Ministries

Annas of the Altar
The Annas of the Altar are a small group of women, and at times a few men, who work behind the scenes to care for the altar, candles, flowers, and altar table linens, as well as maintain the supply of hosts for communion.

Altar Servers
Altar Servers assist the priest during the Mass.

Any boy or girl in grade Three and up including adults are welcome to serve in this Ministry.

Bereavement Ministry
The Bereavement Luncheon Committee at St. Peter Church was organized in 1991 to assist families at a difficult time. Often the loss of a loved one can leave a family overwhelmed with details and arrangements. We provide a funeral luncheon for the family and friends of the deceased. This luncheon is offered to registered parishioners. The committee is made up entirely of volunteers, who help in salad, sandwich and dessert preparations, setting up, serving, and cleaning up after the luncheon.
For more details, or if you would like to assist this committee please contact the rectory.

Divine Mercy Prayer Group
In the 1930's our Lord gave a simple chaplet which could be recited on rosary beads to a Polish nun, Blessed Faustina Kowalska, and commissioned her to promote a devotion to His Divine Mercy. He gave many promises surrounding this devotion, including "Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy", and "through the chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with my Will".
The Divine Mercy prayer group meets at 9:00 - 9:45am each Tuesday in the Church to recite the chaplet and the Rosary.

Finance & Administration
The Finance and Administration Council is a body of members of the Parish Community who share the following goals and values:

To assist the pastor in the administration of the finances and temporal goods of the Parish; to first and foremost support Stewardship by the careful and prudent administration of the parish funds, to be themselves participants in striving toward tithing; to prepare the annual budget, and monitor same during the year; to set goals for the maintenance and repair or renovation of the physical plant of St. Peter Church, as well as make sure that there is financial support for the spiritual education programs of the parish. The Council also sees to the monthly tithe distribution to charities.

The Council is the only parish committee mandated by Canon Law. They meet approximately 7 times a year. Membership is a limited number, and is by appointment by the Pastor after an interview.

Greeters, Ushers & Collectors
Our Greeters are the welcomers to church each weekend.
The usher, usually one person at each Mass, is responsible for "recruiting" the collectors, and bringing up the gifts at the offertory when necessary, and assisting any parishioner during Mass when needed.

Knights of Columbus Council 10973
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic organization for men 18 years of age or older, who are dedicated to helping the poor, disabled, mentally challenged and suffering. Working with the State Council and our parish, we help in any way we can. Many volunteer hours are spent in efforts to aid people. Some examples include the battered women's program, the Kidney Foundation and many others. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm, in the Parish Hall.

Lectors
A Lector proclaims the Word of God at the Mass, and prayerfully reflects and prepares for this Ministry. The Lector receives a Workbook each year, which helps in their preparation and understanding of the Readings.

Liturgy Committee
The Liturgy Committee, along with the Pastor, is responsible for planning the Liturgical celebration throughout the Church year. The Committee plans the Penitential Services at Christmas and Easter, as well as the special Liturgies at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Holy Week and Easter. The transformations you see at the special Masses and different times of the year come mostly from this Committee.
Membership is open to any registered parishioner. The Committee meets on the first Tuesday of the month from September through May.

Music Ministry
Choir members meet twice a month ofr rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from September through May. They sing as a group on special Feasts, during Holy Week, Easter Sunday, Christmas, Holy Days of Obligation and Confirmation. Two instrumentalists volunteer their time at the 8:00am Mass each week. As often as possible a member of the Choir leads the parish in song at Mass. If you would like to become a part of the choir, please contact the rectory, and your name will be forwarded to the Music Minister.

Parish Nurse
     The parish nurse program has been in existence at St. Peter Church since November 1998. It is currently sponsored by CMC community services, and coordinated by Kathy Perrin RN. There is a nurse available for blood pressure screening and nurse consultation from 7:30 until 10:00 every Friday morning in the parish hall. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or should have your blood pressure checked for any reason, this is an easy way to have it done. If you have questions about medications or health concerns, the nurse is able to answer them also. I

     Drop by the parish hall any Friday morning between 7:30 and 10:00 to meet a nurse, have your blood pressure taken, or your health and medication questions answered.
If you have questions or comments, email: rksperrin@aol.com

Pastoral Council
In the Preamble to the Constitution of the Pastoral Council of St. Peter Catholic Community, it is stated:
We, the people of St. Peter Catholic Community, are one family in Christ. We are called to respect and care for one another and to strive always to live Christ's commandment: "Love one another as I have Loved you".

The purpose of the Pastoral Council is, through prayer and reflection, to study the life and activity of the people of God; that is, to research the needs, the ideas, the hopes of the people of God, their actions and so on; secondly, to evaluate the parish in conformity with the Gospel; and thirdly, to recommend policies, procedures, and programs. The Pastoral Council is subject to the laws of the Universal Church and the statures of the Diocese of Manchester. As such, the activities of the Council are subject to the approval of the Pastor. The Pastor, as a parish leader, will bring a sense of vision and direction to the Council.
Membership on our Pastoral Council is open to all registered members of the parish 18 years and over, who are fully initiated in the Church and in good standing with the Church.

Members serve a three-year term. The membership of the Council is as follows: three members are discerned, three are appointed by the pastor, and each of the three standing committees of the parish are represented by one of their members.
The Council meets the second Tuesday of the month, from August through May.

St. Peter Prayer Line
Our Prayer line began in 1990 and has continued to be active. Our members pray for the intentions of parishioners, the community at large, or families and friends, local and or out of state. The prayer line coordinators receive intentions and contact a designated group of people who in turn contact members assigned to them. In this way 35 or more people are praying for each intention. Each intention is actively prayed for during a period of one month unless otherwise requested. All intentions are kept confidential. This is a prayerful ministry that does not require meetings or going out of your home. We welcome new members to join us in praying for those who are ill, going through difficult times, are less fortunate than ourselves or those who need prayers for strength and courage.
If you would like to become a member of the prayer line, contact one of the coordinators listed on the bulletin cover. or see the contacts page of this web-site.

Respect Life Committee
The Respect Life Committee at St. Peter Church is a small group of people who are dedicated to the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death. This is primarily a prayer ministry, but there are occasional opportunities to attend regional Pro-Life conferences, if interested. It is also this committee's responsibility to keep the parish informed of pending bills which pertain to Life issues and provide information for individuals to contact the proper Representatives to voice their opinions. We have been involved with several post-card drives to ban Partial Birth Abortion, and participate annually in the Crisis Pregnancy Walk-a-thon.

Special Ministers of the Eucharist
Ministers must be, at the minimum, confirmed, practicing Catholics in good stead with the Church; if married, in a valid marriage; a commitment to weekly church attendance and reception of Communion. Some of the Ministers also bring Communion to our homebound parishioners.

St. Peter Women's Guild
The Women's Guild meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from September through May, and is open to any women parishioner 18 years and older. The Guild balance service, spiritual and social activities throughout the year, including speakers, a craft night, a Christmas Yankee Swap, and a closing Mass in the Spring.