MINISTRIES

Please contact the Life Center at 446-1387

 if you would like to take part in any of our ministries.  

Our Advent Season begins with the evening mass followed by the Lighting of Our Nativity Crib on our Church Grounds. Refreshments are served in the Rectory following this event.  All are welcome!

The purpose of the St. Joseph Altar Servers is to assist the priest in the celebration of the Mass as well as other Liturgical Celebrations.  Any boy or girl who has made their First Communion and is in the third grade may be an altar server.  Training sessions are under the direction of the Pastor or Associate Pastor. 

This ministry is responsible for the upkeep of the altar linens, purchase of altar cloths and cleaning the church altar.  There are no meetings and services are provided on a weekly basis.  Men or women are invited to join this group.  Must be able to negotiate steps easily.

The purpose of Baptismal Preparation is to educate the parents and godparents of the new baby (in our church family) in their responsibilities in bringing up their child in the Catholic faith.  A baptismal video is presented at the seminar, which is held the  month at the Life Center.  They will view an educational film and they will be instructed in the procedure for receiving the sacrament of Baptism.  We have volunteers who are grouped into teams and are called on to present the seminar once or twice a year.  Any baptized Catholic may qualify to be a volunteer.

The mission of BISCO is to build a powerful interfaith, multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-issue organization that serves as a voice for low and moderate-income persons in South Louisiana.  The goals of BISCO are:

• To train people in the skills needed to build an organization able to respond to the needs of their community.

• To provide the citizens of South Louisiana with a real say in the political, economic, and social decisions that affect their lives.

• To hold public officials of South Louisiana accountable and to work with them to create solutions to community problems.

Members learn to listen to citizens concerns to plan and conduct meetings, and to interact with public officials while facilitating public meetings.

This active ministry meets once a week on Wednesday afternoons to peel and stick mailing labels on the weekly bulletin and various parish mailing.  This committee is open to all volunteers, men and women. If interested in participating in this ministry please call the Life Center Office.

Catholic Daughters

The Catholic Daughters of America, Court Anna Maria #993 was founded on April 11, 1926.  The purpose of this charity is for unity and charity.  The responsibilities of CDA are: Apostolate, Community, Renewal, Membership, Nursing Homes, and National CDA Day and much more.  They meet the second Monday of each month in the Life Center.

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist began with the Commissioning by Archbishop Hannan on March 28, 1972.  Their purpose is to assist the priest in administering the Holy Eucharist at masses on weekends or other services when available, and to bring communion to the sick at the hospital, nursing homes and to shut-ins.  This ministry is open to fully participating Catholics who have a deep love for the Eucharist and who realize each member of the worshiping community is to be Eucharist to each other and to the world.  If interested in more information please contact the Life Center Office.

Finance Council

The Parish Finance Committee assists the pastor in overseeing the parish finances and the management of its resources.  They review periodically the parish income and expenditures to determine if the parish is operating within the approved budget and provide the parishioners with periodic reports on its financial position.  The committee also studies the revenue and makes recommendations to the parish for maintaining or increasing the revenues in order to meet the parish objectives and priorities.

The purpose of our program is to prepare couples for marriage.  Our Parish has many focus teams that are trained by the diocese to administer the assessment instrument to our engaged couples.  This is done in your home at your convenience.  Two meetings are necessary to complete the process.  This worthwhile ministry gives our engaged couples the opportunity to meet married couples in our parish as well as to discuss various questions pertaining to beginning a new life as a couple.  We welcome new volunteers at any time.

The purpose of this ministry is to help the elderly and needy in our parish that are in need of small home repairs.  A group of men and women have joined their skills and resources together to offer these services.  Projects are determined by need and priority.  Volunteers need not be trained.

During the month of November a special drive for household items for the needy is held.  Parishioners participate by purchasing items listed on the bags.  These items are given to the Food Bank to distribute to those in need.

