Under the auspices of the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother, The Chapel of the Annunciation opened on March 26, 2007, the feast of The Annunciation of the Lord just as the Lord had willed it. Now, we have almost 800 registered adorers coming from many parts of the Archdiocese of Ottawa. For safety reasons, all those who come to the Adoration Chapel require a key-card to enter.
The theme of our chapel is the explosive simplicity of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is a place to spend some time with our Lord, to pray, meditate, read holy scripture, or just sit and let peace enter your heart.
Many people have signed up for a regular hour each week to spend time with God. With busy lives and so many distractions, a scheduled time ensures that God will be part of our active lives.
The Adoration Chapel is open for quiet prayer 24/7.
Families with children are welcome to adore in the chapel during the following hours:
Please note that it is not necessary to stay in the chapel for the whole hour.
“The Church and the world have great need of Eucharistic adoration. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and contemplation full of faith. And let us be ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease.” (John Paul II Dominicae Cenae: Letter to Priests, Holy Thursday, 1980)
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact Tony and Diane Liuzzo at (613) 226-9457 or mperkins221@rogers.com.
The Altar Servers at St. Maurice consist of youth as young as 8 years of age and adults. All servers are required to receive their First Confession and Holy Communion prior to joining this ministry. We offer training for new servers in small groups or individually when approached by an interested candidate.
An altar server assists the clergy at Mass through tasks such as holding the Sacramentary for the opening or closing prayer, ringing the altar bell, setting up the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, etc.
The altar servers have regular meetings scheduled on the third Saturday of every month. They are usually held in the atrium of the church.
The altar servers exist to serve the clergy and the community at Mass. our mission is not only to aid the clergy on the altar but to make the Liturgical celebrations more meaningful for the congregation.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Natasha D’Souza at (613) 228-8682 or nadsouza@rogers.com
We are married couples with a welcoming personality and a knowledge of baptism and the other sacraments. We have a willingness to share about and answer questions about the Catholic faith.
Requests for baptism are received at the parish office and passed on to the co-ordinator of the team. The co-ordinator calls the couple and arranges to meet them after one of the Sunday masses.
The couple requesting baptism is met by one of the couples on the team, after mass, to welcome them and to give them a package for them to look over and discuss with each other.
The co-ordinator then calls one of the couples on the team to arrange a convenient time to meet at the home of the family requesting baptism to discuss the rights and responsibilities of baptism and to obtain the required information for the parish records.
The family requesting baptism is invited to attend a meeting at the parish where Fr. Yves has a power point presentation about baptism and the commitment that these parents are undertaking.
At this meeting, a couple from the parish presents how they are trying to live out the promises made in baptism in their daily family life.
Each Baptism Preparation couple usually meets with one or two families a month. They may be asked the same to meet couples for 5 minutes after the Sunday mass they normally attend.
A meeting for the couples who are having their child baptized is held every 6-8 weeks at the parish and members of the team attend if they are able.
Our primary function is to meet with parishioners about having their child(ren) baptized. It is designed to welcome families into our parish and an opportunity to share the importance of faith in the everyday life of raising children.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinators Ann and Mark Beauchamp at (613) 225-2354 or Ann.Beauchamp@ottawacatholicschools.ca
We are a small community of catechists, adult assistants and preschoolers (aged 3 to 6 year olds) who gather weekly in The Mercy Gate Atrium on the third floor of the administration building. Together we experience the goodness of our God and our Catholic faith through the religious and spiritual formation program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
As trained catechists, we seek to nurture the children’s covenant relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, through key proclamations, parables, symbols, and gestures of our faith. Weekly, we prepare the space that is The Mercy Gate Atrium and its specifically designed biblical and liturgical materials.
We aid the children in prayer, wonder, and contemplation of the mysteries of the Kingdom. Together with the children, we fall more deeply in love with Jesus, Our Good Shepherd, and become a small Christian community connected to the liturgical life of the parish and wider Church.
Parents are involved in the process of the Catechesis through home communications and sharing of resources.
While their children are in the Catechesis, many parents remain with their younger children for the Pray & Play Group taking place in the downstairs atrium at the same time.
Adult assistants in the Atrium are welcome and required! All adults must be screened according to the highest level of the Responsible Ministry process. We will also ask that you gain some familiarity with the Catechesis and spend time observing in the Atrium.
Behind the scenes assistance is always required: to set up and pack away the Atrium weekly, and to craft or prepare materials. Whether you have a gift for woodworking, sewing, calligraphy, art, or just cutting shapes out of paper, we can put you to work behind the scenes!
The Catechesis is held in The Mercy Gate Atrium, set up for each session on the third floor of the administration building.
At present, sessions are held weekly from October to June on Tuesday mornings, from 10:00 - 11:30 am.
