Ministry
Directory

Our parishioners run a variety of small groups and Bible studies designed to help you connect, grow, and deepen your faith. Some groups take place in homes, while others meet in our parish hall.

The Wild Goose, a 14-part series featuring Fr. Dave Pivonka, invites viewers to an encounter, or a renewed encounter, with the Holy Spirit. The videos and the accompanying discussion/reflection questions are a great resource to help you build a relationship with the third person of the Trinity. The series will be offered twice beginning in October: Tuesday afternoon session, 1 p.m., Tuesday evening session, 6:30 p.m., 7 sessions in the fall, 7 sessions in the spring.

This is an eight-week program for individuals looking to address the traumatic effects of divorce. Participants meet weekly and work to heal the wounds caused by divorce through collaboration and discussion. This program is designed for people who have finalized their divorce.

A marriage preparation program led by married couples and designed to provide engaged couples with an understanding of the church’s teachings of marriage, the graces received from them, and an appreciation for the Sacrament of Matrimony. These sessions take place within the year of marriage preparation. Some training is offered.

Whether the loss is recent or a long time ago, healing can continue through the strength found in prayer and the love of others. We are offering an opportunity to be what is needed for the group that gathers. We will use resources available to us and each other as we share and pray together and find comfort in scripture, memories, and support of our fellow Catholics.

The goal of this ministry is to help men grow in their Catholic faith and become the men that God is calling them to be. The focus of this year’s program is Be A Man, a 10-episode video series. This no-nonsense series is a firestarter for any man ready to start living with holy purpose. Fr. Larry Richards challenges men to step into their true identity as beloved sons and men of God. Gather with others for fellowship and a light breakfast, video, discussion, and prayer. The group will meet weekly, on Friday mornings, for five weeks in the fall and five weeks in the spring.

Our Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program guides adults who want to become Catholic, and we need your presence to make their journey special! OCIA team members help lead engaging discussions or reflections on Scripture. OCIA sponsors “walk with” an individual exploring Catholicism. Sessions are held weekly during the school year.

The goal of the Saint Study is to create an opportunity for men and women of all different walks of life to come together and help each other strive for more virtuous lives looking to the Saints as our example. We meet the first Sunday of each month (September-May) at 6 p.m. in the parish hall, unless announced otherwise. Join us for reflections on the lives of the Saints, along with The Biblical Roots of the Mass by Edward Sri.

Are you interested in developing a deeper appreciation for the readings you will hear at Mass in the upcoming weekend? Scripture Discussion Group provides an opportunity to share thoughts and questions about the readings, and is meant to complement Bible study. No charge and no required preparation. Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

All men of St. Francis Parish are members. We enjoy spending time together while we raise money from events such as the Pancake and Sausage Breakfast on the third Sunday in October, Ash Wednesday Fish Fry, Palm Sunday Chicken Dinner, a golf outing, and other events. All proceeds are given to the church, school, the Boy Scouts and St. Francis Food Pantry. The Holy Name is the charter group for Boy Scout Troop 22. Each year on Ascension Thursday, the men have a free dinner and a speaker. Please come to a meeting to join us the second Wednesday of the month.

All women of the parish (ages 18 and up) are invited to become involved in the Ladies of St. Francis. This group enjoys an evening together six times a year with Mass, dinner, a program with speakers/entertainment, and an opportunity to grow in fellowship as Christian women. The group is affiliated with the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Quincy Deanery DCCW. Fundraising includes six monthly card parties to support the stewardship needs of the parish community.

Quilting is done each Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Members give what time they have available during these hours. Two queen size quilts and two baby quilts are donated to St. Francis each year. The group does machine piecing and hand quilting. Come try our group — we visit while we quilt, and we will teach you how to quilt.

Both Boy and Girl Scout groups are available to foster physical, emotional and spiritual development, as well as citizenship, teamwork, responsibility and leadership in our young people. Adult leaders and helpers are needed to support the programs and activities offered.

Inspired by Gospel values, the St. Francis Community Assistance Ministry leads women and men to join together and grow spiritually by offering help to those in need. Services are provided to both parishioners and community members. One of the main services is providing groceries to those who are in need through the parish food pantry. Volunteers also stock the food nooks (mini food pantries) at St. Francis and those in the community. Some of the other services provided to parishioners include visiting those in nursing homes, sending birthday cards to those 80 years and older, providing sympathy Mass cards when a parishioner has lost a family member in death, delivering poinsettias to parishioners who are 90 and older, and providing holiday food boxes to parishioners who request this. The last Tuesday of each month, and 5 or more Sundays a year, a team of 12 ministry members helps prepare and serve a meal at Horizons Soup Kitchen.

