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Corpus Christi Parish
Committees and Organizations
If you are interested in any of the groups below, please contact
the rectory at
516-746-1223
ALTAR SERVERS
Training for
serving at the altar begins in fourth grade. It is offered in the
Fall. Servers assist at Mass - Sunday and weekdays and other acts of
liturgical worship including funerals and weddings. The altar
servers add dignity and solemnity to the Church's public prayer.
Through their participation, children of elementary school age are
given the opportunity to increase their under- standing of the
catholic faith.
BAPTISM COMMITTEE
The Baptism Committee is comprised of parishioners who welcome
parents and godparents to the community of Corpus Christi and help
them prepare for the Baptism of their child. Their role is to help
conduct an informal class on the Friday evening before the second
Sunday of each month for parents and godparents. The committee helps
the parents and godparents realize that they are about to experience
a very joyous sacrament and that the community of Corpus Christi
stands ready to assist them in any way possible. During this class a
priest or deacon from the parish explains the Sacrament of Baptism
in order to make the Christening on Sunday as meaningful as
possible. The committee also assists the celebrant and the
congregation as needed at the Baptism Ceremony.
BISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL
The Bishop's Annual Appeal Committee contacts parishioners
requesting them to pledge a gift for this appeal which is conducted
annually throughout the diocese. Proceeds are used by the Bishop to
fund pastoral services, Catholic Charities, religious personnel
development, and diocesan administration. Corpus Christi Parish
receives twenty-five percent of the pledges paid by its parishioners
for use by the parish.
CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS
COURT IMMACULATA 11444
This is the largest organization of Catholic women in the world. Its
motto "Unity & Charity" represents it's purposes to participate in
the religious, charitable and education Apostolates of the Church.
Court Immaculata instituted in 1919, is the oldest affiliated
organization in Corpus Christi Church. Membership is open to all
Catholic women eighteen years and over.
CELEBRATE MARRIAGE
In the spirit
of Bishop McGann's pastoral letter on Marriage, this committee of
married couples from the parish coordinates marriage enrichment
programs such as an annual special wedding anniversary mass, special
days of renewal and topical speakers.
CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH SCHOOL
120 Searing Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501
Established in 1922
The parish
school seeks to create an environment that encourages all of the
members of the school community to share their faith experiences
with one another. This ease and freedom will further promote and
support the spiritual growth of the parish and world community.. The
school has been staffed by the Sisters of St. Dominic since 1922.
Lay teachers have become an integral part of the Dominican tradition
at Corpus Christi. Academically, the school's standardized testing
scores affirm excellence. In addition to the N.Y S. curriculum in
all subjects, Corpus Christi School is proud of its additional
qualified and creative programs that nourish a holistic education:
Community and
school liturgies
Weekly school
visits by our parish priests and deacons
Daily
experience in faith that enable Christian decisions
Computer
literacy in grades K-8
Fine Arts
program
Library skills
Classes for
talented students (Explorers)
English as
second language grades Pre K-6
Peer teaching
program for grades K-8
Band - Brass
instruments
Twirlers -
grades K-8
CYO Basketball,
Softball, and cheerleading - grades 5-8
Basketball
Clinic - grades 3 and 4
Drama Club
After-school-care program
Corpus Christi
School presents itself as a microcosm of the world's cultures: the
student body consists of a population which is approximately 64%
white, 16% black (Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Afro-American),
16% Hispanic and 4% Asian. 92% of the students are Catholic.
Evangelization continues to be a priority in our Catholic Education
System.
CORPUS CHRIST I PARENTS 'CLUB
Corpus
Christi Parents' Club is an organization comprised of all parents
with children in Corpus Christi School (grades N-8). It is run by
a 7 member board who are elected by the general membership. The
primary function of the Parents Club is to raise money to assist
in the costs involved in running the school. In addition, the
Parents' Club has been able to work on special projects through
fundraising, such as updating computer equipment, outdoor message
board, stage curtains, fire doors and assemblies. The executive
board meets once a month and there are several general meetings a
year.
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL BOARD
The School Board consists of elected and alternate parish members
who meet monthly with the pastor and principal in an advisory
capacity. These meetings are open to the parish as well as all
parents of the parish school, except for closed meetings in
September through December, and June.
Each member
of the Board is expected to join at least one of the standing
committees, and remain active throughout the three year term.
Committees are as follows: Student Events, Public Relations,
Recruitment, Tuition Review, Scholarships, and Government
services. The Board responsibly sets its goals, and makes policies
that are conscientiously followed-up. In addition, the members of
the board honor outstanding members and alumni at an annual dinner
dance in November which is the major fund raiser for the Corpus
Christi Development Fund.
