Ministry Opportunities and Contact Info.

Altar Server: Do you like helping out?

Altar servers have the privilege of assisting the priest in the sanctuary during the Mass and
other liturgical functions. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as
lighting candles, ringing the altar bell, as well as carrying the cross, among other things.
Anyone interested in becoming an altar server, who has made his/her First Holy
Communion, please call the parish office, 315-841-4481 or emailing Judith Kemp-Barnes
at jkempbarnes@syrdio.org.

Altar Cleaning: Do you experience deep satisfaction from a job well-done?

The Altar Cleaning ministry serves our Lord and our church community by cleaning and
refreshing the altar, and holy water fonts. The duties include dusting, polishing,
vacuuming, and preparing the sanctuary for the weekend liturgies. If this is a ministry you
might be interested in, please join us in serving our parish community. Please call Laurie
Ostrander at 315-525-7831 if you'd like to pitch in!

Bereavement: Does providing comfort to others in their time of need give you a sense of
purpose and fulfillment?

St. Bernard’s Bereavement Ministry provides a place in which the friends and family of the
deceased can come together and be nurtured by hot meals in a comfortable surrounding by
our volunteers who report the experience of service as being equally beneficial to them as
well.

Those interested in becoming involved in this ministry should contact Paula Burback at
315-404-3409 or 315-841-4370.

Coffee Hour: Does providing others with an opportunity to experience fellowship (and a
few treats) leave you feeling accomplished and content?

Assistance is needed with preparation and clean-up for coffee hours which are offered after
Mass times minimally throughout the year. Duties include: making coffee, setting out cups,
plates, napkins, etc and desserts prior to the end of Mass. Clean-up entails clearing the
tables, washing any platters or silverware which were used, and returning unused items to
storage for future use. No heavy lifting is required. If interested please call Judith Kemp-
Barnes at 315-841-4481 or email jkempbarnes@syrdio.org.
Community Outreach: Do you enjoy giving back to the community? Do you find
happiness through helping others?

St. Bernard’s offers many opportunities for you to give back to the community through
programs such as:

 Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter Food Baskets

 The Giving Tree
 Clothing Giveaway, among others.
If any of these interest you please call Lynne Pletl at 315-527-4016.

Eucharistic Minister: Is your faith experience enhanced through the sacraments of the
Church? Does the prospect of having a role in providing this experience to others appeal to
you?

A Eucharistic Minister is a lay person who assists the priest in administering the
sacraments of Holy Communion, the consecrated bread and wine. If you’re interested in
being trained for this ministry call Ginny Battaglia at 315-841-4481.

Hospitality: Do you enjoy welcoming others? Would you like to be the first face people
see when they enter the church for Mass?

Those ministers involved with hospitality have the important role of providing a first
impression for visitors to St. Bernard’s Church! Greeters offer a Missal w/ bulletin to each
visitor and take up the collection during the Mass. If this ministry is of interest to you,
please contact Ginny Battaglia at 315-841-4481 for more information.

Lector: Do you enjoy speaking aloud or are you willing to challenge yourself to go outside
your comfort zone? Are you interested in proclaiming the Word of God to the congregation?

The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the
exception of the Gospel. S/He may also announce the intentions for the Universal
Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings.
(Taken from “The Lector at Mass” USCCB.)

Please contact Ginny Battaglia at 315-841-4481 for more information.

Music: Do you love to sing and/or play an instrument? Are you interested in joining those
members of our church who have similar talents? St. Bernard’s Music Ministry offers these
kinds of opportunities during the 10:30am Mass every Sunday! Please call Mary Beth
Sigmund at 315-368-8738 if you think you’d like to take part in the fun!