The Liturgy Committee plans, implements, and evaluates the liturgies (Masses and liturgies) of the seasons of the Church, especially in Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. It also reviews the liturgical procedures in accordance with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal and pastoral considerations. Members of the Liturgy Committee include the Pastor, the Deacons, St. Thomas the Apostle School Principal, the Religious Education coordinators, the OCIA coordinator, representatives from the Music Ministry, Lectors/Eucharistic Ministry, Altar Society, C.L.R.S. Ministry, Altar Servers Ministry, the Hispanic Ministries, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (those who visit the sick), the Consolation Ministry, the Website Editor, the Youth/Teen coordinators, the Divine Mercy coordinators and the Parish Council Representative.
The Catholic Dictionary define Liturgy, …” is the exercise now on earth of Christ’s priestly office, as distinct from his role as teacher and ruler of his people. Christ performs this priestly office as Head of his Mystical Body, so that Head and members together offer the sacred liturgy. Its function, therefore, is twofold: to give honor and praise to God, which is worship, and to obtain blessings for the human race, which is sanctification. (Etym. Latin liturgia; from Greek leitos, of the people + ergon, work: leitourgia, public duty, public worship.)
The St. Thomas the Apostle Liturgy Committee is an advisory group working with the Pastor in planning the Liturgical Celebrations during the Liturgical year. The Committee meets once a month to coordinate all the ministries involved in our parish worship services. Whenever we gather as a worshipping community, the form that worship takes is Liturgy. Thus, Sunday Mass is a liturgy, but so is the Rosary before 8:00 a.m. Mass, the Stations of the Cross during Lent, Vespers and other prayer gatherings celebrated throughout the year. For feast days and complicated liturgies like those during Holy Week, the committee is working months in advance on the details. What time are services? What and how many ministers are needed? Do we need special music? When will the Environment in the church be changed and will that task conflict with rehearsals or school activities. The Liturgy Committee discusses these and many other details.
Minutes of the Liturgy Committee are kept as a reference in the Parish Office. This helps us with future planning, as we record what worked and what changes need to be made in future liturgies. Minutes of the Liturgy Committee also aid new pastors in getting to know the parish and its traditions. The Liturgy Committee is just one of many groups working behind the scenes at St. Thomas the Apostle to keep our community vital and growing. For more information, please contact Rhonda Williams – rzwilliams@sbcglobal.net
Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church 