Organizations

ALTAR SERVICES

Fr. Roselle Azares [905 853-5009)

An altar server is an important member of a ministry that assists the community in celebrating the sacred liturgy. Servers participate in the liturgy by using the important signs and symbols of the liturgy such as candles, incense, the cross and assisting the presider in the preparation of the Eucharist.

By the graceful and reverential manner in which they perform their tasks, they contribute to the spirit of prayer and worship and encourage the participation of the assembly.

To become an altar server, an applicant must have received his or her first communion as well as demonstrating a regular participation in the Sunday liturgies. Training will provide the appropriate understanding of this ministry.

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S GUILD

Caroline Jarzabek
Website: CWGstelizabethseton.com

St. Elizabeth Seton Womens Guild is a parish based catholic women's group dedicated to serving the needs of the parish, and we are blessed to have Father Roy Farrell as our Spiritual Advisor.

Our meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month commencing with Mass at 7 p.m., followed by our meetings at 7.30 p.m. in the Crying Room (adjacent to the Church office). Our main fundraising event is our Christmas Bazaar, traditionally held the second Saturday in November, and this is always a very popular community building initiative.

New members are always welcome to join us for friendship, laughter, prayers and discussions.

Mission Statement: To live and share our faith, as Catholic women, following God's teaching and bringing the love of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to all we meet.

For more information visit our new website at CWGstelizabethseton.com

CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD

Jennifer McAvoy

Children's Liturgy is a class for children in JK to Grade 2, and assembles during the 11.00 a.m. mass on Sundays. The program commences in September and breaks for the summer. Children process out of church and into a meeting room with a liturgist before the first reading and return to their parents during the presentation of the gifts (offertory).

While in class, which essentially follows the format of the Eucharist, the children enjoy a combination of prayers, songs, gospel reading of the day and a discussion and explanation of the Scriptures. This is all directed to their level of understanding. If time allows, children may also color a picture or possibly make a craft that relates to the Sunday Gospel theme.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Barb Gonsalves

The Eucharist is the Heart of the Church. "Where Eucharistic life flourishes, there the life of the Church will blossom". Pope John Paul II, 1981.

The silent power in adoring Our Lord. We invite you to join us, make a sacrifice and schedule a silent hour from Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm. Sign up forms can be found in the foyer of the Church. Silent Eucharistic Adoration is the perfect opportunity to Be Still, Let Go and Let God pour out His Graces upon you.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

Dagmar Olive

New members are always welcome to join us in helping the priests distribute Communion. We provide the training and development at meetings.

FAMILY MASS LITURGY COMMITTEE

Donna Maietta [905-895-2497]

We believe in welcoming the WHOLE family to mass, and in helping everybody to feel involved and addressed at certain times.

We have over 40 people involved in or planning for the Church year. All families are welcome to give their names for special ministries at the 9.30 a.m. mass.

FINANCE COUNCIL

Fr. Roy Farrell
Ted Dzialowski

According to Canon Law, a financial council is mandatory for a parish. This committee provides counsel to the pastor in all aspects of finance. This group helps prepare the parish budgets and presents a report to the parish community.

FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION

John Gragtsman

Devotions are held on the first Friday of each month, with the exception of the Lenten Season:

9:00 a.m. – Mass
at the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and special prayers are said.
during the day, there is the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel; people sign up on a list placed on the Chapel door for a half hour or an hour of adoration.
7:00 p.m. – Solemn Evening Prayer in the Church, followed by Benediction
7:30 p.m. – Mass

GOOD SHEPHERD SCRIPTURE STUDY PRAYER GROUP

Roma Glass [905-478-4146]

The group meets every Tuesday morning after the 9.00 am mass. They start with tea to socialize. A reading from scripture is taken and then group-sharing based on scripture. The group also prays the Rosary together for the unborn and for all the intentions of those present.

HALL COMMITTEE

Steve Pitrie [905-853-0095]
For Hall Rental: Virginia Dal Bianco [905-392-6737]

This committee helps the pastor organize and create policies for our parish hall. Our parish hall is used primarily for community functions, but it is also rented out to the greater public for functions such as weddings, baptisms, company parties and seminars, etc.

