Ministries

Stewardship of Ministry: A Way of Life

By our baptism we are called to be disciples of Christ. Stewardship is an expression of discipleship with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be.

The Cathedral parish has many ministries that are always in need of energetic parishioners willing to serve. There are countless ways to serve the Lord and one another. A description of our ministries is listed below. If you would like to serve the church through one of these ministries, please e-mail the chairperson listed or the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

Music/Choir:

(.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Dir. of Music)
The devotion of our choir members to music as a means of enhancing the liturgy is a gift to the entire parish and its friends. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact Robbie at (225) 336-1700 to schedule an audition.

Concert Series:

This committee plans the Cathedral Concert Series to be held at St. Joseph Cathedral during the year. Volunteers for such concerts structure fundraising activities, acquire funding, contract musicians, plan hospitality and public relations, etc.

Lector Guild:

(Ms. Peggy Langston, chair)
In proclaiming the word of God at Sunday and weekday masses, lectors serve to bring God’s message to our ears and to our hearts, that we may serve Him more fully in our daily lives.

Altar Servers:

(Mr. Sean Molony, chair)
Servers assist our priests and deacon in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is a wonderful opportunity for the young men and women of our parish to learn and grow with God.

Ushers/Greeters:

(Dr. Vincent Leggio and Mary Ellen Davros, co-chairs)
The ushers of the Cathedral extend a warm welcome to visitors and parishioners and are very important to our worship community.

Altar Society/Altar Guild:

The altar society prepares the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist. They are responsible for the care of the sacred vessels and vestments, the laundering of linens, replacement of candles, and cleaning of the sacristy.

RCIA/Evangelization:

Volunteer teams meet with the inquirers beginning in the Fall, through the season of Lent. The elect are received as full members of the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil. Volunteers are needed to help the Cathedral open its doors to new members of our faith.

Small Christian Community:

The Small Christian Community is an adult study and discussion group that draws its topics from Scripture, the Catechism, spirituality, history and contemporary issues. Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the parish office.

Parish School of Religion:

(Sr. Carla Candella, chair)
The classes for kindergarten through eleventh graders are held on Sundays after the 10 a.m. mass. Classes are available for children of the parish who are not enrolled in parochial schools. Catechists and teacher aides are needed for weekly instruction of these children.

Vocations:

(Mr. Bill Koren, chair)
This committee works to foster vocation prayer and awareness in the parish with a goal to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Adult Education:

This ministry is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing the adult religious education programs of the parish.

Hospitality:

Our hospitality ministry prepares our weekly Sunday coffee and donuts for fellowship gathering following the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. masses. This is an opportunity to visit with friends and meet new people who all have something wonderful in common—parish life. In addition, our hospitality committee plans our parish suppers and special feast meals that are held during various times throughout the year. In this ministry, members culminate in the joy of sharing. Good food and fellowship are enjoyed by all!

Christian Outreach Center:

This ministry is an ecumenical effort of the five downtown churches to help the needy. The Cathedral staffs the Center on Thursdays. Persons requesting help are interviewed by volunteers who seek to offer a variety of services. The Center is located at 1427 Main Street, Baton Rouge, LA  70802 and their phone number is 225-377-8582. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Social Concern Committee:

This ministry serves as a clearing house to evaluate various requests that come to the Cathedral in the area of social concerns. Among the services offered in this ministry are those of bereavement support, transporation to Mass for the elderly and a “Giving Tree” during the Advent season.