Participation of the children is by registration for a school year. Registration begins each year in June for the following October. The Catechesis is also offered one Saturday morning per month, October to May, as part of the Family Formation Extended Program.
Behind the scenes help can be offered at any time!
We exist to serve the preschoolers in our parish family by creating for them a sacred space of their own. Here they can experience the love of Jesus and be formed by the wonders and riches of their Catholic faith according to the needs and capacities of their stage of development.
Understanding that “a little child will lead them” we trust that these children and the process of the Catechesis will have an evangelizing effect on their families as well.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Dale Balkovec at (613) 228-0610 or familyformation@rogers.com
The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, for God and Canada, is a national organization rooted in gospel values calling its members to holiness through service to the people of God. Our patroness is the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of “Our Lady of Good Counsel”.
We were organized nationally in 1920. We number nearly 100,000 members across Canada.
The St. Maurice Parish CWL Council was organized in 1978.
A deep spirituality provides a basis for league work. We are dedicated to the preservation of Christian family life, the sanctity of life as well as many other social issues. Any woman 16 years of age or older is eligible to join the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.
We support and are involved in, activities within the parish, the diocese, the province and Canada, as part of our national organization.
At the parish level, we are active in all areas of parish life.
In 2007, we began the Golden Agers 50+ group which brings together CWL members, fellow parishioners and visitors for fellowship, refreshments, cards and games. As a national organization we research, prepare, study, implement and present resolutions at provincial and national government levels.
We meet on the second Tuesday of the month, after the 7pm Mass, in the Atrium. All women of the parish are welcome to join us.
To achieve individual and collective spiritual development, promote the teachings of the Catholic church, exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life, protect the sanctity of human life, enhance the role of women in church and society, recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere, to uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world and contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry chair Catherine Pereira at 613-723-7781
A dedicated group of individuals who attend the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass and love leading the children through the Liturgy of the Word for children. We are a high-risk ministry so we require all our volunteers to complete the Responsible Ministry forms.
We process with the children at the 9:00 AM Mass downstairs to the Atrium & lead them through the Liturgy of the Word. We begin with an introduction of what day/celebration it is, followed by a song, introduce and read the Gospel and talk about what we have just read. The children often lead in prayer and read intentions. The session downstairs is approximately 30 minutes. Each team is scheduled for a rotation of every 3rd Sunday.
9 am Sunday Mass.
To lead the children between 3 to 10 through the Liturgy in a language that they understand and encourage them in their walk of faith towards their next sacraments (confession, confirmation and first Eucharist). If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinators April Dore and Jocelyn Jones Atkinson at (613) 274-3145 and (613) 225-7848 or april.dore@sympatico.ca and jocelyn.jones@sympatico.ca
We are families from the parish who have volunteered their time to serve coffee/tea/juice after the 9 a.m. Masses on Sundays. This social usually runs from late September until early June.
The coffee is turned on before Mass begins, juice is poured, cups/cream/sugar, etc for coffee is set up – just so everything is ready to be served and enjoyed right after Mass. The coffee, tea, juice, etc is supplied by the church. If a snack is to be served – it is provided by the host family. The receipts for the snacks can be handed into the office for a reimbursement. The kitchen is to be left as it was found – clean, neat and tidy. If any white tablecloths have been used, it is the host family’s responsibility to have them cleaned and returned ASAP!
There are no weekly/monthly meetings. The communication is by phone calls &/or emails.
We exist to bring our Lord’s family of St. Maurice’s parish together for socializing after Mass in our beautiful new atrium! If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Mary Ellen Yeldon at (613) 828-4971 or jmgirls@sympatico.ca
The Cursillo movement is represented at St. Maurice Parish by a couple, both of whom are practicing Catholics and registered, active parishioners of St. Maurice. Their selection is made by the Cursillo movement itself and service is indefinite.
Cursillo, designated by the Vatican as a renewal movement of the Church worldwide, operates independently of any specific parish, but in fact, most of its participants (‘Cursillistas’) are also registered members of various parishes all around.
The role of Cursillo representatives at the parish is essentially one of information and support. They act as the contact persons, both for those seeking information about Cursillo and for the movement itself to pass on Cursillo news to the parish.
With the Pastor’s approval, they prepare items for the Sunday bulletin to keep the parish informed of upcoming Cursillo events, especially weekends, in the area.
The representatives also encourage individuals to make the 3-day, Cursillo weekend and on those occasions, strive to be as supportive as they can to those attending.
In many parishes, pastors themselves are Cursillistas and they too, often urge participation of their parishioners in Cursillo. In that respect, we are truly blest with our pastors here at St. Maurice!
