting with parking lot duty and deep cleaning.
Service to the Parish Community  
52. Welcoming Committee This group coordinates our quarterly meals to welcome new individuals and families to the parish and assigns sponsor families as requested.
53. Sponsor Family Sponsor families to be paired with a newly registered family so they feel welcomed, have a point of contact and provide support. The sponsor family may invite the new family to various functions, sit with them at Mass, or call to check in with them.
54. Social Life Committee Serve as a member to help identify the interests and needs of our parish families and coordinates socials and potlucks for the faith community. Meets quarterly.
55. Host/Hostess Coffee & Donuts This group coordinates Donut Sunday by preparing the food, preparing the tables, serving the donuts/coffee, and clean-up.
56. Family Support Ministry Generous volunteers provide support for families with overwhelming emergency needs; the support is in many forms, including household help or meals.
57. Parish Picnic Committee Oversees the coordination and implementation of parish picnics.
58. Parish Picnic Volunteer Our annual parish picnics bring our parish family and the surrounding community together. There are many ways to help, including; set-up, clean-up, food service, managing stands, facilitating games, working in various booths, and more.
59. Young at Heart Core Team Core team to coordinate social and spiritual gatherings for parish members 50 and over. Members meet for fellowship, food, and games.
60. Parish Nurse

Parish nursing emphasizes health and healing within a faith community.  A parish nurse provides surveillance for members and refers to physicians for diagnosis and treatment, teaches families about medications, understands the spiritual dimension and need of clients and makes referrals to the spiritual leaders within the parish.   

61. Funeral Meal Team This group coordinates the funeral meals by preparing the food, preparing the tables, serving the meals, and clean-up.
62. Funeral Meal Volunteer Our parish family provides a meal following the funeral for the family of a deceased member. The need is to provide a dish when called upon.
63. Outreach Committee Coordinates social justice efforts locally, nationally, and globally such as Buddy bags, Cards of Care, Daniel Pitino Shelter and the Giving Tree. Meets quarterly.
63a. Buddy Bags Assist with the ministry of putting together comfort bags for children in crisis.
63b. Cards of Care Assist with the ministry of sending greeting cards to our parishioners who are homebound and in nursing homes.
63c. Daniel Pitino Shelter Assist with the Saturday cooking and serving at the homeless shelter in Owensboro.  Teams cook six times a year.
63d. Giving Tree Assist with organization and delivery of gifts for those in need.
64. Transportation Outreach This is a service that will allow those who would like to come to church but need assistance or cannot drive.
65. Bereavement/Grief Core Team Coordinates grief ministry gatherings for parishioners grieving loss.
66. Knights of Columbus The largest Catholic fraternal service organization open to Catholic men.
67. St. Vincent de Paul Volunteers to help at the thrift store.
Service Through Administration  
68. Office Receptionist Assistance is needed in answering the phone, greeting visitors, scrip sales and light office work Monday through Friday. Commitment is three hours a week.
69. Finance Committee Assists the business manager and pastor in developing and managing the parish annual budget. Membership is by appointment. Meets monthly.
70. Stewardship Committee Responsible for the program of stewardship.  Meets bi-monthly.
71. Parish Pastoral Council Assist the pastor in the pastoral planning and care of the parish. Helps provide leadership, set goals, and coordinate parish activities. Membership is by nomination for a three-year term. Meets monthly.
72. Technology Committee This committee advises on issues regarding security, sound system, computer, website, and other related issues.
73. Live Streaming Volunteers to Live Stream Sunday 9AM Mass.
74. Money Counting Team Volunteers to help with the counting of the weekly Parish collection.  Teams rotate every other month.
75. Together We Can! Steering Committee By appointment only. Committee that manages the general course of the Together We Can! Capital Campaign for the new school.
Service Through Maintenance  
76. Church Cleaning Help with various aspects of cleaning the church. This is a quarterly service that a family and individuals can do together.
77. Maintenance Volunteers Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with general maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties.
77a. Maintenance Volunteers – Carpentry Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to carpentry.
77b. Maintenance Volunteers – Electrical Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to electrical.
77c. Maintenance Volunteers – Painting Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to painting.
77d. Maintenance Volunteers – Plaster Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to plaster.
77e. Maintenance Volunteers – Plumbing Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to plumbing.
77f. Maintenance Volunteers – Snow Removal Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with snow removal on the parish grounds and cemetery.
77g. Maintenance Volunteers – Welding Volunteers to assist the Director of Maintenance with maintenance and repair of the parish facilities and properties pertaining to welding.
78. Gardening/Weeding This is a service that a family and individuals can do together. You can pick the time and day to weed, etc. This is on a weekly rotation system through spring, summer, and fall.
79. Cemetery Volunteers are needed for tasks throughout the year to keep the cemetery maintained.