Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical Ministry volunteers assist at Mass and other liturgical functions, such as weddings and baptisms, by performing vital functions such as planning, preparing the church and the sacramentals, and washing linens and other clean-up functions. If you are interested in assisting with any of these ministries, please email the appropriate contact person listed below, the Liturgical Coordinator (Kellie Daniel), or contact the parish office at (301) 373-2281 to have your request forwarded to the appropriate person.
Please see the Music Ministry section if you are looking for information on St. John's Music Ministry.
If you are looking for information about the Liturgical Committee, please click here.
This is a ministry of lay men and women who are trained by the Archdiocesan Office for Worship after being invited by the pastor and appointed by the Archbishop to serve an initial 3-year term of service. EMHCs help with the distribution of Holy Communion at daily and weekend Masses. EMHCs show the greatest reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist by their demeanor, their attire, and the manner in which they handle the consecrated bread and wine.
Sacristans
Coordinator: Mariam Tavarez
Sacristans are a small group, chosen by the pastor or pastoral assistant, who prepare for all liturgical needs for Mass, ensuring that there are enough altar servers, EMHCs, and lectors present. There is a sacristan assigned to each Mass time. All sacristans must be certified EMHCs and may be required to perform this role at Mass if needed. Sacristans have two main roles: Mass setup and cleanup and Mass coordinator.
Altar servers are called by the Holy Spirit to serve at Mass. Some of them receive the call themselves, some of them serve based on their parents' wishes. No matter how they are called, serving on the altar and assisting the priest at Mass is a blessing and should be cherished. To become an altar server, you must be in at least the 5th grade and must attend three one-hour training sessions. These sessions usually occur during Lent. If you are interested in becoming an altar server, please contact the coordinator.
Readers
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Coordinator: Mariam Tavarez
Please contact the parish office at (301) 373-2281 if you would like to help.
Readers assist at Mass by reading the 1st and 2nd readings, and sometimes the responsorial psalm and Gospel acclamation as well. Readers should be parishioners with good reading and speaking skills and should be conscious of the dignity of their office, dressing neatly and conducting themselves appropriately at Mass.
Linen Caretakers
Coordinator: Peggy Dillow
Please contact the parish office at (301) 373-2281 if you would like to help.
Seasonal Decorating Committee
Coordinator: Keri Davis
Please contact the parish office at (301) 373-2281 if you would like to help.
Do you ever wonder how the altar linens stay so neat? It is because a group of dedicated individuals take the time to wash and iron each cloth with special care. Occasionally one will need a stitch or two and is repaired when necessary. Parishioners interested in helping with this hidden but vital service should contact the coordinator.
The Seasonal Decorating Committee decorates the church for significant celebrations such as Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. We meet prior to an event to plan what will be used, how many people will be needed, and work with the pastor and the St. John’s staff to determine our time frames for decorating. We enjoy implementing creative ideas and are rewarded by the successful transformation of the church in an expression of joy for the season. Meetings occur when needed prior to an event or holy day.