“When the Scriptures are read in church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in His own word, is proclaiming the gospel.” (General Instructions of the Roman Missal #29)

The Ministry of the Word must be carried out with great dignity. The faithful to whom we proclaim rely on the lectors to bring them to a fuller understanding of the sacred scriptures. To that end, it is necessary to be a competent reader with an ability to proclaim with clarity and ease in public. Prayerful preparation and mindful meditation of the scripture is encouraged prior to the lector’s reading.  Lectors are scheduled approximately once a month (depending on number of volunteers), according to availability and preferred Mass time, with the schedule distributed approximately 2-3 months at a time.

Training is required before becoming a Proclaimer of the Word. If this is a ministry to which you feel called, please call the office for more information.

The role of being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the Mass is to assist the priest, who is the ordinary minister of Holy Communion, in distributing the Body and Blood* of Christ to the faithful who come forward for Holy Communion.

The people called to this ministry are called to be Love Servants at the Eucharistic Feast, in service to God and our Church to share the Body and Blood of Christ through our Priest to our faith community. The Eucharist has been and continues to be the ongoing faith connection and perpetual memorial we profess and celebrate between the Paschal Christ and the Risen Christ.  Eucharistic Ministers are scheduled approximately once a month (depending on number of volunteers), according to availability and preferred Mass time, with the schedule distributed approximately 2-3 months at a time.

Training is required before becoming a Eucharistic Minister. If this is a ministry to which you feel called,  please contact the office for more information.
*in the Diocese of Victoria, distribution of the Precious Blood is currently on hold due to the pandemic.

The participants in this ministry process and recess the cross and candles (depending on number) into the church at the beginning and end of, and assist the priest to perform his tasks throughout, the Mass.  Altar servers need to be familiar with the names and functions of the various sacred vessels, as well as the Order of the Mass, and must have received their First Sacraments.  Usually, altar servers are children or teenagers, but adults disposed to the ministry can serve as well.  Currently in our parish, there is no schedule as such; anyone who has received the appropriate training and is inclined to serve, may- they should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of Mass, and check in with the priest.

Training is required before assisting the priest as an Altar Server. If this is a ministry to which you or your child feel called, please contact the office for more information. 

Sunday assemblies should always have something of the warm conviviality of a family reunion, and- as they are the first contact with those assembling- ushers have an important role to play in setting this tone.  They provide an essential ingredient that prepares the congregation for the recreative work of the Holy Spirit, who labours mightily in the celebration to make all who share in it "one body, one spirit in Christ".  Ushers assist in assuring the smooth flow of the Mass, by helping to seat people in a timely or non-disruptive manner, by taking up the collection, and by directing the flow of traffic during the distribution of Holy Communion.  They must be prepared for the unexpected, and would play an important role in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Ushers are scheduled according to availability and preferred Mass; currently, this is approximately every other week, but with more volunteers, the commitment will become less.  A clear Criminal Record Check is required for anyone volunteering in this ministry.

Training and a current Criminal Record Check are required before serving the parish as an Usher. If this a ministry to which you feel called, please contact the office for more information.

"When we turn to God, there is always something ineffable and unsaid left over. Then music can help out. In rejoicing, language becomes song - that is why the angels sing. Music in a worship service should make prayer more beautiful and more fervent, move more deeply the hearts of all in attendance and bring them closer to God, and prepare for God a feast of melody." (YOUCAT 183)

Holy Family Notre Dame has two music groups, each with their own style:

• Saturday Mass music group (5:00 pm) is accompanied with guitar, and rehearses at 4:00 pm Saturdays in the upstairs (staff) kitchen.
• Sunday Mass music choir (10:00 am) is accompanied with organ and/or keyboard, as well as guitar, and rehearses* at 4:00 pm on Thursdays in the church                                                                                

If you are in the congregation, you are part of the choir, so sing out to praise our Lord!  If you play an instrument (even if it's not one mentioned above), or would enjoy sharing your voice with us, please reach out to the office, or feel free to just attend a rehearsal time.
*rehearsals are on hold for the summer months, and will resume September 15

The participants in this ministry play a vital role in the community life of our parish, by visiting the sick, the elderly, the homebound and taking Holy Communion to them on a weekly basis.  Volunteers attend Mass on Friday mornings, where they receive the number of consecrated hosts they require and pick up the weekly bulletin; after Mass they go directly to begin their visits, either in Care Homes, the hospital, or in the recipient's own home.  In addition to the other requirements for all parish volunteers, Visitation Ministers are required to complete the Diocese of Victoria's Pastoral Care Outreach course (upcoming sessions are September 24-November 26, 2022 and January 28-April 8, 2023), and need a clear Criminal Record Check.

Training and a current Criminal Record Check is required before participating as a volunteer in this ministry. If this is a ministry to which you feel called, contact Paul or Helen Cornthwaite at [email protected], or reach out to the office.

As a local faith community of the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Victoria upholds and promotes the values expressed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the teachings and laws of the Catholic Church. This means, among other things, that the Diocese takes a stance of deep respect for the dignity of all persons and commits itself to the well-being of all persons.

The dignity of all are respected within the parishes and schools of the Diocese of Victoria. This encompasses its programs and facilities, those we serve, particularly the young and the vulnerable as well as those who serve; clergy, religious, employees and volunteers in general.  To assist in this work, each parish has an RMSE coordinator who is responsible for ensuring that all parish and Diocesan protocols relating to volunteers are met; our parish's RMSE coordinator is Anne Wintersgill. 

If you have any questions regarding these protocols, or would like to assist the coordinator with this work, please reach out to the office or email [email protected].  If you need to report suspected abuse, please click here.