Members are appointed by the pastor to serve as his advisors and consultants regarding financial matters, personnel, and capital assets.  This Committee reviews and approves the operating and capital budgets prepared by the parish accountant, endorses the appropriate annual financial reports for the Archdiocese, and compares actual results from operations with established budgetary levels.

The parish council consists of adults and confirmed high school youth elected to assist the pastor in promoting the spiritual growth of the parish community and to plan ways for the parish to carry out the mission of the church.  The council’s mission is to focus upon the community and pastoral needs of the parishioners.

The St. John of the Cross Scholarship was established in 1955 by the family of Adam and Lillian Bozzutto.  This committee consists of the pastor, a parishioner, and the Director of Religious Education.

The Stewardship Core Group educates parishioners about the merits of serving God’s kingdom and people.  Sharing time, talent, and resources is the heart of Stewardship.  This group works to organize opportunities for the entire parish family to serve in and through our community.

Our Father Loftus council is a chapter of the worldwide fraternal organization that is very active in projects and social activities that help the community and our church.  We provide monetary donations to local charities, seminaries, and scholarships.  We contribute many volunteer hours to the parish and local community.  As a vibrant council we are committed to extending the Knights through our corporal and spiritual works.

The Respect Life Committee provides education regarding the value of life from conception to natural death.  It organizes fund raising events to assist agencies, such as Carolyn’s Place, that promote respect for life and the dignity of all.  The committee also provides weekly bulletin reports and hot line support for crisis pregnancies and abortion alternatives.

Team members gather in a social environment to make sandwiches for the St. Vincent de Paul Shelter.   This activity allows organizations and families to learn the joy of community service.   The teams meet every six weeks.  Drop-ins are welcome!

Social Justice is the process of protecting the “least among us” and pursuing the common good.  Our mission is to support the parish’s integration of social justice in every aspect of parish and family life.  This is accomplished through the four dimensions of social justice: direct service, empowerment, advocacy, and justice education.  Through different events during the year like the Giving Tree at Christmas, the Back to School Collection in August and various speaker series we attempt to carry out our commitment of service and stewardship to our parish and community.

The Welcoming Committee contacts new parishioners and provides information on ministries and services offered by our parish.

The Hospitality Committee reaches out to all parishioners by way of social events.  From September through June we host a coffee hour after each Mass on the third Sunday of the month.  These coffee hours are often hosted by parish groups.  Through hospitality we hope to increase stewardship in our church and community.

Parishioners volunteer to wash and iron the small linens used during Mass.  Volunteers fill a schedule to wash the linens weekly.

Altar Society (not currently in operation)

The St. John of the Cross Altar Society is a group of volunteers who serve weekly to care for and attend to the altar, sanctuary, and the sacristy areas.   Teams of two work together as per a schedule sent in advance.   Our chores are light and our environment is one of peace.

Our Adult Choir sings at the 11:00 AM Sunday Masses from October through June.  Rehearsals follow immediately after Mass.  They also participate in several feasts and holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas morning Masses, and the Easter Triduum services.  Our choir joins with two other church choirs in town for the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.  New members are always welcome.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are a select group trained by the diocese to assist the priest by distributing Communion to the congregation, sick, and homebound.  The commitment varies between Saturday and Sunday Masses according to a schedule that is sent out in advance.

Parishioners volunteer to be present in the church for Eucharistic adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each month.  The usual time given by a parishioner is one half to one full hour following the 8:00 AM Mass until 5:00 PM.

Parishioners request prayers for a specific need, such as a serious illness.  These requests are passed along from one member of the Prayer Network to the next by telephone.  Prayers are then said for this specific intention.

Liturgical Readers proclaim the Good News of the scriptures in a reverent and emphatic manner.  A Liturgical Reader can be an adult or teen who enjoys public speaking.

Many parishioners have enjoyed the experience of retreats at nearby retreat centers that are open to people of all ages and from all walks of life.  Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, only 40 minutes from Middlebury in West Hartford, hosts retreats throughout the year to experience peace, tranquility and a deeper relationship with God.  With professional insights into the journey of hope with Christ, attending a retreat can redefine your life in our very busy world of numbing secularism.  In addition to meeting persons of similar interests and beliefs, joining others on retreat gives one the opportunity to reconnect with the Holy Spirit in our self, our spouse, family, friends, neighbors and all life that is endowed by our creator.  For more information on the Holy Family Retreat Center visit www.holyfamilyretreat.org

Our ushers greet and assist parishioners with seating and the distribution of the bulletins at each mass.  They also help with the set-up of the altar for Mass.

This annual fall festival promotes fun for the community while raising money for the parish.  The festival committee organizes vendors and activities and coordinates the many volunteers for this event.

This group meets once a week to use their talents to make useful articles that are donated to various organizations in the community.  Knitted or crocheted mittens, hats, and lap blankets are some of the articles that are sent to hospitals, convalescent centers and schools.  As they work they pray together for the needs of the less fortunate in life.

Parishioners host or attend entertaining supper evenings to promote community spirit.  Monetary donations collected through this activity are used to support a wide variety of charitable causes including St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter.  All parishioners are welcome.

Provide emotional support to parishioners who are grieving the loss of a loved one.  Volunteer commitment varies depending on the circumstances.

Visit parishioners regularly at local convalescent homes on a mutually convenient basis.  Volunteer commitment is flexible.

Extraordinary Ministers visit and bring Holy Communion to the sick, aged, and other shut-ins of the parish on a regular basis.

Visit parishioners at one or both of the local hospitals one day per week.  Volunteer commitment is approximately one to two hours per week.

This program’s purpose is to form young people in their Catholic Christian faith.  Volunteers, parents, and staff work in partnership to spread the Good News through prayer, worship, academic class work, discussion, service, and community building.  Our goal is to help students learn, live, and celebrate the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.  Volunteer commitment is 2 to 2 ½ hours per week, plus special events for youth on a volunteer basis.

From October through Pentecost, each Saturday during the Vigil Mass and Sunday during the 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Mass, all children in grade kindergarten through 4th are invited to join our Liturgy of the Word for Children.  Children are escorted to the church hall just after the opening prayer of Mass and receive the Word of God at their own level.  The children listen to the Sunday readings and are involved in an interactive homily and activities.  The children are then escorted back to Mass after the Prayer of the Faithful.  Our Liturgy of the Word for Children team is a dynamic group who engage the children in discussion of the readings so that they gain a deep understanding of scripture at this young age.

This ministry seeks parishioners to be instructors in the faith and sponsors for adults seeking entrance into the Catholic Church.  The reward is the achievement of seeing the participants come into full communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil.  Instructors present the lesson on a rotating basis and work in teams teaching the doctrine of the Catholic Church, participating in the rites, and explaining the liturgy of the word.  Volunteer commitment is 2 – 2 ½ hours per week, not including preparation.  Parish sponsors are those who are willing to give time and support to the candidates as they go through the process of RCIA.