Ministries

Liturgical Ministries
Youth Ministries
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Social Ministries
Special Ministries, Events, Groups and Councils

Liturgical Ministries

We have very exciting and meaningful liturgies every weekend at our parish. They are filled with a sense of joy and belonging. The congregation participates in song and prayer during all parts of the Mass. The various Liturgy Ministries assist with the actual celebration of Mass to ensure that the liturgies are spiritual, meaningful, and reflective. The following are the different ministry teams that share this responsibility.

• Ushers - This ministry is an integral part to our parish community. For it is here that our brothers and sisters in Christ are greeted first-hand with a sense of warmness and hospitality.
• Commentators - Welcome the congregation to the liturgy. Announce in brief message the theme of the liturgy.
• Lectors - Proclaim the Good News from Sacred Scripture during the liturgy.
• Eucharistic Ministers - Through their calling, it is their sacred responsibility to assist the Priest and Deacon in distributing the precious body and blood to the believing community.
• Altar Servers - Commissioned to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. It is their responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels for each liturgical celebration.
• Choirs - Provide musical accompaniment in order to enhance a deeper sense of worship and prayer to our liturgical celebrations.
• Arts & Environment - Create a prayerful environment which reflects the liturgical seasons of the church and the sanctity of the worship space.
• Altar Linen Care - Tend to the linens used at the altar and throughout the church by routine care and mending.
• Altar Flower Arranging - Because our church is full of sign and symbol this ministry helps us to see, feel and smell the richness of our sacred surroundings through the beautiful and artistic arrangements placed in the sanctuary for all liturgical celebrations.

If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering regarding Liturgical Ministries, please do not hesitate to contact the office at (512) 478-7955.

Youth Ministries

Fostering relationships and promoting education and fellowship is our main mission when concerning youth. We do this through leadership building and dialogue. There are several aspects to working with youth; listed are the current teams and ministries.

• Youth/Community Development - Promote youth and adult partnerships; work to create just, safe, and healthy communities; and influence policymakers.
• Youth Ministry - Parish youth is organized for ministerial involvement and social interactment within the parish and diocese.

If you have any questions, want to register or volunteer, please contact the office at (512) 478-7955.

Religious Education and Faith Formation

Our Lady of Guadalupe parish community recognizes the need and desire for all parishioners, from children to adults, to continually grow in their faith and their relationship with God. We encourage parents to be involved in their child's religious education and provide opportunities for this. Communication between parents and the parish Religious Education staff is the key to a quality program. Our Lady of Guadalupe also provides opportunities for adults to come together with other adults to learn more about living out their Catholic faith. Parishioners and non-members are welcome to attend any of our Adult Religious Education and Faith Formation classes.

Children’s Religious Education

• Religious Education for grades Pre K–5 - For Pre K – 5th grade Religious Education we use the Call to Faith textbook series from Harcourt Religion Publishers.  Parents are always welcome in the classroom and parents are always needed to help in the classroom. Please contact the parish office for more information.
• First Reconciliation and First Communion - This class prepares children in grades 3 – 5 for these sacraments.  This class is different from the regular grade-level Religious Education classes.  One full year of Religious Education is required before admittance to this special class.  We use the Call to Celebrate sacramental preparation materials from Harcourt Religion Publishers.  There is a Youth Sacrament Class for older students needing First Reconciliation and First Communion.

Youth Religious Education

• Junior High Religious Education for students in grades 6–8
• High School Religious Education for students in grades 9–12
• Confirmation - This class prepares high school students for the sacrament of Confirmation.  This class is different from the regular High School Religious Education class.  We use the sacramental preparation materials from Sadlier called El Espíritu Santo nos Libera/The Spirit Sets Us Free.  Two full years of Religious Education classes, usually in Junior High Religious Education, are required immediately before admittance to this class.
• Youth Sacrament Class - This class is a two-year program for junior high and high school students needing the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion.  This program is modeled on the adult RCIA process and uses the Journey of Faith for Teens materials from Liguori Publications.  Information can be found at http://www.liguori.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=6819.  A parent, godparent or other involved adult is required to participate in this class with the student.

Adult Sacramental Preparation and Faith Formation

• Adult Religious Education - Opportunities for continuing religious education and faith formation for adults are offered periodically.  Check the bulletin.
• Baptismal Preparation Classes - This team takes parents and Godparents on a five-week course to learn what it means to baptize, the importance of Godparents, Christian parenting, and Discipleship. This is mandatory for all wishing to baptize their children.  Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to a baptism.
• RCIA - RCIA is for adults who feel called to be fully initiated members of the Catholic Church.  Through the RCIA process adults will be prepared for and will celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.  Persons who were baptized in other Christian traditions may, through this process, become members of the Catholic Church.  Baptized Catholics who were not educated in their faith and/or who have not received the sacrament of First Communion may do so through participation in RCIA.  The process for adult Catholics who have not been Confirmed in the Catholic Church is determined on an individual basis.  The RCIA program begins in late August and ends in May with participants celebrating their sacraments at the Easter Vigil liturgy.
• Marriage Preparation - This course is for all couples wanting to be married at Our Lady of Guadalupe. During this exciting time, it is important to discuss critical issues such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution, expectations, and money management. Teams of couples share their experiences of marriage and daily life.

If you have any questions, want to register or volunteer, please contact Director of Religious Education at (512) 478-7955.

Social Ministries

Gabriel Project (Coordinator Deanna Avalos)

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Gabriel Project is a ministry that provides help to pregnant women in need.  It can be described as a good Samaritan approach towards helping women who are in a crisis pregnancy.  Our church community responds to women in a crisis pregnancy in a loving unconditional and nonjudgmental manner to the woman.  This love is a witness to the community of the infinite and healing love of God.