Given the nature of the Cursillo representatives ongoing function, meetings or other gatherings here at the parish are not needed. A special event, like a Grand Ultreya or the meeting of a team in preparation, may occasionally be scheduled here and it is only then the representatives become involved with ‘when and where’ to make the necessary arrangements for the unusual circumstance.
For many persons, their Cursillo experience has been a powerful instrument to strengthen their faith walk and often, it has, in turn, enhanced their role as parishioners.
As our parish strives to be a true Christian community, supporting one another in our journey to the Lord, the Cursillo method helps to strengthen that spirit and keep it ongoing. Our pastor’s support of it is truly encouraging.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact the parish representatives Kevin and Rosemary Burke at (613)228-1958 or k_burke@sympatico.ca
We are a group of parishioners that are devoted and dedicated to the message of God's mercy. Experiencing the splendour of our Catholic faith, through a guided study program which includes the study of Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Paul II's encyclical "Rich in Mercy" and the DIARY of St. Faustina, we have formally been inducted as Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy in October 2009. This cenacle is an extension of our Holy Hour Ministry.
l. To profess and proclaim the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, and to promote, insofar as possible, Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the hourly offering of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the dying;
2. To bring the Divine Mercy message and devotion to a hurting world according to the revelations granted to the Church through Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska better known as St. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.
3. To form small faith groups, called cenacles, which will meet weekly or bi-monthly;
a.) to pray for and encourage vocations to the priesthood and the religious life;
b.) to pray and work for an end to the scourge of abortion and euthanasia in the world;
c.) to be His hands and feet and a light on a mountaintop.
4. To encourage members and others in the exercise of their Faith through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy; and to help people to become sensitive to the gift and the beauty of all life, especially through care for the rejected, the lonely, the disabled, the elderly, and the dying.
5. To organize the yearly celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy, the second Sunday after Easter.
All of these works will be done out of our love of God, and in thankfulness for His great mercy. For, "if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn 3:17-18).
We the Mother of Mercy Cenacle meet every other Tuesday after the Holy Mass in the boardroom of the main floor of the church.
We want to reach out to other St. Maurice parishioners and beyond to share this remarkable simple message of God's love and mercy so we can call to mind simply by remembering the ABC of mercy:
A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received about God's mercy. She died on October 5th, 1938 which is now the Feast Day of St. Faustina.
For more information on Divine Mercy: www.thedivinemercy.org and www.marian.org
If you feel called to this ministry, start a cenacle, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Maria Pirrone at 613-225-6067 or dpirro2560@rogers.com.
A small group of parishioners who work together to maintain the beauty of St. Maurice Parish.
Provide flowers for special Solemnity and Feast Day celebrations Provide seasonal decorations at Easter and Christmas Cover the crucifix and all the statues with the purple coverings (Friday before Palm Sunday) Friday mornings--work with CWL women---cleaning duties Frontlet care -- proper storage and cleaning of Frontlets Vestments care -- seasonal transfer of vestments and annual cleaning of vestments
The day before or the day of the celebration to prepare altar and church interior.
To maintain a beautiful church environment. If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Clara Cardinali at (613) 727-0995 or cardinali_clara@hotmail.com
The clergy at St. Maurice Parish are ordained, Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Extraordinary Ministers are practicing Catholics who have a deep love and respect for the Eucharist. They wish to serve God by assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass.
Parishioners who are called to this privileged position receive training from the clergy and/or the EMHC Coordinator before they are commissioned, and on an ongoing basis.
An EMHC assists the clergy with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass. They demonstrate reverence for the Eucharist by their demeanor and the way in which they dress. As an EMHC, you must be committed to fulfilling this role at the assigned time(s) or finding another EMHC who can fill in for you. Participation in any other capacity at the same Mass (e.g., as a Sacristan or member of the choir) is not recommended.
The policy of the Archdiocese of Ottawa is for EMHCs to meet at least once a year. These meetings are usually held in a church setting and they are chaired by a member of the clergy and/or the EMHC Coordinator.
The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) opened up the method for distributing Holy Communion to lay people for the following reasons:
If you feel called to this ministry or would like more information, contact Phil Baker, EMHC Coordinator at (613) 226-2916 or pjtbaker@rogers.com.
We are a team of volunteer teachers and facilitators who are committed, faithful, practicing members of St. Maurice Parish. Most of us have had some previous experience working or volunteering with children or parents in a teaching/facilitating role.
Most importantly, we genuinely care about families and their faith life and are able to relate to children and/or their parents successfully.
We have been screened through the highest level of the Responsible Ministry Process.
We are committed to supporting families as they grow in and live out their faith, and we strive to be good witnesses to living a life of faith.
We freely acknowledge that we have a lot to learn about our faith, and we are open to growing in our own faith through the challenges of the material and questions of both children and parents.