Contact Person:

                                      Mrs. Debbie Fournet

Jacobs Ladder

The members of this ministry clean the "House of the Lord". Men and Women come together twice a month on Tuesday mornings. All are welcome to share in our spirit as we clean and dust!

The purpose of the Jesse Tree Project is to collect, bag and tag gifts that are being distributed to the poor.  The project begins the first Sunday of Advent and carries on throughout the next three weeks.  The distribution date is usually the weekend before Christmas on a Saturday morning. This is a true family experience!!! Volunteers are needed to help with the bagging and tagging as well as distribution. 

The Ministry of Lector / Commentator was established to enable the laity to become more involved in a full, conscious and active participation during the liturgical celebrations.  The Lector is commissioned by the Bishop to proclaim the Word of God in our liturgical worship.  A training session is required to join this Ministry.

The Lenten Gumbo raises funds for the Good Samaritan Food Bank.  This group is comprised of approximately fifty volunteers that are known as "The Gumbo Gang."  These volunteers cook, serve and decorate for the six gumbo meals during the season of Lent.  The meal is served from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Each week a different theme is presented to add to the fun and festivities.  Volunteers are needed to bake cakes and donate food items for potato salad.

  LIFETEEN is a group of young people committed to worshiping our God at the 6:00 p.m. Life Nights   follow  in the Life House.  Adult Volunteers bond together to guide our youth in Christian values and ideals. Sports, Social Events, Praise and Worship Nights, and Summer Trips are all a part of this experience. 

 For more information please call:

 Rachel LeBouef, Life Teen Director @ 446-1387

Living Rosary

The purpose of the Living Rosary is to honor the Blessed Mother during the month of October.  This is done in a youth setting incorporating the school students from St. Joseph Elementary, E. D. White Organizations and Religious Ed. students from St. Joseph Parish as well as other organizations.  Our group gathers in a candlelight ceremony to say the rosary in the E. D. White Stadium.  This is a well-attended event and one in which all of our students are given the opportunity to join in worship and praise together.

The purpose of marriage preparation is to help engaged couples in our parish to learn the art of communication.  A program that was developed by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, this service requires married couples to act as facilitators in group sessions.  The married couples must be trained by the diocese to represent our parish.  The commitment to this ministry is once or twice a year on a Sunday from 9:00AM to 4:30PM.

Because of our growing demands in Parish Life we have found a need to develop a team of volunteers who will dedicate their time to setting up, decorating and cleaning up after various parish functions.  This team will function as a vital part of  our Parish .  Volunteers may call the Life Center to place their name on this team.  Men and women are needed.

May Crowning

The purpose of the May Crowning is to honor the Blessed Mother during the month of May.  It is an old tradition that has been brought back to strengthen our bonds as family as well as community.  The Church Gardens are the setting where  our 5:30 p.m. Mass is held.  The St. Joseph Folk Choir provides music, and flowers are brought as an offering to the Blessed Mother.

The Church Ushers are meant to facilitate the ministry of hospitality seeing to it that good order may be had in the celebration of he liturgy.  As Church hosts/hostesses their ministry is to make sure that the first face everyone sees at church is smiling; to greet people warmly; welcome strangers and make them feel at home; help people sit together; take up the collection; and to take care of any needs or emergencies that arise.  An Usher is a person of prayer who has a gift for hospitality, and is comfortable at welcoming regulars and strangers as well. Please call the Life Center Office if interested in participating.

Ministry to the Sick and Homebound

This ministry is a special apostolate oriented to reaching out to the sick and to the elderly who are confined in their private homes or nursing homes.  The volunteers help the priest in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Mass, leading the elderly to an active participation through their responses to the prayers and also in the singing.  Special Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist in the distribution of Holy Communion. Please call the Life Center Office if you are interested in this Ministry.

Mourning Glories

The groups of volunteers that call themselves the Mourning Glories prepare food for the Bereaved Families in our parish at funeral time.  Volunteers are divided into teams and work together to fix a "Care Package" for our families.  The food is delivered to the families with a parish note.  This activity is coordinated through our Central Office.

