Sacristan

What is a Sacristan?

Sacristans are ministers of our church environment. They work with our Church Coordinator in an effort to support and improve our church functions.

Linens, Polishing, Cleaning, Decorating and Building Upkeep are all possible ministries as a Sacristan.

Linens:             You may volunteer to help wash the linens that are used during mass.  This is a wonderful ministry that can be done at your own home.  There are several volunteers currently and they rotate on a weekly basis, each taking home the linens used during one week.  Cleaning and ironing them and bringing them back a week later. Depending on the number of volunteers you may only be committing to once a month or even once every 6 weeks.

Polishing:        Candle stands and various other brass items need to be continually polished.  This ministry is especially important before Easter and Christmas when our parish uses many items that are only needed during these special times.  Again, some of this can be done at home.

Cleaning:         Several times a week, our Church Coordinator comes to the church to clean.  She vacuums, dusts, takes care of the glass doors, removes the trash, upkeeps the bathrooms, polishes the furniture on the altar, straightens the pews, etc.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are the key days usually in the mornings. She welcomes anyone who can give even a few moments of their time. Many hands make light work even a simple task of straightening the books in the pews or collecting stray papers in the pews makes a noticeable difference.

Decorating:     Several times a year our church parishioners are invited to come together to prepare the church for special occasions.  Advent, Lent, Palm Sunday, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost are all times of special thoughts and worship in our parish and times when the church setting changes to help prepare us both mentally and physically to being more open to Christ, Mary and the Holy Spirit.

Church Upkeep:          Throughout the year, parishioners are invited to come together to maintain and improve our church and grounds.  Seasonal cleaning and painting are just two aspects of church upkeep.  Just as in any household, there are many avenues of maintaining our church for all you come to visit.

If you are interested in becoming a Sacristan contact Michele Hoekenga or April Dykes at adykes.stjamesparish@gmail.com or call the Parish Center at 365-5887.