This ministry is designed to ensure that every parishioner and visitor at St. Francis feels welcomed. New parishioners are contacted by a member of the ministry and invited to a special Mass, luncheon, and tour of the church. New parishioners are introduced and encouraged to become involved and active members in the parish community. Two luncheons are held each year. Members act as Welcoming Ambassadors at various parish functions. Additional parish-wide activities may also be planned.

The Angel Dusters help in the weekly cleaning of the church on Thursday morning at 8:00. We enjoy maintaining the church by dusting all areas of the church, dry mopping, Swiffer wet-mopping, scrubbing areas where needed, straightening books, cleaning the pews, and sanitizing and refilling the holy water fonts.

On Monday mornings, men of the parish assist with special projects around the church and school. From painting the old to building the new, men are needed to give of their handyman skills to restore and rebuild St. Francis Solanus.

This committee of volunteers will meet monthly during favorable weather (or as needed, e.g., after a wind storm) to stroll the church grounds and decide what needs to be done. Possible tasks might include picking up branches, pulling weeds, trimming bushes, raking, sweeping, etc. Work outdoors together to beautify the St. Francis Solanus grounds.

Helps with assisting the ministry or organization responsible for hosting Coffee and Donuts after 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Masses on the first Sunday of each month.

To enhance liturgical celebrations and reflect the current liturgical season, our worship space is decorated with banners, flowers and art. Volunteers with artistic or interior design skills are needed to plan the space, as well as people who can assist with the physical needs of preparing our sanctuary for worship. Members coordinate with the Liturgy Committee.

As a service to the family who is grieving, our parish provides a luncheon immediately following the funeral service. Two teams now take care of all the meals. This ministry is still in a state of being reorganized. Please volunteer again, even if you did not get a call or did not get on a team last year. This ministry is still in need of additional teams of about 6-8 people each, and needs people willing to lead a team. Each team will be relied upon to prepare, serve, and clean up after a meal for the funerals occurring on a certain day of the week, from about 8 a.m. to about 2 p.m. Can you spare a day or two per month to help this very worthwhile ministry? There is also a need if you would like to be called to provide a dish.

Volunteers assist in hosting a dinner or refreshments for various parish events and/or provide baked goods or a dish for an event.

The Parish Nursing Program assists parishioners in integrating faith and health. Activities include visits to parishioners in their homes, nursing homes and the hospital as needed. Blood pressure screenings are also done after Masses on designated weekends.

The Rosary Makers foster a devotion to Our Lady by making rosaries for others to take home, pray, and grow in their Marian devotion. Rosaries are provided for St. Francis Solanus Parish, other Catholic churches, Blessing Hospital, and the Ladies of Charity, as well as to overseas missions. Instructions and materials are provided. Volunteers work at home, on their own.

Adult volunteers fill the ministries of parish funeral Masses as servers, readers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. An excellent opportunity for retired men, women or couples, to occasionally offer about an hour and a half. Training will be provided. You are contacted on a rotational basis when there is a funeral to see if you are available to serve the funeral Mass. This is a great, rewarding ministry to help families who have lost a loved one.

The altar servers assist the priest during Mass by participating in the entrance procession and presentation of the gifts, as well as holding the prayer books. This is open to Confirmed boys and girls, third grade through high school, as well as adults. Training is provided.

These ministers assist the priest and deacon with the distribution of the Holy Eucharist at Mass. Ministers receive the opportunity for spiritual enrichment to help deepen their faith and reverence for the sacred presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Communion Ministers must be in full communion with the Church and must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. There is a rotation among those who offer their services.

Some members of our parish are unable to attend Mass due to age, illness or other circumstances that make them homebound or in a nursing facility. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are needed to ensure these parishioners receive the Eucharist in their home, or nursing facility.

Families, couples and individuals who would like to present the gifts of bread and wine the Offertory to the priest for Consecration on Sunday.

This group of parishioners helps transport residents to and from the chapel at Good Samaritan Home. They also minister as sacristans and lectors at Masses, which are on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Greeters create a welcoming environment before Mass by offering a friendly greeting as newcomers and parishioners enter the church. Greeters receive persons attending with a smile and a friendly demeanor, helping those who need assistance.

