Volunteering

Altar Servers

The Altar Server must be a fully initiated Catholic, and an active and full participant in the celebration.  They are an assistant to the Priest during the Mass - with Altar Servers at both weekday and weekend Masses.  Training is given, with continuing support in the ministry.

For weekend Masses, the Server needs to arrive at least 15 minutes before the Mass.

Baptism Ministry

Baptisms are celebrated during the 5pm vigil and 9am Sunday Masses on the first and third Sunday of the month.  The Baptism Ministry team assist with setting up for the Baptism prior to Mass, welcoming the Baptism family/families, and assisting Father with the Baptism during the Mass. 

The Baptism Ministry assistant is required to arrive 30 minutes before the start of Mass.

Children's Liturgy Teachers

Children's Liturgy for Primary School aged children is held at the 9am Mass each Sunday morning during school terms.  Children gather in the Parish Centre during the Liturgy of the Word.

Teachers and those who enjoy teaching are warmly invited to participate in this ministry.  Support is provided.

Communion Ministers

Communion Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) are required to be fully initiated Catholics and 16 years of age or older.

The Communion Ministers assist the Priest with the distribution of Communion during Mass or Parish Liturgies and may be involved in taking communion to those members of the parish who are unable to be present at the celebration of the Eucharist.  The Communion Ministers are called not only to minister the Body and Blood of Christ to the community, but also are called to be an example of Christ.

The Minister may nominate a specific Mass at which to serve.  Training is provided.

A Communion Minister is required to be at church at least 20 minutes before Mass, and to assist with Welcoming.

Mass Coordinators

A Mass Coordinator ensures that all the Ministers for the Mass (Readers, Communion Ministers etc.) have arrived, and approaches people for the offertory and the collection.  The Mass Coordinator also remains alert to needs as they arise during the Mass.

A Mass Coordinator is required to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of Mass.

Music Ministry Team

All Saints is well known for its vibrant music ministry which helps bring the liturgy alive at weekend Masses and special celebrations throughout the year.

The Music Ministry Team loves to serve the community by using their gifts of music and song.  Singers and musicians are always welcome!

Projectionists

Screens are used in the church to project words of songs, responses etc.  The screens are operated from the sound desk.  Rosters for projectionists are drawn up each month.  We are always in need of more helpers - training is provided.

Readers

Readers, who proclaim the Word, are rostered on at their preferred Mass approximately once per month.

Workshops and the resource Break Open the Word enable Ministers to develop their talents and the appreciation of the role.  Preparation time is important for effective proclamation.

As well as proclaiming the Readings for the day, the First Reader will welcome everyone before the Mass begins, and the Second Reader will lead the Prayers of Intercession.

A Reader is required to be at Church at least 15 minutes before the beginning of Mass.

Sound Desk

Do you have a good ear for sound?  No special technical skills required and training provided!  Rosters are drawn up each month - and we would love to hear from you!

Welcome and Hospitality Ministry

Visitors and new parishioners at All Saints often comment about the warm welcoming atmosphere of our parish.  This is not accidental! As Welcome is one of our four parish pillars, All Saints intentionally focuses on ensuring that every person feels that they belong in our community whenever they attend Mass or other parish events.  Our church-door Welcomers and after-Mass tea, coffee and snack Hospitality Ministers are vital to the success of this ministry.  If you are friendly, outgoing and like meeting people you are perfect fit!

Church-door Welcomers are required to be at Church at least 30 minutes before the beginning of Mass.

Bible Jottings

A small article is included in the Parish Newsletter each week.

Its purpose is to bring the world and word of the Gospels to the parishioners living with the worldview of the 21st Century.  It is to enrich their love of Jesus and to concentrate on his message of the Kingdom of God, and of his commandment to 'Love one another, as I have loved you.' (Jn 13:34).

It is a reminder of Jesus' words, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me' (Jn 14:6) and the meaning they hold.  It is written also to engage interest in the development of people's spirituality and love of God, using Church directives and contemporary examples.

Church Cleaners

This ministry doesn’t require any special skills, other than the ability to vacuum, dust, clean glass wall panels and low-level louvres, sweep/operate battery powered air blower, mop the tiles in the church and the gathering space. No toilet cleaning is involved. The cleaning works are done voluntarily with the love for the House of God and his people.

The maximum time required for a team’s roster of a small band of friends or helpers is about two hours, and is done once weekly on Saturday mornings, from 8am. Each team is rostered for up to five times per year, with roster updates in March, August and December. A kindly reminder about the team’s turn is provided by the coordinators, and shown in the parish newsletter.

