Do You Volunteer Around Your Parish?

[Micah]

If so, what do you do? We're having a big volunteer run next weekend, and I'm not one for reading in front of crowds, so I'm just wondering what sort of things there are to do around the parish.

[Sarah147]

I almost volunteered at a Church to do clean-up stuff. At one Church, people would come in before Mass, and dust, set-up things, etc. Part of me wants do something with the Church.

[IcePrincessKRS]

I've almost volunteered to help out with CCD on a couple of occasions. And then my husband gives me a reality check. I have way too much on my plate right now to be a useful volunteer in our parish, even during Mass I couldn't help with most of the volunteer positions that they are always recruiting for because I am the primary caretaker for the kids. (Matt isn't always able to attend the same Mass as us because of work, with 4 kids in our pew [one of them 17 months old] there is no way I can just get up and take up a collection or EM... I think we have way too many EMHOCs anyway, so I wouldn't volunteer for that.) I think if I were to volunteer it would be to help clean the altar linens, or clean the Church building... but since we're on post and share the building with protestants, and the building is used for large meetings and things, too, there is janitorial staff so that's not really necessary except for some sprucing up during the Holidays.

It sounds like I am making excuses, but if anyone wants to challenge me on that go ahead and take my place for a week.

[CatherineM]

I've done just about everything, except parish council, and I'm not stupid enough to let them do that to me.

Sacristans- take care of the altar preparation and cleaning, and sometimes the vestments, depending on the preferences of the priest.
Altar Servers-You probably know what they do.
Choir or Music ministries
Liturgy committees- Sometimes they just plan special activities, all the way to those that run things to the point of picking out readings or music.
Ushers-greeters, sometimes take up collections, sometimes have to act as bouncers.
Catechists-teach RCIA and sometimes do sacrament prep.
Readers-Read from the lectionary during mass

Those are the most visible, but for every visible volunteer, there are one or two you never see. There are the women usually who work in the kitchen for hospitality or funerals. There are people who clean and decorate the church. In smaller churches, those are volunteer jobs. There are the mens and women's groups, youth, outreach, evangelization, home visits, hospital visits, you name it. I was in a church once where they had a ministry of making apple pies. Every new parishioner got one.

I have to be careful to limit my stuff. I had a pastor tell me once that for every job I take, I also may prevent someone else from taking it. Since I've done everything, I'm often the most qualified for stuff, but I can't do everything. I like being a catechist because that something that not everyone can do, and I like doing choir because my being there shouldn't keep anyone else from joining too.

[littleflower+JMJ]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' timestamp='1287367670' post='2180271']
I've almost volunteered to help out with CCD on a couple of occasions. And then my husband gives me a reality check. I have way too much on my plate right now to be a useful volunteer in our parish, even during Mass I couldn't help with most of the volunteer positions that they are always recruiting for because I am the primary caretaker for the kids. (Matt isn't always able to attend the same Mass as us because of work, with 4 kids in our pew [one of them 17 months old] there is no way I can just get up and take up a collection or EM... I think we have way too many EMHOCs anyway, so I wouldn't volunteer for that.) I think if I were to volunteer it would be to help clean the altar linens, or clean the Church building... but since we're on post and share the building with protestants, and the building is used for large meetings and things, too, there is janitorial staff so that's not really necessary except for some sprucing up during the Holidays.

It sounds like I am making excuses, but if anyone wants to challenge me on that go ahead and take my place for a week.
[/quote]

Icey, I had NO kids and had trouble volunteering at my parish. :/ You are exempt since you are volunteering to raise future parishioners! lol

Micah, there are SO much volunteering opportunities that are really great to do. Each one of us has something different to offer and not all of us are called to be lectors in mass. Definitely join in and try out as many different things and you will find what you like to do the best. I know in my parish having males volunteer was very hard to do, we had rooms of ladies but never guys. Your presence is very important in that sense and will definitely set an example of other young males to volunteer as well.

I volunteered for many years at my parish and it was very rewarding but had to stop for various reasons. However, some advice I would give and some things learned is to 1.) do not to over work yourself 2.) do not ignore priorities in front of you (family, school, etc.) and 3.) have time to make sure you are spiritually growing too. I've had to pull out of all my volunteering because it became too much for me. I am still serving though, just from the pew and in different ways than before.

Regardless of the length or capacity every little thing will help and the Holy Mother Church needs people who are able to give, whether it is in time, gifts and talents (or all the above). Pray about it!

[kafka]

everything (more or less) in my seven sister parishes. I practically live at my base parish and I'm not even registered.

One thing I do not do is meddle in all the petty drama.

