St.Boniface Parish Ministry

We are very proud of the involvement of so many parishioners in our Mass Ministries. We believe parishioner involvement enhances the feeling of community and belonging. At the Newcomer Reception meeting an "Interests and Resources" form will be given to you so you can see the various opportunities for involvement and sign up for some activities. Or you may contact the parish office at any time if you would like get involved in any Mass Ministry. Then watch for the notice about the next training schedule, which are every few months depending on how many new ministers need training. After training, you will then be added to a rotation schedule to minister at the Masses. Most ministries involve serving at one Mass each month, but the rotations vary dependent upon how many ministers are available. We offer the following:

Greeter / Usher: Involves welcoming parishioners as they come to services. Ushers also handle the collection, take the collection baskets to the altar and guide people out for communion. After Mass the ushers hand out bulletins as people leave.

Lectors: Lectors proclaim the Word at each Mass. There are usually two lectors for each Mass. The first Lector processes in with the Book of the Gospels, reads the first reading and reads the Prayers of the Faithful. The second lector reads the Announcements and the second reading.

Communion Ministers: Communion Ministers distribute the cup and the host. One or two of these ministers help put the cup and host into the different vessels at each Mass.

Servers: There are generally two or three servers at each Mass. Children who are at least in the fourth grade and wanting to be servers are offered training at various times during the year.

Musicians: Various styles of music and numbers of musicians perform at each Mass. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can be involved, please call Steve Dressel, our Pastoral Minister.

Church Structure

There are two main councils of the parish.

The Pastoral Council consists of parishioners who are elected by the parish for three-year terms. The responsibility of the Pastoral Council is to direct parish life and pastoral activity, and expands and improves the decision-making process through pastoral planning and goal setting; developing and implementing programs; evaluating pastoral effectiveness.

There are several committees of the Pastoral Council. You may become a member of any of these committees simply by asking to be on them. They are:

Community Outreach Ministry: promotes and coordinates programs that reach out to those in need in this area.

Worship and Spirituality: researches, initiates and coordinates appropriate responses to the spiritual needs of the parish; creatively implements the liturgy in the life of the parish; communicates the saving mystery of God to the parish.

Life and Faith Connection: The Life and Faith Connection group will sponsor projects and resources that help parishioners make the connection between our faith and our life. Our faith is virtually meaningless if we do not make it come alive in concrete ways. Adults in this group will learn and grow from the projects undertaken and will help other parishioners by implementing projects for the parish.

The Finance Council assists and advises the pastor in fiscal matters, including the establishment of a parish budget; supervision of material goods; administration of parish goods within established limits; extraordinary financial matters. The Finance Council monitors the parish funds but is not a fundraising group. Parishioners are appointed by the pastor to become Council members for varying periods of time.

Parish Programs

R.C.I.A. [Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults]: A new program begins each fall. Classes are held Thursday nights at 7 p.m. The sessions are for four groups of people: people who want to become Catholic; people who have not decided to become Catholic but are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith; the spouse or fiancée of some one attending; for people who are Catholic who want to renew their faith as an adult. Those who ultimately decide to join the Church will do so at the Easter Vigil. Contact Fr. Vince for details.

Prayer Chain: Prayer Chain Participants are broken into calling groups of about 10 people. When prayer requests are called into the office, Jan Young, the coordinator of the St. Boniface prayer chain, will call each person at the beginning of each group to give them the prayer intention(s). That person then calls the next name on the list, and the next person calls the next name, etc. If you do not want to be on the calling list but would like to be part of the prayer chain, you may sign up to receive prayer intentions via email. Contact Jan Young at 987-4845 to give her your own prayer intentions or to join the prayer chain yourself.

Prayer Group and Holy Hour: The prayer group meets each Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the church, unless otherwise noted in the bulletin. In addition, on the first Monday of each month there is a Holy Hour prior to the prayer group starting at 6:00 p.m. You are most welcome to attend at any time. If you’d like to visit about the process for this group before you attend, please feel free to call Barb Arkwright at 987-1357.