As volunteer teachers, we work directly with a grade level group of children (from Kindergarten to Grade 6), to teach them a variety of topics of the Catholic faith as determined by the program.
Using available resources to augment the lesson plans provided by the coordinator, we prepare an age-appropriate, activity-oriented lesson each month, and present it to the children.
Materials are provided. As volunteer facilitators, we work directly with the parents in large and small group formats. Using an adult education approach, we encourage and support the parents in their own growth in knowledge of the faith, so that they are prepared to be complete home lessons with their children between each church lesson.
We receive support from each other as a team, and direction from the coordinator and associate pastor.
Extended Program Family Formation classes are held once per month from September to May, for 1.5 hours on a Saturday morning. Each teacher volunteer is responsible for a small group of children (max. 10) in their own classroom space within the church facilities.
Parents meet in the atrium with their own facilitators. Outside of class time, the yearly commitment for a teacher volunteer includes monthly lesson preparation, an Orientation and Training Day in September, and Program Meetings at the midway point (January) and end of the year (June).
We exist to assist pastor and parents in teaching the children in an age-appropriate way about their Catholic faith.
We support family faith development as we do our best to instruct, guide, and encourage both children and parents to live more fully their faith in daily life.
In all this, we hope to evangelize children and families, and empower parents in their role as the primary faith educators of their children. If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Dale Balkovec at (613) 228-0610 or familyformation@rogers.com
We are a team of volunteer teachers who are committed, faithful, practicing member of St. Maurice Parish. Most of us have had some previous experience working or volunteering with children in a teaching/facilitating role.
Most importantly, we genuinely care about children and their faith life and are able to relate to them successfully.
We have been screened through the highest level of the Responsible Ministry Process.
We are committed to supporting families as they grow in and live out their faith, and we strive to be good witnesses to living a life of faith.
We freely acknowledge that we have a lot to learn about our faith, and we are open to growing in our own faith through the challenges of the material and questions of the children and parents.
We work directly with the children, using a variety of activities and approaches to teach them about the place of the Sacraments in the Church, their family, and their own lives.
From detailed lesson plans provided by the coordinator, we prepare each lesson and present it to the children. Materials are provided.
We encourage and support the parents who are to be completing home lessons between each church lesson. We receive support from each other as a team, and direction from the coordinator and associate pastor.
Classes for children are held once per month from September to May, for 1.5 hours. To accommodate numbers, the class is offered twice, on a week-day evening and a Saturday morning each month; teachers may choose to teach for one or both of these time slots.
Each teacher volunteer is responsible for a small group of children (max. 10) in their own classroom space within the church facilities (while parents meet in the church proper with the coordinator and assistant pastor).
Outside of class time, the yearly commitment for a teacher volunteer includes monthly lesson preparation, an Orientation and Training Day in September, and Program Meetings at the midway point (January) and end of the year (June).
We exist to assist pastor and parents in preparing the children (usually in grade 2) to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
We facilitate the celebrations of these sacraments within the wider parish community. We support family faith development as we do our best to instruct, guide, and encourage both children and parents to live more fully their Catholic faith.
In all this, we hope to evangelize children and families, and empower parents in their role as the primary faith educators of their children. If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Dale Balkovec at (613) 228-0610 or familyformation@rogers.com
The Finance Council comprises parishioners who are invited by the Pastor to participate in the administration of the temporal affairs of the Parish. Members of the Council serve for terms of three years.
Those who serve on Finance Council attend to the temporal affairs of the parish; establish administrative guidelines of the parish; prepare the annual financial report to be submitted to the diocesan administration; prepare and approve the annual budget and publish the latter at the same time as the annual financial report; and designate one of their members to sit on the Parish Council.
The Finance Council meets once a month over the period from September to June. Meetings are usually held in the Board Room in the Administration Building.
To assist the pastor in the administration of the temporal goods of the parish in accordance with the applicable regulations, as set out by the Archdiocese of Ottawa. If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator John Brunet at (613) 224-1996 or john.brunet@hotmail.com
We are the ladies of the parish who do the funeral receptions. We are a friendly group and would welcome anyone who would be interested in joining us doing the Lord’s work.
We prepare the luncheon and get the hall in readiness before the funeral.
We meet in the kitchen the day before each funeral service.
Our main purpose of this ministry is to relieve the family of some of the burden at this sad time.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Bernice Fyfe at (613) 225-2953 or bernicefyfe@sympatico.ca
An outreach program originated by the Catholic Women’s League of St. Maurice Parish. This program began in April 2007.
People of ages 50+ and up, including CWL members, parishioners and visitors, join together for an afternoon of fellowship, refreshments, games and cards. Many lasting friendships and special bonds are formed. Twice a year a luncheon is held for all participants.