Edited October 18, 2010 by kafka

[HopefulBride]

[quote name='Micah' timestamp='1287366575' post='2180264']
If so, what do you do? We're having a big volunteer run next weekend, and I'm not one for reading in front of crowds, so I'm just wondering what sort of things there are to do around the parish.
[/quote]

I completely understand what you mean about reading in front of crowds. I have been volunteering with the Religious Education Program as well as with Vacation Bible School. However, I understand you may not be able to commit to a particualr ministry. For that I would suggest trying to volunteer for something that would allow sporadic participation on your part. That way you have time to pay attention to your other priorities. I have had the most fun though working as a chaperone with the youth group. That is perhaps something you can do if you are worried about your obligations from school being an issue. That way you don't have to worry about being tied to a particular thing.

Good luck finding your niche.

Oh another thing, if your parish has a gift shop try and see if they need help.

Edited October 18, 2010 by HopefulBride

[Micah]

Thanks for the responses Littleflower, joyful, ice, Kaffka, Cath. :] I like the idea of helping out with the youth group or the gift shop, but this parish seems sort of rich and small. I dont even think it has a youth group! But even if its just raking up leaves around the Church or handing out bulletins on Sunday, that would be cool. I don't want it to interfere with school right now. Will definitely pray about it

[Brother Adam]

On behalf of other staff as well as clergy, thank you to those of you who are able to and do volunteer. The single biggest stresser of my job as a DRE is the lack of volunterism. Our programs mostly shut down without volunteers, and we need a lot of them to run programs.

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1287408143' post='2180338']
On behalf of other staff as well as clergy, thank you to those of you who are able to and do volunteer. The single biggest stresser of my job as a DRE is the lack of volunterism. Our programs mostly shut down without volunteers, and we need a lot of them to run programs.
[/quote]

This.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1287408143' post='2180338']
On behalf of other staff as well as clergy, thank you to those of you who are able to and do volunteer. The single biggest stresser of my job as a DRE is the lack of volunterism. Our programs mostly shut down without volunteers, and we need a lot of them to run programs.
[/quote]
yup.

[SuscipeMeDomine]

When you think of volunteering you might consider becoming a sponsor for someone in RCIA. We always need sponsors and I get turned down regularly when I ask people.

The minimum requirements are that you be a fully initiated Catholic over the age of 16 and in good standing with the Church. Even better is to have someone who loves her faith and wants to share it with someone else and in a position to help someone new come into the Church and the parish.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='SuscipeMeDomine' timestamp='1287415217' post='2180359']
When you think of volunteering you might consider becoming a sponsor for someone in RCIA. We always need sponsors and I get turned down regularly when I ask people.

The minimum requirements are that you be a fully initiated Catholic over the age of 16 and in good standing with the Church. Even better is to have someone who loves her faith and wants to share it with someone else and in a position to help someone new come into the Church and the parish.
[/quote]

People turn you down? That is tragic. Being a sponsor for a catechumen is among the highest honors in the church.

[homeschoolmom]

Yes.

[tinytherese]

I've assisted Fr. in RCIA when I was away at my old school and was a catechist assistant for a CCD class of third and fourth graders. I even got to teach two of the lessons myself.

I offered to be a sponsor, but all the candidates preferred a family member or boyfriend/father of her son. (That was a sticky situation. She was living with him and taking care of the baby at his shack of a house. She felt stuck there with him since she wanted her baby to have a father and as an international student who stayed behind to have the baby with her visa expiring she couldn't get a job or continue her education since she was an illegal immigrant. She graduated from the school I was at the year before me and we were somewhat aquainted beforehand. Her boyfriend had been physically abusive to her before she found out she was pregnant. She ran off with the baby after becoming Catholic and lost custody of her son. She stayed with a former co-worker of hers in the mean time until going to court again regarding her abuse. I don't know all that happened to her after I left. I contacted her multiple times, but she never responded. All I know is from her facebook page is that she married another guy who is Catholic a year later.) Boy was that a life experience for me at:(

Another thinig you can do is offer to be a godfather. I know sometimes people complain that they can't find good faithful Catholics to be godparents. Also, giving your testimony like at RCIA, confirmation class, or other group which involves catechesis is a great thing to do. I gave a chastity talk to the youth group while away at school and I actually had an effect on them-kept them interested, was real and honest with them, gave them booklets, and especially had an impact on them because I was closer to their age talking about the topic. A college kid talking to middle school and high school youth can really make a difference.

In my faith development and formation class, I read from one of our textbooks how one DRE wouldn't let any parents register their kids for CCD before they signed up to volunteer for something. She said people didn't always follow through though. When I officially work for the Church, I want to do that and have to think of ways to make sure that that they're accountable for. I may have to call them or firmly but lovingly confront them.