Safeguarding requirements are needed to clean the church during school hours e.g. on Friday afternoons.

Flower Arrangers

This group of volunteers gives their time to beautify the church. They arrange the flowers for the weekend Masses, for one month each. It is very rewarding work.

No experience is necessary and most of the members are untrained. The flower arranger chooses the flowers from nearby designated suppliers and arranges the flowers in vases available in the church. The cost of the flowers is borne by the parish.

Grounds Maintenance Team

This team of volunteers looks after the church grounds - mowing lawns, trimming edges, hedges and branches, and tidying up the surrounding areas of leaves and rubbish. Tools are provided, and members can bring their own tools, if desired.

The team may be called upon to do some in-house maintenance e.g. cleaning above floor level, changing light bulbs and removing cobwebs.

The group meets on a Saturday morning at 8am for a couple of hours, with a break for morning tea, which is provided.

The frequency of the working bees is fortnightly from about mid-Spring to late Summer, and whenever necessary at other times of the year.

Liturgy Team

The Liturgy Group meets once a month in the Church and is responsible for planning the Sunday liturgies, as well as the liturgies for special occasions, e.g. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.  Meetings are approximately one and a half hours in duration, depending on the agenda.

The group strives to enhance the Liturgy through the media of Music, Art, Reading and Environment.

Preparation of the Church is an essential part of All Saints' celebrations.  The environmental artists are called upon for occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Social Justice Sunday, to enhance the worship space with appropriate symbols.

Piety Stall

The Piety Stall is stocked with an assortment of religious goods for a wide range of occasions and celebrations.

Popular items include rosary beads, medals, crosses, holy pictures, wedding candles, book marks, as well as bibs, candles and presents for Baptisms. A selection of Christian books and bibles for all ages is available.

Ordering and purchasing of items are organised through the parish office. Meeting and interacting with fellow parishioners and visitors makes this ministry most rewarding.

The Well - Hospitality

The Well is a ministry for our school aged children, that is held on a monthly/bi-monthly basis on a Fridays from 5.30pm - 7.00pm.  The Well commences with a sausage sizzle, and helpers are required to BBQ and set up for Hospitality from approximately 4.30pm.  If you are able to assist, your help would be greatly appreciated!

Youth Group Leaders

Our Youth Group is aimed at youth from Year 6 and above.  Youth Group is held until 8pm, commencing after the 5pm Saturday Vigil Mass once a month during school terms. 

If you are 18 years or above and enjoy working with youth, we'd love to hear from you! 

Religious Instruction in State Schools

Queensland Law permits all religions and denominations to teach Religious Instruction in State Schools.

There are three State Primary Schools in the area – Albany Creek, Albany Hills and Eatons Hill - and the Albany Creek State High School. Our parish has provided many volunteer teachers at these schools since early days of the parish, beginning with Fr Ron.

The Religious Instruction taught at the schools is of the Christian faith, and is ecumenical, crossing all denominational boundaries. Because of family, work and other commitments, teachers may not be able to continue, so this ministry is constantly in need of new teachers.

Training and ongoing support are given to each volunteer, and children use a booklet for the lessons. No teaching experience is necessary and teaching manuals are provided.

Each teacher can take lessons up to two half-hour lessons per week, with preparation being up to a couple of hours. This varies according to the content of the lesson and the enthusiasm of the volunteer.

St Vincent de Paul Conference

More than a Hand Out - a Hand Up...

All Saints' St Vincent de Paul Conference is part of a worldwide community, established in Paris in 1833.  Members of the Conference put their Christian faith into action, by helping people in need - personally, materially and socially.  Attending to these needs, the people's spiritual needs can also be met.

The members share their time and talent, striving to develop their own faith through prayer, spiritual reading and discussion, providing an opportunity to review what has been done and what needs to be done.

At the heart of this is the sharing of themselves, person to person, and the sharing of food, clothing, shelter, furniture and skills, to help people get back onto their feet and decide a new direction in their lives.  It enables members to do together what they could not do alone, in coming together in mutual support and encouragement.  Visits are always made in pairs.

The parish community is involved in the activities through fund raising, supplying Christmas hampers to local families, as well as providing donation bins in the Parish Centre for unwanted clothing and goods which go to the local Vinnies Shops at Albany Creek and Lawnton.

For more information see St Vincent de Paul Society QLD (vinnies.org.au).