The celebration of the liturgy is central to the life of our community. It is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all the Church’s power flows” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963). We are strengthened for service to our community and our world by prayer and especially by the celebration of the Eucharist.
ALL ARE WELCOME to join us at our Sunday liturgies. Our Mass times are found here. At the 9:30 AM Mass on Sundays, there is programming for children.
Serve as a Liturgical Minister
To find out about becoming a liturgical minister at St. Andrew–an greeter (minister of hospitality), reader, candle bearer, bread baker, leader for Liturgy of the Word for Children, sacristan, music minister, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or minister to the sick and homebound please contact Tom LaVoie, Liturgy Coordinator.
Art and Environment
The art and environment committee oversees the liturgical appointments used during the liturgy such as images, banners, quilts, vesture, cloths and covers, flowers, plants, furniture and candles.
Bread Bakers
The bread used in the Sunday Eucharist is prepared by a team of bread bakers.
Candle Bearers
This ministry is open to children third grade and above, youth and adults. There are periodic trainings and workshops for candle bearers.
Choir and Musicians
Music enhances the Sunday Eucharist, the Sacraments, Liturgy of the Hours and special liturgical celebrations, and allows singers and instrumentalists to offer their gifts to the community. Six choirs rotate in their service to the community. Singers and musicians interested in joining the choirs are invited to contact Michael Prendergast, Director of Music and Liturgy.
St. Andrew Parish is a member of NPM Portland (Oregon), a chapter of the National Pastoral Ministers organization. All music ministers in the parish are able to participate in local NPM events.
NPM Portland (Oregon) events on Facebook
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Ministers of the Eucharist distribute Holy Communion at Mass and take the Eucharist to Catholic Christians who are home bound, in nursing homes or care centers and those who cannot participate in Sunday Eucharist. There are four teams of 10 people who rotate as ministers of Bread and Cup. Along with the priest, the server and three other Eucharistic ministers distribute the body of Christ, and six ministers serve the blood of Christ. There are periodic trainings and workshops for Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and Ministers to the Sick and Homebound.
Greeters/Ministers of Hospitality
Greeters are the smiling faces who welcome people as they arrive at celebrations of the Eucharist, Sacraments and Liturgy of the Hours. There are several teams of greeters who rotate participation in this welcoming ministry.
Proclaimers of the Word (Lectors)
Word of God is proclaimed by a number of Lectors and they lead the General Intercessions (Prayers of the faithful). There are periodic trainings and workshops for lectors.
Sunday Collections and Gifts for the Poor
Baskets are passed through each section of the church. The last person in each section brings the small baskets forward to the ambo and the offerings are placed into the large baskets. (The small empty baskets are returned to the St. Martin de Porres Shrine) The second basket being held at the ambo is to receive non-perishable foods and toiletry items for the St Andrew emergency services and St. Vincent de Paul society. Additional food and toiletry items may be placed into the green barrels in the vestibule and at the South entrance to the Church.
Sacristan
These ministers make preparations for the Sunday Eucharist. This includes readying the wine, water, and bread and putting them in place for the start of Mass. Setting up the church. Typically, sacristans arrive at church before anyone else. They light the candles, arrange the books, and basically perform a little housekeeping before Mass begins. They work behind the scenes from the sacristy, where the vessels are stored and cleaned. Following the Mass everything is set back in its place in the sacristy before sacristans leave the church.
Ministers to the Sick and Homebound
Parishioners in our community may be sick and homebound, and unable to come to the Church for the Sacraments. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with distribution of the Body of Christ to those who are homebound. Homebound are still an integral part of our parish and are in communion with us, even though they are not physically present at the Eucharist. Our community takes seriously our baptismal call to care for the sick, we work to provide comprehensive ministry to the sick, the homebound, and their families. Helping the homebound feel that they continue to be part of the Body of Christ and that they remain in communion with us is an important part of this ministry.
Each minister will be provided with a Communion Pyx and a burse to carry the Eucharist to the homebound along with resources to use when praying with the homebound person.
Altar Linens
Provide clean linens for the liturgy. Linens are to be washed at home, ironed if needed, folded and returned to the church. Linens are to be picked up by the volunteer following the Sunday Eucharist and returned by the following Sunday.