All are welcome to join in our liturgical celebrations here at St. John's, and members of our community are afforded the opportunity to serve in a number of capacities. We provide training at the beginning of each semester in the following areas (For more information, contact chapelreception@sjcnc.org):
Sacristans: The Sacristans provide invaluable help to the priest, allowing him to enter into his own prayer before and during Mass and therefore helping him to offer a Mass that is more conducive to the prayer and holiness of the people gathered and in their experience of Holy Mass. Therefore, in their ministry to the priests and various ministers of the liturgy, the Sacristans serve the entire community. The telos of the Sacristan's job is the prayer of the priest and of the people.
Altar Servers: St. Paul tells us that we have been given different gifts and different roles so that we can serve God. The special job of the altar server is to help the other ministers, especially the priest. This help comes in the form of the actual service of carrying the cross in procession, being a candle bearer, book server, and the assistance of the priest at the altar.
Lectors: The lector performs the liturgical role of Proclaimer of the Word of God--specifically, the readings that precede the Gospel.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: In every celebration of the Eucharist, there should be a sufficient number of ministers of Holy Communion so that it may be distributed in a reverent and orderly manner. Bishops, priests and deacons distribute Holy Communion in virtue of their office as ordinary ministers of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion.
The training for this ministry is most important in the fact that we are handling the sacred Body and Blood of our Lord. The training is done by the Head Sacristan and it is required that each minister must be properly installed with a letter from the diocese upon the completion of training.
Ushers: The ushers provide order for the worship services. Taking up the collection, handing out bulletins, helping people to find seating, and assisting in the flow of prayer and worship.
For more information, contact chapelreception@sjcnc.org.
1/12/2012: Homily Honoring Chaplain Emeritus, Msgr. Edward J. Duncan, P.A. More
1/4/2012: Chaplain Emeritus, Monsignor Edward Duncan Passes Away at 96 More
12/6/2011: Immaculate Conception Mass Schedule More
11/28/2011: St. John's Annual Christmas Concert & Mass More
11/8/2011: Fall Break Mass Schedule More
10/18/2011: Sports and Faith: Stories of the Devoted and the Devout More
9/27/2011: SJCNC Welcomes Matthew Kelly to Campus! More
9/7/2011: Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit at St. John's More
8/22/2011: Msgr. Stuart Swetland Returns to Campus More
6/28/2011: A Message from our Director & Head Chaplain More
4/26/2011: Annual Graduation Mass & Reception More
4/12/2011: Announcement from the Director More
4/8/2011: Walking Stations of the Cross on the Quad More
4/7/2011: Wonder What It Is Like To Work In The Vatican? More
3/18/2011: Spring Break Mass Schedule More
3/15/2011: The Day to Day Experiences of Working For & In The Vatican More
3/11/2011: Stations of the Cross during Lent More
2/25/2011: Ash Wednesday Schedule-March 9 More
2/15/2011: Announcement from the Director More
11/23/2010: The Healing of Deacon John Sullivan More
11/1/2010: Jack Roeser to Speak at St. John's More
10/20/2010: SJO's 5K Run for Justice in Crystal Lake Park More
10/7/2010: Fr. Jeff Grob-Exorcist to Speak at St. John's More
10/7/2010: 24 Hours of Grace More
8/25/2010: Hear Fr. Co's Radio Interviews! More
8/19/2010: SJCNC's Shawn Reeves Featured in EWTN Story More
8/10/2010: Fr. Anthony Co Returns from Mission Trip More
7/30/2010: Update on Dr Howell's Reinstatement More
7/16/2010: Announcement Regarding Dr. Howell More
7/4/2010: 200 campus ‘missionaries’ trained at U. of I. Newman More
5/17/2010: Follow that priest... on Twitter! More
5/6/2010: Graduation Festivities - May 15 More
4/5/2010: Pictures from Living Stations of the Cross More
3/9/2010: Catholic-Muslim dialogue on Mary More
3/8/2010: We've got a blog! More
2/18/2010: Video & Audio of D'Souza-Loftus Debate Available Here! More
2/9/2010: Dinesh D'Souza and John W. Loftus debate TONIGHT! More
2/5/2010: 40 Hours Devotion with Fr. Tom Holloway More
1/13/2010: The Great God Debate comes to Univ. of Illinois More
12/11/2009: FOCUS team prepares to lead over 100 students to Orlando More
12/7/2009: December 8, Holy Day of Obligation More
12/2/2009: Advent Reflections More
11/12/2009: Illini Market to close More
11/4/2009: 5K Run for Justice this Saturday! More
10/28/2009: "The Real Exorcist" draws crowd of nearly 1700 More
10/22/2009: Return of "The Real Exorcist" More
10/7/2009: New movie on Fatima miracle to be screened at SJCNC More
9/30/2009: Fr. Wade Menezes to speak during 24 Hours of Grace More
9/30/2009: Newman RAs featured in Daily Illini More
9/22/2009: '40 Days for Life' Begins Today More
9/18/2009: Need forgiveness? More
8/30/2009: Flood Situation Update More
8/28/2009: Flooding at SJCNC More
8/21/2009: Welcome Home! More
6/2/2009: Listen to Cardinal George's Grad Mass Homily More
5/27/2009: Cardinal George to Newman grads: Friendship is more than Facebook More
4/14/2009: Dr. Howell on EWTN Radio More
3/30/2009: 'Legacy Liturgy' planned for May 16 More
3/24/2009: Two students spend Spring Break 'Biking for Babies' More
3/13/2009: Author Joseph Pearce to speak at SJCNC More
2/20/2009: Schedule for Divine Mercy Weekend More
2/20/2009: Catholics at the Capitol More
2/3/2009: Missionaries Plan for Illinois Summer More
12/18/2008: Dr. Howell publishes new book on Ignatius of Antioch More