Music Ministry / Choirs

The St. Joseph Traditional Choir sings at the 9:30AM Sunday Mass.  Choir practice is held once a week on Wednesday evenings.

Sacred Folk consists of members who play guitar and flute.  Vocalists are welcome.  Practice is held once a week on Wednesdays at 7:30PM in the Life Center.

Our Nursery Program is offered during the 9:30 A.M. Mass on Sundays.  Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years are invited to participate.

Contact Person:

                                 Mrs. Leslie Tenney

Parkinson's Support Group

The Parkinson's Support Group at St. Joseph was founded in 1988.  The purpose of this organization is to provide education and information about Parkinson's disease.  This group also mentors with one another and provides emotional support to those who are afflicted with the disease.  The meetings are held the second Saturday of each month at 2:00PM in the Life Center.  This group welcomes new members.

Our Pastoral Council is a governing body of the parish as well as an advisory committee to the pastor.  Their meetings are held the third Monday of the month.   The Council is committed to helping all ministries receive the help and support needed to meet the goals that will best serve our community.

This ministry's  purpose is to assist adults in their journey into communion with the Catholic Church to become full members of the body of believers.  As an active alive Catholic community, we welcome inquirers into experiencing the gifts and truths of the Catholic faith in a friendly, non-threatening way, with no pressure.  We, who are already Catholic, and have walked with others on this journey before, invite you to discover the experience of Christ's love through this process.  If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or have a strong desire to become baptized in our Faith please contact the Life Center. 

Each Monday and Thursday morning at 9:30 parishioners gather in the church to pray the rosary.  This group began in 1985 and is open to all.  Our Rosary Prayer Group prays 15 decades of the rosary with general requests being the Virtues and various intentions.  They are always open to pray for anyone's special needs. All are welcome.

Senior Servers

Here at St. Joseph we pride ourselves on keeping our retired parishioners active!  Our senior servers are called upon to serve the masses during funerals and other special celebrations.  They are especially helpful during our Lenten season when we offer three masses a day.  This ministry is open to anyone wishing to serve our community.

In November we have a special Mass for everyone to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us.  A special part of this Mass is to remember our parishioners who have passed away in the previous year.  

During Holy Week a special mass is held in the Life Center for the aged and infirmed who can come out and receive the "Sacrament of the Sick."

In October our parish joins with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in celebrating our special wedding anniversaries in the parish (25th, 40th, 50th, 60th).  We also honor our priests as they celebrate their silver and golden jubilee anniversaries.

St. Joseph Altar and Workers

In the year 2000 our Parish established its first St. Joseph Altar.  Many volunteers were needed to coordinate this event.  It begins with 6:30AM Mass and a  blessing of the Altar.  The entire day  (March 19th) is  devoted to visitors who come to pray and share in community fellowship in the Life Center.  Many volunteers are needed to help with  the food preparations, decorations and set-up.

August 28th is the Feast Day of St. Valerie, the Patron Saint of Thibodaux and our Firemen.  Each year we honor her with a mass and procession, which is led by the Firemen.   Flowers and decorations in Red abound in the Church. All are welcome!

St. Vincent De Paul Society

The St. Vincent De Paul Society was founded over fifty years ago.  Its purpose is to help the poor and needy of St. Joseph Church Parish.  Members of the society investigate applications for necessary financial assistance.  Decisions are based on need.  The Society meets every Sunday after the 7:30AM Mass in the Life Center. Contact the Life Center Office for information!

Our Bible School provides a week long session for youngsters from age four through seventh grade.  It stresses the importance of God in our lives and our children's lives.  Music and art are taught and refreshments are served.  Our VBS is held during the summer at St. Joseph Elementary School or St. Joseph Church Parish. Watch the bulletin for information as Summer approaches.

Contact Person:

                              Mrs. Sara Day Foret