CYO-CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION
Corpus Christi CYO offers basketball for boys and girls grades
K-12. For grades K-3 there is a basketball clinic and grades 4-12
play regulation games with regional parishes.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
The services of a Eucharistic Minister is two fold: to share
the Body and Blood of Christ with those who are gathered for
prayer at Mass and to bring Holy Communion to the homebound, so
that they may realize their union with the parish and the whole
Church. In sharing the Eucharist with others, the Eucharistic
Ministers realize that it is not only Christ they are sharing, but
also themselves.
FAMILY LITURGY COMMITTEE
This creative
and enthusiastic committee plans the liturgies celebrated each
Sunday at the 10:00 AM Family Mass. The committee prepares special
projects and also facilitates the scheduling and training of the
children who serve at the Mass as lectors and in other capacities.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
This
committee, appointed by the pastor, advises him in his care of the
temporalities of the parish. The committee meets regularly and
meetings are chaired by the pastor.
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
The Hospitality Committee provides refreshments and fellowship
after Liturgical Celebrations and Religious Education Teachers'
meetings. Members of the committee include ladies and gentlemen
who enjoy serving others. Each person is encouraged not only to
use his or her unique talents in sharing fellowship and love with
others, but also is presented with opportunities to use his or her
imagination in serving the People of God.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
CORPUS CHRISTI COUNCIL NO. 2502
The Knights of Columbus, Corpus Christi Council No. 2502, is
composed primarily of men from the parishes of Corpus Christi and
St. Aidan's. This fraternal order has over 650 members in the
Council and recently celebrated its 72nd year. Membership is for
men 18 years of age and older. New members are progressed through
the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degrees to full membership.
The Council
supports many charities, primarily the Cleary Home for the Deaf,
Right-to-Life, AHRC, Interfaith Nutritional Network, and the
parish schools.
Social
activities include the Installation of Officers, Columbus Day
Parade, St. Patrick's Day Parade and Dance, Communion Supper and
Knight-of-the-year Award, and marching in the Memorial Day and
July 4th Parades. The members work diligently for the four
principles of the order, which are Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and
Patriotism.
LECTORS
Lectors proclaim Scripture readings to the community.
Proclaiming the Scriptures
is an ancient
and important ministry in the church that affects all aspects of a
member's life. Junior Lectors are children from Grades 5-8 who
serve in this ministry at the 10:00 AM Family Mass.
MINISTRY TO THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY
The objective of the ministry is to be of service to the Portuguese
community of Corpus Christi Parish. Areas of involvement include:
The Portuguese
Sunday Mass at 8:30 AM
The Portuguese
Choir – Practice every Friday, 8:30-10:00 PM
Portuguese
Baptisms on the 1st and 3rd Sunday at 1:00 PM
Portuguese
Baptismal Preparation on the last Thursday of every month at 8:30 PM
Portuguese Pre-Cana
once a year in February
Our Lady of
Fatima Celebrations on May 13 and October 13
Group of
Portuguese ladies who care for the flowers at Our Lady of Fatima’s
altar
Portuguese
Christianity Movement Group – meeting the last Friday of every month
– 8:30-10:00 PM
Portuguese
Prayer Group – meeting every Friday – 7:30-9:30 PM
Religious
Education Portuguese Parents’ Meetings
Religion class
for Portuguese children in the First Grade – lst and 3rd
Sunday – 9:30-10:30AM
Verbal and
written Portuguese translations for Church, School and Religious
Education
Academic
Support Program for some bilingual students attending Corpus Christi
School
MUSIC MINISTRY
The ministry of music at Corpus Christi primarily consists
of
enabling our assembled community to better praise God
through sung prayer. "The church earnestly desires that all the
faithful be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in
the liturgical celebrations called for by the
very nature
of
the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people' (1
Pt. 2:9) is their right and duty by reason of their baptism."
(Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy. no. 14)
CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH CHOIR
This choir is
the foundation of the Corpus Christi Parish music ministry
department. The choir meets on Wednesday evenings for rehearsal and
sings at the 11:30AM celebration on Sunday and on other feasts
and occasions.