Readers proclaim the Word of God at Mass in an inspiring and meaningful way. They carefully review the Scripture passages and practice reading them aloud before coming to church. Training is provided as needed and there is a rotation among those who offer their services.

Sacristans work behind the scenes to ensure that our liturgies run smoothly. They assist in preparation for Mass by setting out the sacred vessels, bread and wine, etc., for weekend and weekday Masses.

Men, women and families serve at Mass by greeting people, assisting them to their seats, collecting the offertory, and directing the flow of people during Communion every weekend. The ushers are also keenly aware of security concerns and are prepared to make contact with authorities, should the need arise.

The Rosary is prayed every Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Friars Chapel. Enter the north side of church at the door marked Prayer Chapel. Come join us.

The Prayer Chain is for anyone who would like to pray for our sick parishioners or non-parishioners. We pray for all intentions and all who are in need of prayers. We have a group app that you can choose to be added to, where all prayer intentions are listed. Also, you can get notified by email or text, if preferred.

A group of seven women who commit to praying for our priests one hour each week. We join our hearts and are committed to praying for our priests. One sister is assigned a day of the week to dedicate one hour of prayer for a priest. The Holy Hour is ideally prayed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We want to have as many groups as we can. We currently have one group each for Fr. Arisman, Fr. Beagles, Fr. Rafal, Fr. James Wheeler, Fr. Bruce Scott, and Fr. Kenneth Ahanonu, and would add priests if we have more volunteers. You are committed to a particular day of the week but not to a particular hour or place. There is a need for substitutes as well, in case one of the core groups cannot offer prayer on their assigned day.

Birthright of Quincy is a non-profit, non-judgmental, non-denominational service organization operated completely by volunteers. The mission of Birthright of Quincy is to offer basic emotional and practical support that every pregnant woman and girl needs in order for her to bring her child into the world and beyond. Birthright also provides support they need to make educated and responsible decisions regarding their future and that of their babies. Visit www.birthrightquincyil.org for more information.

A ministry of making relatively simple quilts, by piecing together squares of fabric, and tying (rather than quilting) to complete. Blanket Project volunteers provide over 200 quilts per year to the Ladies of Charity, to be distributed to those in need who visit their Center. Volunteers gather in the Parish Hall basement from 8:30-2:30 on occasional Mondays, and also cut and sew squares at home.

CYO promotes the physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and general welfare of young people. Its programs include volleyball, basketball, and karate. Adults can volunteer to assist with coaching as well as to serve as a board member when needed.

The Cursillo movement is a powerful instrument of renewal in the Church. Its aim is to concentrate on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ. It begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday night with those attending working together and listening to talks given by priests and lay persons.

Knights of Columbus Council #583 is a fraternal organization. The Knights are organized into a series of degrees for members based on their four basic principles — Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. The Knights have been well known for service through the years.

The Ladies of Charity is a Vincentian organization whose motto is “To serve rather than be served, in humility, simplicity, and charity.” The purpose is to assist the needy. Volunteers staff a Center at 4th and State, where food, clothing, and household items are distributed for free, on Mondays and Fridays. Ladies of Charity volunteers also staff a Thrift Store at 24th and Elm, where donated items are sold from Tuesday through Saturday. Volunteers also assist clients who sign up for our free laundry ministry, available on the first or third Thursday of the month.

Great River Quest is a very fast-paced, 24-hour retreat for 13 to 15 year olds! The youth learn about God, friendship and self, all while praying, playing and sharing in an exciting, fun-filled and thoughtful environment. These retreats are guided by adults and other teens.

Our mission is the education of the public on pro-life issues. Our main focus is the abortion issue. Volunteer opportunities include: praying at the Life Chain, helping at our annual dinner in October, helping promote our Pennies for Life campaign in the churches, and becoming a board member.

Great River Teens Encounter Christ is a three-day weekend retreat for teens age 16-21, with focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Teams of adults, young adults and teens help guide participants by sharing their experiences — struggles, joy and feelings — in their own lives and friendship with Jesus Christ. Visit www.greatrivertec.org for more information.

The White House Jesuit Retreat Center in the South County area of St. Louis offers two and three-day silent retreats for both men and women. Retreats are based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Private accommodations and family-style meals are furnished for the retreatants.