We meet Monday afternoon, from 1pm to 3pm, in the Atrium. Why We Exist We are here to allow for companionship for seniors, a change of scenery and a good laugh or two. If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Bobbi Kolady at bkolody@rogers.com
The Holy Hour began on Oct 15,1996, which is The Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, who is the Patron Saint of the Prayer Group.
Every Tuesday evenings the members of Holy Hour gather together at St. Maurice Parish in the presence of our Lord, "The Blessed Sacrament", as they offer up to him all their intercessory prayers and their prayers of reparation.
They pray for everyone in the world in need of healing, whether it be - physically, spiritually or emotionally.
They pray for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, for our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, and all the clergy. They intercede for Pro-Life issues, and also for all family struggles.
Every week, the Intentions of Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary are offered up to the Lord. We pray for peace in our troubled world and for all governments world wide.
We bring to Jesus each other and all of our own personal intentions and the intentions of our parishioners. We also pray for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory as we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
The second half of our Hour is spent in silence allowing the Lord to minister to us and to speak to us. During the hour of prayers and adoration, confessions are being offered by our parish priests.
Also, every year during the month of November, we offer Alms for Souls in Purgatory by choosing a charity or association and providing for their needs. Every Tuesday, the Holy Hour offers to Jesus all contributions and efforts made for this worthy cause as sacrifice for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
This is a very important project for the Holy Hour. We are so blessed and fortunate to have the Holy Hour and everyone is welcomed.
Every Tuesday evening after the 7 pm Mass.
Holy Hour at St. Maurice Parish is a place where we can gather together before our Lord the "Blessed Sacrament" and it is the time that we pray for peace in our world that is in so much trouble and turmoil.
We intercede for Pro-Life issues and also for all family struggles. We also intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ in need of healing, whether it be - physically, spiritually or emotionally.
We are so blessed and fortunate to gather together every Tuesday evenings as we bring to the Lord all of our hopes, sorrows, fears, joys, illnesses and afflictions and in return we are Touched and Blessed by our Awesome and Beautiful God, not only as individuals but as a Parish and as brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Lucia Pagliaro at (613) 225-1694 or luciapagliaro@rogers.com
We are a group of parishioners who share a charism of communal, contemplative, intercessory prayer.
We meet for formation in the charism and for communal intercessory prayer for the Parish, pastoral team, and parish ministries.
We meet in the Upper Room on Wednesday evenings each week from September to June as well as a couple of times in July and August.
We exist in order to intercede for the Parish, pastoral team, and parish ministries. As well, with the ongoing formation, each of us is deepening our relationship with the Lord.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Claire Johnson at 613 224-0532
The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic men’s fraternal organization in the world with 1.75 million members.
Last year our members devoted 68 million hours of volunteer service.
As well, our organization made $144.9 Million in charitable contributions. Grounded in our Catholic spirituality, our foundation is built on four pillars, namely, charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
All men over the age of 18 are invited to become a Knight of Columbus.
We are a people of life and are committed to the “Culture of Life”. Our activities are focused on pro-life, the family, the elderly, the disabled, Catholic education and vocations to name a few.
We are dedicated to the service of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and through him our archbishop, the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast and our pastors, Father Galen Bank and Father Yves Marchildon.
We work closely with our pastors to ensure that we are fully aware of their pastoral goals for the parish.
In many cases, our council works to support other parish ministries in assisting them in carrying out their projects.
On other occasions, we take the lead in developing our own programs. We strive to be interwoven into the very fabric of our parish life.
Our council meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM on the 3rd floor at St. Maurice Church. The meetings are typically less than two hours long. Although we work within a prescribed framework, it is a lighthearted group always keeping the pillars in sight.
To support the Church and sponsor programs of evangelization, Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to those in need.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact Grand Knight Tony Liuzzo at (613) 226-9457 or mperkins221@rogers.com
We consist of registered parishioners of St. Maurice Parish.
Lectors possess strong language skills and are comfortable speaking in public, and are generally 18 years and older but not exclusively.
Members join the ministry on a volunteer basis; however approval by Fr. Galen is necessary.
Lectors take turns sharing their duties during the Liturgy; the schedule is usually made every 3 months by the ministry coordinator, based on the availability of the various lectors.
We form part of the sacred rhythm of the Church’s Liturgy, taking on a leadership role.
During the liturgy, we are continuing Jesus' mission of sharing the Word with God's people.
Our primary purpose is proclaiming the readings during Mass, as well as the Prayers of the Faithful.
However, we also spend a great deal of time in prayer, meditation, and practicing in preparation for these tasks.
The ministry typically has a meeting once per year, held at the church, which is led by Fr. Galen.