The trained volunteer is called an Angel, is assigned to the mother when she calls in for help and is responsible for ongoing contact with her.  The angel gives emotional and material support to the expectant mom.  Angels meet with their moms throughout her pregnancy.  At Our Lady of Guadalupe we have a very active Gabriel project with 17 active angels and 14 active supporting volunteers. We have helped over 60 women!!!

Our Gabriel Project kicked off in February 2007.  We have a Project Gabriel closet with baby clothes and furniture, but are always looking for more donations!  We really need diapers of all sizes, wipes, baby shampoo, baby lotion, diaper rash cream, new bottles, baby clothes up to 24 months.  If you are interested in donating new or used baby items or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Claire Irwin at the parish office.

Food Pantry

History: past to present: The pantry opened its doors more then 10 years ago.  It was started by a group of parishioners and has been running in the basement of the church ever since.  Today the pantry is still in the basement, but with some improvements that have helped us have a smoother operation.  We have an intake window where the client and volunteer can talk to fill out the intake.  We also have a pick up window where the client can go to pick up their bags of food when they are ready.  We are blessed to be supported by our church community.  We have been a partner agency with the Capital Area Food Bank for more than six years.  We serve approximately 60+ households a week Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the pantry.  They talk to clients when they come in to receive food.  They bag up the food and give it out to the clients.  They stock food as it comes in and they go and pick up food at the food bank.  They assist the food pantry coordinator and social minister in asking for donations.

Who we Serve: We serve the 78702 zip code and parishioners in need.

When we are open:  Every Friday (except the third Friday of the month) 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and will continue to open every third Saturday of the month from 9:30am to 11:15am.

Where we are located: We are located at 1206 East 9th Street behind the parish offices.

Did you know? That the Our Lady of Guadalupe food pantry has been named an “exceptional pantry” by the Capital Area Food Bank!!

Social Justice Ministry

The core team is made up of twelve parishioners.  This group works with other organizations in the area to educate and mobilize parishioners about local, state, and nationwide issues.  Over the last year the team has had two retreats and received training from Austin Interfaith We, the team and Friar, met with groups of parishioners to find out what pressures were facing their families.  From there we discerned what social justice issues the parish would most like to work on.

Based on conversations with parishioners, the Social Justice Ministry has identified four social
issue priorities:

A. Help alleviate the FINANCIAL PRESSURES that members of the OLG community are experiencing.
B. Provide opportunities for access to affordable HEALTH CARE & education on healthy living.
C. Support our youth in completing a high school EDUCATION, pursuing COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES,
    and having a SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
D. Encourage our members to share their gifts for fuller participation in the LIFE OF THE PARISH

We had a successful presentation of our agenda to the parish on December 7th.  There was a grand total of 336 sign ons to the agenda of priorities.  We have now been having monthly meetings on the forth Monday of every month in the parish hall.

Health Ministry

The Health Ministry Team promotes health education on health issues common to our parish community via a variety of avenues, such as health screenings and information sharing.  The team collaborates with health organizations at a local, state and national level to offer services and new ideas and information to promote a healthier lifestyle.  We plan an annual health fair, and have health promoting events scheduled through out the year.  We have now started a walking group that meets twice a week by the parish hall on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30.  Please join us!!  If you are interested in joining the Health Ministry Team, please contact Claire Irwin at the parish office or join us at one of our monthly meetings.  We meet on the third Wednesday of every month.

Welcoming Ministry

The goal of the welcoming ministry to make visitors and new comers to the parish feel welcomed.  We are have a small team right now that in march will start introducing themselves to all visitors and new comers after the masses.  They will give them information about the parish, along with a prayer card and a rosary.

Sunday Breakfast

The mission of the Sunday Breakfast to cook and serve breakfast after the Sunday morning masses in order to raise money for financial social services.  Why do we have the Sunday breakfast?  It is a way to have community fellowship while at the same time helping to fund our Social Ministry programs.  All of the funds from the Sunday kitchen go to fund the food pantry, emergency financial assistance, and the many other important Social Ministry programs.  The time commitment is one or two weekends a year.  We know that it is hard work, but remember that your ministry and call to stewardship allows Social Ministries to serve individuals and families in our parish community.  To help them is to help Christ himself.

Special Ministries, Events, Groups and Councils

Please take a look at all the special ministries, groups and councils available at Guadalupe.

• Maintenance & Upkeep - Assist in keeping the parish facilities maintained through grounds keeping/landscaping, building repairs, carpentry, and electrical work.
• Jamaica Coordinator - Coordinate our annual parish festival held in October.
• Pastoral Council - Advisory Committee whose role is to serve the Pastor, parishioners and community on the Mission of the parish.
• Financial Committee - Fiscal advisory board to Pastor.
• Rosary / Grieving - Prays the rosary for funerals. Be present to those grieving the loss of loved ones, or going through a major crisis.
• Las Guadalupanas - Service organization which focuses on Our Lady of Guadalupe and events surrounding her day and message.
• Vela Perpetua Society - Organization which focuses on perpetual adoration.
• Las Carmelitas - Service organization which focuses on visiting the sick and prayer.
• Sagrado Corazon - Service organization which organizes community rosaries on the last Friday of every month.
• The Legion Mary - Service organization dedicated to Mary and her message.
• ACTS - ACTS is an acronym for Adoration, Community, Theology and Service. These themes are woven in to the format of three-day retreat. Men’s and Women’s Retreats are held once a year.  Visit our ACTS web page.
  
• Men's Ministry Group - Men who share in their spiritual journey and put their Christian walk into practice, being an active force in the service to one another, within and outside this ministry.  Visit our Men's Ministry Group web page.