PARISH OUTREACH
Corpus Christi Parish Outreach strives to respond to the needs of
the poor among us by providing them with food, clothing, furniture
and emergency services and by acting as a liaison to various
governmental services such as DSS. Interpreters are available for
Spanish speaking clients. Parish Outreach services the Mineola
community by visiting the elderly and shut-ins. In addition, they
offer counseling and refer people to appropriate resources. Many
volunteers and community people offer their services. For example,
lawyers who are part of he Catholic Lawyers Guild do free
consultations and pro bono wor. The parish outreach office maintains
a list of persons available to work as housekeepers, baby-sitters,
and companions for the elderly. Assistance is offered to unemployed
persons who are seeking employment. In general, the outreach office
is open to all persons living in the Mineola community who are
experiencing various difficulties in their lives.
PRE-CANA PROGRAM
Pre-Cana has as its goal to offer the engaged couple a chance to
stop and look at themselves, their relationship to each other and to
God, and the responsibilities of marriage. Hopefully, it increases
the chance of the couple having a good marriage and in doing so make
God's love real in their lives.
The parish Pre-Cana
program is held at least twice yearly. It affords engaged couples an
informal opportunity to share with married and other engaged couples
thoughts and ideas regarding different aspects of married life. The
couples also have the opportunity to plan the music for their
wedding ceremony.
RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS
RCIA is a
conversion process by which our parish faith community welcomes
others wishing to join the Catholic faith into our church and parish
life. This process is available to non-Catholics or baptized
Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist
and Confirmation. Instruction is provided by parish members with
emphasis placed on scripture and doctrine. RCIA is a journey into
the depths of the Paschal Mystery whose goal is "putting on
the mind of Christ.”
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The major function of the Religious Education Office is to cooperate
with and participate in the catechetical mission of our parish and
our church. The Religious Education Office plans and implements the
Religious Education Program which provides formal instructions in
the faith for over 700 of the parish children in Grades 1-8
who attend public schools. The program also includes catechist
formation sessions and adult education courses. The Religious
Education Office is also responsible for the sacramental preparation
program which includes planning and facilitating the parish wide
celebrations of the sacraments of First Holy Communion,
Reconciliation and Confirmation as well as the parent education and
formation sessions which are part of the immediate
preparation for these sacraments. The Family Liturgy Committee, The
Hospitality Committee and the Religious Education Council are all
part of the Religious Education Program.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COUNCIL
The Religious Education Council is a group representative of various facets of the catechetical efforts of our parish.
Representatives from the Religious Education Program, Adult
Education, Hospitality, Family Liturgy and Corpus Christi School
convene to discuss catechetical issues. The council is advisory to
the pastor through the Director of Religious Education. It provides
an opportunity for continual assessment and contributes to the
broader understanding and vision essential for Corpus Christi Parish
to grow in the knowledge and the love and the grace of Jesus Christ.
ROSARY ALTAR SOCIETY
The Rosary Altar Society is open to all women of the parish.. The
Society is devoted to Mary through praying the rosary. We support
the parish by fund- raising (cake sales, holiday boutique, etc.) and
taking care of cleaning and decorating the altar. At the 5PM Mass
the Saturday before the 3rd Sunday, the society gathers to pray and
celebrate the Eucharist together; business meetings are held on the
following Monday evening.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CORPUS CHRISTI CONFERENCE
The society is an international organization of lay persons that
seek to alleviate the suffering of those in need regardless of race,
color, or creed and to redress the situation that causes it. The
Corpus Christi Conference meets on the fourth Wednesday of each
month to plan and coordinate their woks of mercy which include
helping those in need apply for assistance, arranging for temporary
shelter for the destitute, distributing donated food, providing
clothing and furnishings through society-run outlets, and providing
services of faith, hope, and love in conjunction with parish
outreach services.
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship is
the idea of becoming aware of the fact that everything we have is a
gift from God, including our Church. This committee looks for ways
to bring people to a greater understanding of how God has blessed
each of us. It seeks to develop programs that will help parishioners
to share their "time, talent and treasure" with their Church.
USHERS
The ushers welcome the people attending Sunday Liturgy and any
special gatherings. They coordinate processions, take up the
collections, and distribute the Sunday bulletin at the close of the
Eucharistic Celebration. This important ministry strengthens the
bond of community in the "Body of Christ".
YOUTH GROUP
The Youth Group, a group for high school aged teenagers meets in
Monsignor Fitzgerald Hall Meeting Room for a program planned and
facilitated by interested adult volunteers who enjoy working with
teenagers. The program includes varied activities, discussions,
social, service and prayer opportunities which foster personal
development and spiritual growth. The program also provides the
teenagers with the opportunity to have some fun in a relaxed and
secure environment among friends.
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