Parishioners who volunteer to become new lectors always meet with the ministry coordinator to undergo training and preparation prior to starting in the ministry.
The lectors exist to proclaim the Word of God during Mass, performing a leadership role during that time. Our role is to lead the parishioners to a deeper understanding and fulfillment during the Mass.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact the ministry coordinator Scott Baker at (613) 843-7436.
The Legion of Mary at St. Maurice’s’, known as a “Praesidium” operates with the authorization of the Archbishop and with the approval of the parish pastor.
Active members of the LOM are at least 18 years of age, men or women, in good standing with the Church and must meet the requirements for a high-risk ministry.
The executive member are nominated and elected for three-year terms. Auxiliary membership is open to those unable to perform active duties and who praying the rosary and the Catena daily for the success of the Legion work.
Working in pairs, and with Our Lady as our model, we perform our spiritual and pastoral works in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary so that Our Lord is seen and served in his people.
The LOM has weekly meetings scheduled at the parish every Wednesday at 9:45 a.m., in the top floor meeting room. Guests are welcome. Executive members attend a monthly meeting for the Ottawa district.
The Legion is, essentially an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor. We serve others by bring them spiritual comfort. We share the message of God’s mercy and love in the spirit of Mary his humble servant.
The Legion of Mary is the largest lay apostolic organization in the Catholic Church.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please visit the website and call the President Mary Cochrane at (613) 224-4352.
The Living Rosary was initiated at St. Maurice Church in 1984, the year Pope John Paul II visited Canada and appealed to all parishes to start praying the Rosary.
It is part of the Catholic Women’s League at St. Maurice Parish.We organize the yearly May Devotion to honour Our Blessed Mother for the month of May.
We involve the youth – who participate in the Life of Christ Rosary play, the Knights of Columbus – who provide an honour guard and the other ministries who participate by reciting the decades of the Rosary during the devotion.
We pray a decade of the Rosary daily – one Our Father, ten Hail Mary’s and one Glory Be We offer the decade for:
We report to the Catholic Women’s League at their monthly meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of every month.
We exist as a prayer ministry to honour and foster a love for Our Blessed Mother, and to introduce parishioners to praying a decade of the Rosary on a daily basis.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Carol Danis at 613-828-6756
The course leads engaged couples through a set of weekly talks to help prepare them for the sacrament of marriage.
Each night of the course, two guest couples from the parish give testimonial talks on specific issues. The engaged couples then work through questions in a workbook alone & then with their partner to discuss what they have written in their books and to discuss the talks they listened to that evening.
The course is held in the atrium at the church and runs once per year - typically in the spring. It is four weeks in length – one night per week.
To help prepare our young engaged couples and better equip them with knowledge and a better understanding of the sacrament of marriage in a Catholic environment.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinators Raymond and April Dore at (613) 274-3145 or adored5@gmail.com
The Pastoral Care (PC) team at St. Maurice Parish functions under the direction of the clergy. PC team members are sincerely interested in helping others. They are comfortable communicating with the sick, the hurting, lonely or frail. They also have a friendly disposition, empathy and patience. Many are commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) outside Mass. Refer to the one-page description on EMHCs for further details.
Training is provided by the clergy, pastoral staff and/or the PC Team Coordinator on an annual and ongoing basis. PC team members must provide (or arrange for) their own transportation in order to fulfill this role.
In this ministry at St. Maurice, members visit local hospitals, long-term care facilities and private homes to bring Holy Communion to parishioners. PC members usually go out in small groups (to an institution) or in pairs (to a private home), subject to availability. Each visit includes prayer, friendship and/or sharing information, as time and circumstances permit.
PC team members meet at least once a year. These meetings are usually held in a church setting and they are chaired by a member of the clergy and/or the PC Team Coordinator.
The PC team fulfills a necessary role in the parish by performing the following tasks:
If you feel called to this ministry or would like more information, contact Doreen Aaron, PC Team Coordinator at (613) 596-6208 or daaron@rogers.com.
The Parish Council is a representative and coordinating body of the parish. We consist of lay people and the pastors, and work jointly to build the parish as a living Christian community.
The lay members of the PPC are all registered parishioners of St. Maurice Parish who are at least 18 years of age and in good standing with the Church.
We are nominated and elected for two year terms, and represent a broad cross-section of the congregation.
The Parish Council has regular meetings scheduled on the third Wednesday of every month, with additional meetings called occasionally, as needed.
They are usually held on the third floor of the mezzanine.
Elections are held in October.
Our meetings are open to the congregation and everyone is welcome to attend!
The responsibility of the PPC does not take away from the continued mission and responsibility of the entire parish.
Each and every baptised member of the St. Maurice Parish remains responsible in his or her own way for the mission of the parish.
