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.

CATHOLIC MINISTRIES 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 Apostolic 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.

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 home bound, 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 OF CONSOLATION
A group of volunteers who come together to serve our Lord and fellow parishioners at a time of loss.
We visit the different funeral parlors, help prepare for the Funeral Mass, greet people before the Mass, bake cakes and are there to celebrate the life of their dearly beloved.
We also offer a bereavement group to help deal with the reality of life after a death occurs.
Please join us in this rewarding ministry.

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 work. 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.

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.