Health Ministry: Donna Dressel and Father Vince make regular visits and take communion to parishioners who are hospitalized, homebound, or otherwise cannot make it to mass. Due to privacy laws, the hospitals/nursing homes do not always contact the church when a parishioner is there. Please make sure you contact the parish office when a loved one is hospitalized so we can visit them.

Reach Out: Activities that fall under this category are taking meals to homebound families, providing transportation to those in need, sending cards to those who are ill or have lost loves ones, and taking communion to parishioners. This ministry is coordinated by Kathy Fech and Carol Malone. If you are interested in volunteering or know someone in need, please contact the parish office.

Outreach Activities: The Community Outreach Ministry sponsors many projects throughout the year to help those in need. Contact Mark or Kathy Masters, chairpersons of this committee, at 457-8318 for information about this group’s activities or to get involved. Annual projects include the Advent Angel Tree, making and delivering breakfast casseroles to the homeless, the Valentines Heartwarming Collection to help those in need pay utility bills, gathering school supplies for children in need, coat and clothes collections for families in group shelters.

Parish Mission to El Salvador: St. Boniface is partnering with the village of El Recreo, El Salvador. We have entered a 5-year commitment to send a delegation at least once a year. We sponsor one project a year that will assist the people of that village. On these delegations we like to send a number of parishioners who have not been there before. It's a great opportunity for us to grow in understanding of the third world and to reach out to the needs of the poor.

Marriage Bowl: In February, around the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day, an afternoon is offered for married couples to take time to celebrate the victories and tackle the challenges of their relationship.

Christ Renews His Parish Retreats: Every six months, the parish offers a men’s and a women’s retreat at the hall. This 33-hour overnight event is recommended for those wanting to get to know others in the parish and increase your understanding of faith. Contact Steven Dressel for further information or upcoming dates or watch the bulletin or announcements for sign-ups. Space is limited and spots can go quickly, so sign up early!

Motorcycle group - Blessed Bikers

We welcome new and old riders of any faith to join us on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Meet in the church parking lot. Each Monday evening we will ride through the countryside and stop for supper. Our riding season begins in May and continues each Monday evening until late fall, depending on weather conditions. If you have questions, please call: Bruno Andreini at 992-3455 (home), 240-3858 (cell); or Jay Flynn at 987-9033 (home).

Beginning Experience: This group is for anyone who has lost a spouse to death, separation, or divorce. The group provides encouragement, guidance and motivation to take your healing process from coping to beginning to experience new life. The coping sessions are held for a series of Friday nights various times through the year, from 7 – 9 p.m. at the St. Boniface parish hall, 445 Maple. Weekend retreats are also held during the year. For more information, call Fr. Bob Schoemann at 288-7539 or Joe Newman at 707-2128.

Candles in the Darkness: If you suffer from depression, anxiety, or a mood disorder, this Support Group can help provide light to get through the darkness. The support group is for adults diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or a mood disorder; open to the community; led by peers who have "been there"; confidential; giving all participants an opportunity to speak; providing discussion topics related to depression & mood disorders. Participants help each other by providing acceptance, understanding, and hope; sharing experiences & ways to manage the illness; rediscovering strengths & humor; letting each other know "You’re not alone"; giving spiritual inspiration; motivating to follow treatment plans. The group will meet the second and fourth Mondays of the month. For more information, contact St. Boniface parishioners Julie Burkle at 515-710-1487 or Donna Dressel at 515-313-6184; candlesinthedarkness@mchsi.com

Knights of Columbus: The Knights of Columbus is an international fraternal organization for practicing Catholic men. In addition to offering the fellowship of other Catholic men, the Knights also perform various service projects in the community throughout the year. The local contact is Scott Gratias at 987-1962.

CAST [Catholic Adult Singles Together]: CAST is a Des Moines area organization that is open to all Catholic single adults. If you are interested in CAST. events please look for their calendar in the "Script" newsletter on the bulletin board in the gathering space. Please feel free to contact the parish office with any questions or to join CAST.