The PPC is thus a means for achieving the responsibilities of the whole parish community.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact chairperson Ken Skublics at 613-727-0955
We are parents, grandparents, caregivers and our wee ones who gather weekly in the downstairs atrium for fellowship, play, and mutual support.
Pray & Play is also available to families with their younger children while the older children take part in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in The Mercy Gate Atrium upstairs.
A collection of toys, books and puzzles is provided for the children’s free play, as well as colouring and crafts related to the Liturgical Cycle and other faith themes. Adults remain responsible for the supervision and safety of their own children.
Coffee is provided for the adults, while the children usually bring their own individual snacks.
The adults pitch in to set up and clean up, and may take turns offering a group “prayer table time” with simple stories, songs and prayers reflecting our shared faith.
On occasion, the children of Pray & Play and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will join together for a larger group celebration.
We meet from 9:30 – 11:30 am every Tuesday morning in the atrium. Attendance is on a drop-in basis, with no registration required. Contact information is collected for notification of changes to the schedule.
We exist for faith, family, friendship and fun! We provide an opportunity to meet the social needs of young children and their caregivers within the faith community. We support, encourage and build one another up as families within the body of Christ.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Dale Balkovec at (613) 228-0610 or familyformation@rogers.com
At St. Maurice Parish, the RCIA team includes the pastors and currently, six other lay persons, chosen by the pastor. Lay members of the team are adults who are practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church and are registered, active parishioners of St. Maurice.
No specific technical training is assigned, but team members should have a reasonable level of knowledge and understanding of the truths of the Catholic faith and, of course, a willingness to learn from the source materials provided.
Service on the team is indefinite.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), begun in 1972, resulted from the Second Vatican Council's decision to restore the catechumenate of the early Church. Catechumens are people preparing for baptism.
At St. Maurice Parish, the RCIA team provides the appropriate instruction and guidance over a 6 to 7 month period, starting in the Fall, to fulfill the catechumenate program. Candidates, already baptized at another Christian Church and now seeking admission into the Catholic Church, are included in the same program, but if there are no catechumens in a given year, the catechesis provided, though similar, is usually shortened to 4 to 5 months.
Appropriate books and other publications are readily available to assist team members in presentations. Candidates are also given a reference book for their own use.
Questions/discussion are part of the teaching process. Sessions also include reflections/sharing on Gospel readings.
Team participation helps the candidates experience a sense of Christian community.
RCIA meetings take place every week, except over Christmas, for the duration of the program. Each year the specific week night is determined at the start.
Meetings are held in the Upper Room or outside it and are open to other parishioners wishing to learn more of their faith.
The RCIA program helps St. Maurice parish to pursue its own mission and helps it to fulfill Christ’s command to all of us, “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations”. (Mt. 28: 19).
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Kevin Burke at (613) 228-1958 or k_burke@sympatico.ca
Dedicated volunteers with a call to serve in the St. Maurice parish library.
Maintain a modest collection of Christian books and audio/visual material to lend to St. Maurice parishioners.
The Library is open every Sunday after 9:00 and 11:00 AM Mass. Each volunteer opens the library for sign-out and return of lending material after Mass approximately once a month. Library volunteers meet as a group once a year .
To serve St. Maurice parishioners in their Catholic formation by providing Christian books and audio/visual material as resources.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinators John Makadi and Pamela Swords at (613) 723-0309 or stmauricelibrary@rogers.com
Senior men and women over the age of 55 years.
Gather as a group to socialize with each other in a welcoming environment. Each session consists of Christian worship, entertainment, charitable activities and refreshments.
Every Wednesday, 1:00 to 3:00 PM St. Maurice Atrium
To provide seniors in the Ottawa West-Nepean church communities of Cityview, Parkwood Hills, with a place to gather weekly for a sense of community and fellowship. To encourage seniors with an opportunity to socialize with others of their age.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Pamela Swords at (613) 723-0309 or pmswords@rogers.com
The newsletter team consists of a group of parishioners offering their gifts of writing, editing, and photography to create our Spirit Alive newsletter to bring Glory to God.
We create three parish newsletters per year with distribution taking place during Easter weekend, the end of June, and the Feast of Christ the King.
Most of our communication is done via e-mail through the ministry coordinator and team members.
Our purpose is to highlight how the Holy Spirit is forming us into the Body of Christ and to foster a deeper appreciation of our parish community.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Rita Petrocco at (613) 723-1275 or rita.petrocco@sympatico.ca
The St. Maurice Conference of SSVP is, at present, made up of 10 parishioners, all lay adults, in good standing with the Church, working together to serve the poor who call on St. Maurice parish for assistance.
An eleventh member, our treasurer, moved to another parish, but happily continues to fulfill the treasurer function for us. Members, called ’Vincentians’, serve for an indefinite period.