HOPE & CONSOLATION

Lynn Bervaldi
Pat Jackson

The ministry of Hope and Consolation started in our parish and also supports the parishes of St. John Chrysostom and Holy Martyrs of Japan. Hope and Consolation provides support to individuals who are experiencing grief because of the loss of a loved one. The members of the ministry of Hope and Consolation include individuals who have received education and formation in order to journey with people who have experienced loss. They will visit individuals and families, share information about the grief process and provide support on behalf of the parish. Anyone is welcome at our monthly drop in for a time of prayer, shared stories and mutual support. The ministry also organizes memorial services and information evenings.

MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY

Steve Roston [905-853-8570]

An important ministry which is not just ushering but making people feel welcome in the parish community.

JR. LEGION OF MARY

Irene Norton [905-898-2278]

The Junior Legion of Mary teaches children the truths of our Catholic Faith, and encourages them to develop a personal relationship with God. Weekly meetings are held every Friday evening at 4:30pm and consists of prayer and the assigning and reporting of an apostolic work. The juniors make rosaries for third world countries, prepare rosary kits and miraculous medals for schools. They also hand out Church bulletins and many other apostolic works approved by the Pastor. Mary is Queen of the Legion, and she will touch the hearts of the youth today.

If your child is interested in joining the Junior Legion, please contact Irene Norton at 905-898-2278.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Grand Knight: Don Hennessey

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal order of Catholic men founded for the purpose of rendering aid to its members and their families when in distress and to promote the charitable, religious and social welfare of its members and the community at large.

Council #10586, St. Thomas of Villanova, meets at St. Elizabeth Seton Church on the fourth Wednesday of the month (September through June).

LECTORS

Michael Otis

The Ministry of the Word is a very important Ministry for the life, vitality and growth of our Parish Community.

The Lector is a privileged carrier of God’s Word, proclaiming the Good News to the Faithful through the readings at the Eucharistic Celebration.

The Sacred Scriptures tell us the great story of God and His People. The Lector’s role then is to relay this story, and to tell it with enthusiasm and Faith, for it is these readings that bring meaning and direction to our lives.

The Parish needs more volunteers! Yes …. YOU! If you feel comfortable speaking in public, can read reasonably well, and have a strong voice, then you are ideal for the job! Call or e-mail for further information.

LEGION OF MARY

Corina Fernandes

MYSTICAL ROSE PRAESIDIUM

The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin, Ireland on September 7th 1921. It is a lay Catholic organization whose members are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis in almost every country. The object of the Legion of Mary is glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called the praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium.

The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish.

Auxiliary Membership is open to Priests, religious, and lay people who wish to associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name.

LIBRARY

Albina Barber
Pat Jackson

The Library will be open after all Sunday morning Masses. .

There are many wonderful Catholic books to choose from. If there is no one attending the library and you wish to sign out a book or video, there will be a list of directions on the wall. Please read this and follow the instructions – we do not wish to lose library materials and we hope to inaugurate an honour system. Many of our Catholic videos are missing – please return.

Volunteers to attend the library after one of the Masses will be most welcome. Please call the parish office.

LITURGY COMMITTEE

Fr. Roy Farrell

The liturgy is the heart of our parish life and, as well, the focal point of the spiritual life of each parishioner. We have many dedicated and interested people on our committee, but we welcome any parishioner who is interested in developing our parish celebrations.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

St. Elizabeth Seton holds one marriage preparation courses per year, this year it will be held early March. The course runs over three consecutive days. There are two three-hour sessions (Thurs and Fri evening) and an all-day session on Saturday. This makes for an intense three days, but we find that most couples prefer this model.

The essential content of the course covers: readiness for marriage, family background and attitudes, communication, time and money management, division of responsibilities, sexuality, parenthood, family planning, spousal love and marriage as a sacrament.

The course is facilitated by four lead couples and one of the parish priests. Each sessions has a presentation, group sharing and most of the time will be spent by each couple sharing among themselves. It is hoped that this approach encourages maximum growth, understanding and communication between the couple.

The cost of the course is $150 per couple. This amount covers the cost of expenses incurred (materials, guest speakers, refreshment/meals). The lead couples time is donated free of charge.

