As a Parish Community, we invite you to become involved in the spiritual life of our Parish through your presence at Mass and your participation in the many Liturgical Ministries: Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Altar Server, Usher, Music and Art and Environment.

Liturgical Ministries – Schedules 2024


St. Celestine EM / Lector Schedule – Jan-Mar 2024 (PDF)

St. Cyprian EM / Lector Schedule – Jan-Mar 2024 (PDF)

Eucharistic Minister


Lay people are invited to partake in the ministry of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, or Eucharistic Ministers. This is an opportunity to meet people in the most intimate and sacred Catholic encounters; the sharing of the Eucharist. If you are 16 years or older, baptized, and have been confirmed, you may become a minister.

If you are interested in this ministry at either church, please call the parish office at 708-453-255 and leave a message for Linda Santelli for St. Celestine or Mary Krewer for St. Cyprian. We will train you and you can sign up for the mass times that work for your schedule.

Lector


Being a lector is to be a “proclaimer;” a storyteller. As Christians, by definition we are called to proclaim the good news. As a lector, you are called to proclaim the Word of God. You are encouraged to meditate and prepare your reading of Sacred Scripture so that you may inspire the faithful to turn to God through his Word.

If you have a clear voice and are comfortable speaking in public, please consider being a lector. To be a lector at either church, call the parish office at 708-453-2555. We will train you and you can sign up for the mass times that work for your schedule.

Altar Servers


Altar servers assist the priest and deacon; they are trained to carry the processional cross and the candles, hold the sacred books for the Presider, and assist with the gifts at the offertory during the Mass. Most servers are grade school students from St. Celestine School and the Religious Education programs at both churches. Servers are placed on a rotating schedule for the Masses.

We are fortunate to have high school students who serve at our special parish liturgies. If you are in high school and would like more information about this ministry, please call the Pastoral Center.

Adult servers assist at funeral Masses.

To be a server at either church, call the parish office at 708-453-2555. We will train you and you can sign up for the mass times that work for your schedule.

Art and Environment


The Art and Environment Committee is a subcommittee of the Liturgy Committee that oversees the seasonal decorating of our churches to enhance worship by preparing the environment of the church for the liturgical seasons and feasts. Our mission is to inspire the religious imagination of our parish community for these liturgical seasons which is done by the use of textiles, colors, and smell. Our primary goal is to enhance the worship experience through artistic expression.

Art and Environment enriches the liturgy. God has acted in human history through perceptible signs, and beauty is one way the mystery of God becomes visible. This group is committed to helping create, maintain and change the decor in our sacred spaces.

If you would like information about the Art and Environment committees at either church please call the parish office at 708-453-2555.

Ushers


Ushers greet and welcome the congregation, help them find seats if the liturgy is crowded, take up the collection, and ensure a dignified flow of the liturgy. Ushers are prepared to get emergency assistance if anyone present should need it.

If you are interested in this ministry, please call the parish office at 708-453-2555. We will train you and you can sign up for the mass times that work for your schedule.

Music Ministry


Do you love to sing? Are you looking for a way to meet new people with similar interests? Would you like to share your talents and serve the Church? Join our music ministry!

Music Ministry is made up almost entirely of amateur musicians with one thing in common – a desire to share our love of music with our spiritual community. Musicians of all skill levels have a place at St. Mother Guerin, with an opportunity to learn and improve, as well as to perform.

Would you like to join a choir? Our Music Director, Craig Kamptner, can be reached at the Pastoral Center, at 708-453-2555 or email ckamptner@stcelestineschool.org.

CANTORS – Lead the singing at the weekend Masses and special liturgies. They are competent musicians with pleasant singing voices and outgoing personalities who commit to leading the congregation in song at as many or as few Masses as they wish.

Choirs at St. Celestine Site


The Adult Choir sings for Christmas Eve, Holy Week, Easter, Confirmation, and other Masses and prayer services. Choir members range in age from high school age to senior citizens, with all levels of ability. Choir members are welcoming and helpful and encourage all to participate in singing. We rehearse on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 PM in the Music Room and before the 11 AM Mass.

The Children’s Choir sings at the 11 AM Family Mass on the first Sunday of each month during the school year. Children from second through eighth grade from St. Celestine and local public schools are welcome to join. We rehearse in the Music Room on Wednesdays after school from 3:05 to 3:45 PM for St. Celestine school students and from 3:15 to 3:45 PM for Religious Education students. All grade school age children are encouraged to participate in this fun, upbeat, and spiritual musical experience.

The Handbell Choir plays at Christmas and other special Masses.

Choirs at St. Cyprian Site


If you are interested in forming an Adult Choir for the 9 AM Mass at St. Cyprian, please contact Craig Kamptner, the Music Director. Choir members could range in age from high school age to senior citizens, with all levels of ability. We encourage everyone who loves to sing to participate. 

The Contemporary Choir is made up of singers and instrumentalists: guitar, bass, saxophone, flute, and percussion. We sing every Saturday at the 4 PM Saturday Mass. We rehearse one Thursday per month at 7 PM and before mass on Saturday at 3:15 PM.

For special masses, sacraments, and other events such as the Advent Prayer Service and Memorial Day Cemetery mass, we combine the talents of both choirs, with rehearsals being announced prior to the event.

A group of volunteer moms, dads, and students rings handbells periodically through the year at the 11:30 AM mass on Sunday. Rehearsals are held on Sunday morning from 10:30 to 11:15 AM a few weeks prior to the mass.