Holy Week doesn’t just happen; lots of preparation is involved as well as many hands who share in ministry weeks before we gather. It was sixteen years ago when Pam Chaplin followed me through Holy Week and wrote down everything that needed to be done and made exhaustive check lists for each of our worship experiences and ministers. She also created a list of how many ministers are needed and wrote explicit instruction guides for the altar servers for each of these services. With the help of Tina Buckley pulling the schedule together, our faithful altar servers, ministers of Holy Communion, readers of the Word, musicians, cantors, videographers, ushers, greeters, and A/V ministers come together to serve the community. People are very faithful sharing their time and talents throughout Holy Week and I must say, our worship is well executed, with reverence and grace.
Pam further empowers others to assist in preparation for worship throughout the liturgical year. The Worship Team meets monthly with Pam and Jana Loughlin to prepare our weekly worship experiences and seasonal realities (think the 6 prayer stations in the church for Lent). The Message Shapers read the weekly and seasonal readings well in advance and create our Homily Series, so that we are “One Church, One Message.” The Faith Formation Team gathers monthly with Tara Corcoran and Karen Barrett so that our small groups and age-specific groups are connected to the message and liturgical season. Gerald and Carrie Maurais work with the Altar Servers, preparing them for weekly service and high holy days. Michael Matondi works with our Readers of the Word and Kristen Grillo works many weeks with the children who come forward for Children’s Choir. Ernie Chaplin always gets the Easter fire up and running. Bill Parent coordinates the cooks and bakers to make sure the simple Good Friday meal is ready following Walk-the Walk. Rob and Gina Russell lead the Seder Team to make sure our annual Seder Supper happens without a hitch, as Annmarie Smith makes sure the Sacred Heart Beats are there to lead us in song, along with faithfully playing throughout the year. Jean Dudley prepares the Ministers of Holy Communion so that they minister with reverence to our community. Paula and Ray Cadoret decorate the church; Ray does the heavy lifting, Paula makes sure the details are all in place. Outside decorations are donated and prepared by John and Michelle Faherty.
In the meantime, our faithful staff, Darleen Page, Tina Buckley, Joe Calabrese, Tara Corcoran, and Pam Chaplin keep the day to day activities afloat. What a wonderful addition our Deacon in Training, Tom Tierney is! I am grateful to have him sitting at my side to help when I forget something! How grateful we all should be for the many members of our community who work day in and day out to make Sacred Heart the lay-driven parish we have become over the years!