All couples planning to marry within the Catholic Church are welcome to attend. Couples who have lived together for some time and/or have children are required to attend a course at Catholic Family Services 5799 Youge Street.
Phone (416) 921-1163.

MUSIC MINISTRIES

8:00 am
Choir Leader: Yves Durocher
9:30 am
Choir Leader: Donna Maietta
11:00 am
Choir Leader: Lisa Freemantle
4:30 pm
Choir Leader: Terry McCann
Website: http://ses.fourthirty.googlepages.com/home
7:00 pm
Choir Leader: (Youth Mass)

The music ministry does not exist for its members, rather it exists to lead and support the assembly’s song. The hymn of praise is our way of life. The parish welcomes all who wish to share their gift of music with the assembly. Singers, organists, cantors, leaders of music and instrumentalists are all needed.

PARISH MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE

Micheal Dutschek

Our Church is 19 years old and there is a constant need to maintain its structure and surroundings. There is a group of people in the Church who have expertise in the trades who are able to identify where repairs are required. This allows the Church to act quickly in order to avoid more costly and extensive repairs. If you have gifts and would like to share them with our parish community, please contact the Church office.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Fr. Roy Farrell

This group of parishioners meets once a month to ask key questions, single out priorities, stimulate action and advise the Pastor, while permitting a continuity of purpose and direction.

PARISH PICNIC

Sonny D’Mello/Knights of Columbus

Our Parish Picnic is held in June each year at a local park.

Lots of fun for the whole family – foot races, children’s games, face painting – and you will not want to miss out on the opportunity to try and beat The Gazelle (a.k.a. Fr. Edwin) in a foot race! Weather permitting, there is an outdoor Mass late afternoon.

R.C.I.A.

Fr. Roy Farrell

The R.C.I.A. programme is geared towards non-baptized and other Christians as a preparation for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist – all Sacraments of Initiation – and full reception into the Roman Catholic Church.

RELIGIOUS ARTICLES

Albina Barber
Pat Jackson

The Religious Articles store will be open after all Sunday morning Masses. It is now conveniently located in the Library.

SHARE LIFE

Church Office [905-853-5009]

ShareLife is the major fundraiser of the Catholic Church to help support various charitable organizations. Many of these organizations would not exist without the support of ShareLife. Please consider contributing to this worthwhile cause.

SOCIAL MINISTRY

Parish Coordinator: Jean Lashley [905-898-4137]
Cell: [905-392-1909]

Parish social ministry helps parishioners, as disciples of Jesus, to fulfill the mission of the Church, by responding in an organized way, in the parish, to societal and individual human needs.

Locally, parish social ministry is a joint effort of three parishes:

St. John Chrysostom, Newmarket [905-898-4137]
St. Elizabeth Seton, Newmarket [905-853-5009]
Holy Martyrs of Japan, Bradford [905-775-2065]

Catholic Charities promotes parish social ministry as a strategic direction. Catholic Community Services of York Region and Catholic Family Services of Simcoe, both agencies funded by Share Life, provide support for parish social ministry through staff and referral to other resources.

Education
The first component of Parish Social Ministry is education, which seeks to bring a greater understanding of the scriptural basis for social ministry, the social teaching of the Church, and the social issues which confront us in our society today. We need to understand these within our parish, community, nation and world in order to stand in solidarity as children of God.

Service
The second component of Parish Social Ministry is service, which responds directly to social issues. It meets the immediate and emergency needs of people. Collaborative partnerships are critical, as many social issues are complex and referrals to professional agencies are essential. As well, the more we work together, the better we are able to wrap care around individuals and families in need.

Social Action
A third component is one that is often forgotten or lost in the service. Social action is required to move us beyond the meeting of the basic emergency needs of people, as important and non-negotiable as those are. It is the dimension of Parish Social Ministry that addresses the root causes of social issues and works for individual, community and social transformation. It calls us to work for long term structural and institutional change, to ensure the dignity of all our brothers and sisters.

Understanding Our Communities
In order to understand our communities well, we conducted a needs assessment during the fall of 1999. This included an in-pew survey at mass, various meetings with key groups in the parishes and input from external sources such as Catholic Community Services. We reported on the results of this process in January of 2000 and are continuing to use these results in planning our response to the needs of the parishes.

