Ministries, Committees & Groups
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church seeks to be a vibrant and diverse faith community. We are nourished by the Eucharist and empowered by the Spirit to spread the message of the Gospel to the larger community through our many ministries and outreach opportunities.
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church, in collaboration with the pastor, is a leadership ministry charged with articulating a vision for the parish leading to a pastoral plan. Leadership requires openess to the needs and input of the parishioners. We commit to empowering ministry leaders, committees, parish staff, and the parish as a whole to implement this pastoral plan.
Liturgy Committee
Believing that the Lord God is observing our praise, we, the Liturgy Committee, dedicate ourselves to making our religious celebrations as beautiful and meaningful as possible. As a group, we see that the Church environment is tastefully decorated and welcoming, and that the music at all celebrations is appropriate and well executed. We oversee the teaching and training of our parish lectors, altar servers, ushers and eucharistic ministers. We attentively listen to the voice of our parishioners and constantly strive to improve our parish prayer life.
Catholic Youth Organization
The Catholic Youth Organization strives to live the message of Jesus through action, including helping the poor, and needy through the food closet and community service projects, in Christian fellowship.
Adult Faith / Formation Committee
The committee, as part of the Pastoral Council, seeks to broaden the Gospel message through offering retreats, lectures, films, evenings of reflection, music, literature, Bible Study and other opportunities, in order that parishoiners will spread the message through word and action to the parish and to the Dunkirk communities.
Religious Education
We who are responsible for faith formation of youth at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, recognize that each child is a unique and beautiful individual created in the likeness of God. With great enthusiasm and dedication, we accept the responsibility of guiding our children in being living witnesses to the Gospel of Christ. It is our duty to instill his values and message so that every child may be prepared for the reception of the sacraments and a lifetime of understanding God's presence. We will also provide volunteers and catechists with the best training possible to ensure that in the future, our church, the Body of Christ, will continue to spread His good news.
Mass Mobile
This is a ministry which has been in existence for 16 years. It requires very little work by those who serve on the committee, but, it does give one a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. A call to the rectory by someone in need of a ride to a weekend mass is then passed on to a chairperson, who then contacts someone who lives in their neighborhood and it goes on from there. In those 16 years, there has never been a time when there was a need, that someone did not say, "Yes I can do that." Who knows, we may some day be in need ourselves.
Parish Usher Ministry
Our primary mission is to provide a friendly, helpful presence to parishioners and guests attending Mass. We take up collections and encourage people to take up the Gifts and provide assistance to those who are handicapped or become ill during Mass. This is a very special Ministry.
Altar Servers
The mission of the Altar Server Ministry is to provide boys and girls of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish an opportunity to serve the presiding priest and our parish community at Mass, and in a way that develop a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist and of service to our Christian community.
Adult Altar Servers
Adult altar servers are a Minister of the Eucharist and serve at 7 AM Mass and Funeral Masses. Their mission is to answer God's call to know, love and serve the Lord and one another by assisting the priest during the Mass and as a Minister of the Eucharist.
Pope Benedict XVI addressing Altar servers: "When you take part in the Liturgy by carrying out your altar service, you offer a witness to all. Your absorption, the devotion that wells up from your heart and is expressed in gestures, in song, in the responses: If you do it correctly and not absent-mindedly, then in a certain way your witness is one that moves people."