For its ranks, SSVP seeks adults with a kind and sympathetic disposition. Joining is an informal process – simply contact a Vincentian to explore the possibility.
There is currently no limit set on the numbers who join.
The SSVP, founded in Paris in 1833, is a worldwide charity that normally operates through local parishes. As elsewhere, the St. Maurice Conference exists with the pastor’s authorization and renders assistance to the needy who call the parish for help.
Funds to support it come through quarterly SSVP collection envelopes. The assistance is in the form of vouchers, usually for food from designated local supermarkets, but also for clothing and other household necessities from the SSVP store on Wellington St. Regular activities of the members include home visits, always done in pairs, at which time the vouchers are normally issued.
Individual members take turns being the contact person acting on the requests for help and setting up the home visits. Training is “on-the-job” from the more experienced members. SSVP is designated, ‘high risk’, hence, the procedures for high risk ministry must be followed.
The normal activities of SSVP, the assistance rendered to the poor as described, are ongoing according to calls received, which vary in frequency.
SSVP team meetings are held 5 times a year on Tuesday nights, after the 7:00pm Mass, usually outside the Upper Room on the 3rd floor.
The second part of the Great Commandment is to love one’s neighbour as oneself. By doing Corporal works of Mercy, the SSVP program, in a tangible and visible way, helps St. Maurice parish give witness to its efforts to follow that Commandment and to spread Christ’s message, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact Conference president, Kevin Burke at (613)228-1958 or k_burke@sympatico.ca
We are a small group of Parishioners who love to sing our Praise to God in a traditional style, using Hymns (accompanied by the Organ) as well as Gregorian Chant (unaccompanied) in English.
We provide music for the Saturday 5:00 p.m. Liturgy on a weekly basis and assist with special Liturgies when requested by the Pastor.
We meet for rehearsals on Saturday afternoons at 4:15 in the 2nd floor Meeting Room.
We try to provide support for Congregational singing at the Saturday Liturgy, to help our fellow parishoners lift their hearts and voices to God.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator MaryAnn Foley at (613)225-2522 or macfoley@rogers.com
The Sunday music groups are always searching for experienced musicians and vocalists.
We are looking for individuals who are self confident, are team players and want to prayerfully work to lead the congregation into worship.
Members who can read music are an asset, but this skill is not essential to join the group.
New members can expect a musical assessment prior to joining in order to help determine their individual learning plan. This learning plan will include ear, pitch and rhythm training.
As well learning to sing in a group atmosphere where the goal is to blend all voices to sound harmonious. T
he groups have a large repertoire of music they have learned along with several sets of mass parts and psalm tones they use in following the liturgical calendar and new members will be taught this music over time.
Practice for musicians and vocalists takes place in the church’s 3rd floor meeting room on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm.
If God has blessed you with a voice to lead praise or the skill to play an instrument thank him for these talents and share them with your fellow parishioners by joining the Sunday music groups.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Glenn Pereira at (613)-224-8387 or fiatmusic@rogers.com
Youth – Grade 5-6 Junior youth and Grade 7-12 Senior Youth. Youth coordinator - The coordinator of the youth ministry facilitates the gifts of the parish to carry out its pastoral ministry to the youth. Volunteers - volunteers work directly with the youth in the group.
We have adult and youth volunteers. They contribute their time, energy, and gifts to the youth ministry according to their interests and abilities.
There is a great variety of jobs, levels of commitment, and required time of service.
Youth are peer leaders when they minister to and with other young people. They contribute to the various programs by matching their gifts and availability to the various positions. Youth Ministry is a high risk ministry so we conduct a reference check.
Month’s Cycle 1st & 2nd Week – Regular Nights (include games, teaching and discussion, social time, etc.)
3rd Adoration: (include Exposition of the Eucharist and Confession, followed by social time)
4th Social: Various activities theme parties, mini putting, bowling, movie nights, etc.
Also several special events throughout the year, including our HANDS outreach program (Helping Another Needy Discover Sharing).
Every Friday Night at 7-9pm for all youth/6-10pm for volunteers
Core Team meeting: Third or Second Sunday of the month at 12pm
Music Ministry: Every Thursday Night at 7-9pm
Planning for the Whole Year: Youth Coordinator & Core Team – by Mid-August everything should be finalize including schedule of leaders & volunteer for Pastor Approval
Our Mission Statement: “Guided by the Holy Spirit our Youth Ministry exists to walk with the youth in their faith, to care for each other while we reach out to other youth and offer ourselves in service to Christ.”
Read more about ROCK 101.
If you feel called to this ministry, or would like more information, please contact ministry coordinator Laverne Lat at (613) 889-4418 or lavernelat@yahoo.ca