We are also going through a process of gifts assessment, to understand what resources and individual gifts already exist within our communities to meet these needs.

Counseling Services
One of the findings of the needs survey was that many individuals and families are struggling to cope with complex issues with insufficient support. We have arranged with Catholic Community Services of York Region to subsidize the provision of professional counseling services one day a week in Newmarket at St. John Chrysostom Parish Centre. While we wish to improve the informal support available to individuals and families, we also want to make it easier for individuals and families to access professional support when that is needed. To arrange to see a counselor in Newmarket, please call Catholic Community Services at 1-800-263-2075.

Developing the Gifts of the Individual
In order to prepare people for special roles in parish social ministry or to support and strengthen individuals in roles they have already taken on in the community, the parishes have offered the Parish Social Ministry “Minister of Care” Training and Formation program during the winter and spring of 2000. This twelve week program will be offered again in 2001. It incorporates paraprofessional skills development, personal growth and faith development, discernment of personal gifts, and commitment to bring our gifts into service to our community. The goals include the development of lay leadership and preparation for work in collaborative ministry.

The approximately eighty individuals who completed this program are continuing to meet on a regular basis to develop and support their gifts for ministry. Some individuals are helping with the hospital visiting ministry organized by Deacon Frank McLean, others are visiting seniors at home, helping with transportation for isolated individuals, becoming involved in service programs within the community and otherwise making themselves available to support individuals and families in the parishes.

PROJECT EL SEMBRADOR
With the assistance of the Spanish prayer group and the Spanish Catholic community of the three parishes, we are developing a ministry with the approximately 500 Mexican workers who live on the farms of the Holland Marsh and Keswick Marsh for on average six months of the year. To address their isolation, caused by the long hours they work and their lack of transportation and English skills, we have started a program of farm visits, transportation assistance to the monthly Spanish masses at St. Elizabeth Seton, organization of monthly prayer and recreation events at Holy Martyrs of Japan, and assistance with translation and intercultural interpretation. Various parishioners who do not speak Spanish have also provided assistance with transportation, hospitality, collecting bicycles and clothing, etc. We are looking for more people who would like to be part of this program.

Do You Have a Problem?
If you have a problem or concern, please contact Jean Lashley at 905-392-1909 or one of the parish offices. We would like to help, or find some other source of support for you.

Questions?
For more information about parish social ministry or to become involved, please contact Jean Lashley.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – K4J

Jenny Otis [905-953-9235]

This years theme is ‘Circus of the Stars, Spotlight on the Father.”? July 5th to July 9th, 8:45am to 12:00pm.? $25 per child or $50 per family. VBS is for children entering SK to Grade 8.

Kids at Circus of Stars VBS will: shine as God the Father’s stars, made in his image; practice the virtue of BALANCE when they work, play, rest, & pray each day; wrap up the Year of the Priests and collect coins as part of the “Thank You Father” Mission to support retired priest and religious in your diocese; sing “Thank You Father”, “Circus of the Stars and seven other great K4J VBS songs; imitate five “holy heroes” who reflected God’s glory; enjoy skits, crafts, snacks, games, the sacraments and more!

To register just click on this link

VISITING MINISTRY

Ken Burke

We are able to provide this most valuable ministry to members of our parish family who are unable to attend Sunday Mass.

YOUTH GROUP

Mark Fitzgerald
Christa MacDonald 905.806.5053 (c)

The St. Elizabeth Seton Youth Group (SESYG) is for teens, ages 13-19, who want to be actively involved in the parish community. We use interactive discussions/presentations, activities, community service opportunities and social events as forums to present church teaching in a relatable and easy to understand context as well as assist our youth in becoming responsible Catholics with a missionary spirit. Our goal is to provide a safe and fun environment in which to form future Catholic leaders with a firm understanding of the faith.

Meetings are held every second Friday evening, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, in the Knights of Columbus room (parish basement). For more information, please contact Christa MacDonald email: christa.macdonald@gmail.com or ph: 905-806-5053

For additional information, please visit our website at: www.sesyg.org