Ministries

We have three senior homes; Rivercrest Lodge Nursing Home Ltd., Dr. Turner Lodge, and Fort Saskatchewan Care Community. Contact your Care Centre for Mass and Service information. 

We are on call daily to administer to the Spiritual needs of the Sick. Please inform admissions if you would like to receive visits from the clergy, or contact the church office directly (780-998-3288).

In this parish we have four Catholic schools; Saint John XXIII Catholic School, Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School, Saint John Paul II Catholic School and Saint Andre Bessette Catholic School. 

The P.P.C. listens attentively to the parish community, discerning its needs, hearing of its dreams and sharing its vision. Meeting once per month with the pastor, the P.P.C. then seeks to address each of these with the resources the Lord has given us to work with. It is an indispensable part of parish life, planning, animating, co-coordinating and evaluating how the parish family is responding to the call of the Lord.

There is a co-coordinator for each of these ministries who will try his or her best to facilitate your timetables and schedules, matching them with the parish’s needs. The co-coordinator will arrange the training you will need to fulfill your ministry will; will offer you help and advice if you would like to have it; will introduce you to the other who share the ministry with you, and will provide you with names and telephone numbers for those times when you need to find someone to replace you

The Word of God proclaimed at every liturgy is essential, for in it God speaks to His people. Those who undertake this ministry not only proclaim the readings from the Old and New Testaments when the Assembly gathers, they have the privilege of praying with the Word in preparation for the day when they will share it. The Proclaimers further assist by sharing the Prayers of the Faithful

Of the most profound moments in the Liturgy of the Eucharist the People of God approach the Lord’s Table in order to receive His Body and Blood. Their “Amen” is a powerful declaration of faith in what God is doing: giving us Himself and making for Himself a Body in the world. Those who share the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharist are the privileged witnesses to the expressed faith of the Lord’s disciples. This ministry consists of the following two areas.

• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
  Those who offer the Precious Body of Christ.
• Ministers of the Cup
  Those who offer the Precious Blood of Christ from the cup.

Seeking to insure that every liturgy celebrated at our parish is characterized by reverence, graciousness and a smooth unfolding of the sacred action, adult servers assist both the Assembly and the Presider by serving at the Lord’s Table and by distributing Holy Communion. This ministry, open to all women and men sixteen years of age and older, is not restricted to the Sunday liturgy, but can extend to include all of the other liturgical gatherings of God’s People. There is a need, for example, for servers to assist at funeral liturgies.

By assisting the adult servers and the Presider, altar servers provide an important leadership role for the entire Assembly. For children who are in grade three and older, and who have made their First Communion, the boys and girls who fulfill this ministry add a special touch of dignity to our parish worship.

Music is a vital component of our worship! Our parish prides itself in a strong, vibrant music ministry. Adults and youth can participate in a variety of ways: the Parish Choir not only provides musical leadership, it is also a “community within a community”; our Funeral Choir adds a special element of comfort to those who mourn. While our Parish enjoys fine accompaniment from the organ, piano and guitar, there is room for every instrument. If God gave you the gift of music, He can use it!

There are a variety of groups of varying size and style who provide music ministry for our liturgies.

If you enjoy singing or playing an instrument, you are welcome to join one of our music groups. Please contact the Parish office.

It is sometimes difficult for children who are small to understand the Word of God as it is proclaimed on Sunday. The Children’s Liturgy of the Word takes the readings the Assembly will hear and “translates” them in a way that is graspable to our younger brothers and sisters. Gathering together in the meeting rooms after being sent from the Assembly, this Liturgy is meant for children who have not yet received their First Communion and are over the age of three. Those who assist the children work with resources especially prepared so that the parallel between what happens with the children and the rest of the Assembly is carefully preserved.

If your child is three years of age or older, and has not yet received his or her first Communion, we are eager to welcome them. It is always good if three year olds are accompanied by an older sibling.

Visiting Children are always welcome!

Our Lady of the Angels Parish is known as a warm, gracious and welcoming community. Visitors often remark about how “at home” they feel when joining us for liturgy, whether that be on a Sunday morning, or a celebration of Christian marriage, a funeral, a baptism or weekday Eucharist. The ministry of hospitality has a more important role than is often imagined! By greeting everyone warmly, assisting with coats, or pointing the way to the restrooms, by helping to get people seated, or in taking up the collection and handing out the weekly bulletin, by serving coffee following Mass, those in this ministry set the tone for all that happens afterward

The Pastoral Care committee visits members of the parish who are ill or confined to their homes or hospital beds. By extending kindness, friendship, a listening ear, or by bringing Holy Communion, or offering a prayer, the pastoral Care Committee insures that the bond of community is maintained even when presence in person is impossible. We also have two nursing homes in our Parish: Rivercrest and Turner Lodge. Twice a month, the Eucharist is celebrated with then in such a way as to insure that they know that they are always important part of our parish family.

What does Pastoral Care include?

• Visit the sick or lonely.
• Take Communion to the sick or shut ins.

If you would like to help with this vital ministry please call the Parish for more information.

Our Lady of the Angels Parish has plenty of young people who make a wonderful and lively addition to our parish family! While our efforts and meeting the needs of our teenaged parishioners have met with success, there is always the desire to do even more! Not only are we wanting to meet with the teens and young adults, we would really like to meet some adults who could give us encouragement, guidance and assistance with their activities.

We have many exciting faith based events planned for our youth and young adults throughout the year.

The Social Action committee’s role is to educate and involve the parish community in social action both within our own community and around the world. Examples of Social Justice work include Food Bank donations, the annual collection for Development and Peace and Sign of Hope campaigns.

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (Peter 4:10)

The word “stewardship” refers to the Catholic approach to the gifts that God has bestowed upon us. Stewardship is living out a commitment to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered. Profound gratitude, justice and love become the fundamental motives for giving back to God. Everything that God has given to us is intended to serve the divine plan. Therefore, our life is to be lived in gratitude toward God. In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, share our time, talent and treasure to build up the Church and make our world a better place.

The Church needs you and God has chosen you to go out into all the world. Every Christian is to take an active part in the life of the Church and to share the gifts of salvation.

A community that comes together just for the sake of meeting one another is going to be a vibrant one! Whether it is to share a plate of pasta or to enjoy pancakes and coffee after a Sunday Eucharist, friendships are made and stories are shared. There are dozens of ways in which to bring God’s People together. Ideas are always welcomed! And so too are willing hands!

Approaching the church up the sidewalk, walking into the gathering area and finally entering the worship space itself, all subtly prepare us for what is about to take place. Whether we are greeted by bales and pumpkins, by pine branches and red bows, or by pussy willows and lilies, something happens within us, raising our expectations and lifting our spirits. Those who work in this ministry exercise creativity, skill and craft in preparing something special within which we meet our God.

Simple repairs of the church and rectory. Anyone having a skill or trade that they can offer would be much appreciated.

Working closely with parents, their children and the schools in our area, we are eager to insure that parents feel comfortable in helping their children as they journey into a mature relationship with the faith community. A series of classes and retreats for the children has been developed so as they draw closer to First Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation they can be properly prepared. Help is needed to put those sessions on.

Like those who serve by creating a thoughtfully appointed place for worship, these people are “behind the scenes.” They are the ones who insure that linens are laundered, vestments are cleaned, and vessels are kept in good repair. They make sure that supplies of bread, wine, candles and incense are on hand.

Teams have been formed to count the weekly collection. Working on a rotating basis, they meet to prepare the weekly deposit. The time commitment is typically in the range of a hour or two.