Parish Involvement

BAPTISMAL PREP

• BAPTISMAL PREP TEAM - Newman's baptismal prep team serves families seeking baptismal prep for their children in person and/or over Zoom. Leaders walk the parents through the rite of Baptism and provide support to families as needed.

CATECHESIS

• LEAD CATECHISTS - Newman's catechesis program follows the UNC academic calendar and runs from mid-September through the end of April. Lead catechists from grades 1 through 12 plan and lead lessons with the support of assistant catechists. Catechists in grades 1 and 2 prepare their students for First Reconciliation and Holy Communion. Catechists in grades 9 and 10 prepare their students for Confirmation.
• ASSISTANT CATECHISTS - Assistant catechists attend all classes (grades 1 through 12) and support the leads in planning and leading lessons.
• SUBSTITUTE CATECHISTS - Substitute catechists are "on call" to serve as a lead or assistant catechist when other catechists cannot attend catechesis.
• CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD - Be willing to become trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and lead our youngest in the Atrium (3 to 5 years old). CGS follows the same calendar as grades 1 through 12.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW)

• CLOW LEADERS - Newman's Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) schedule is dependent on the number of volunteers (the more volunteers, the more often CLOW is a part of the 9:00 AM Mass). CLOW leaders plan and lead lessons on Liturgy of the Word for children ages 3 through 7.
• CLOW ASSISTANTS - CLOW assistants support the leads during Liturgy of the Word for children ages 3 through 7. This is a great service opportunity for students in middle and high school!

COMMUNICATIONS

• LIVE-STREAM CAMERA OPERATOR - Live-streaming allows those who are unable to attend in person (due to illness or infirmity) to watch the Mass live or on replay via YouTube. Live-stream camera operators cover the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass and liturgical holidays on a rotating basis. Personal training and a step-by-step guide are provided.
• SOCIAL MEDIA & BULLETIN BOARD COORDINATOR - Post timely updates involving parish and campus ministry events and announcements to Newman's 'News & Events' website page, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets. Update bulletin boards in the church and activity center with print posters concerning approved Newman and general Chapel Hill Community announcements/events.
• EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER - Already attending Newman events? Using your phone camera, take candid and posed shots to record the event then easily upload your images to the Newman Shutterbug server for use on the Newman website, in social media, and in printed materials.

COMMUNITY BUILDING AT NEWMAN

• SMALL FAITH GROUPS - Do you desire to grow deeper in faith while also building friendships with other Newman parishioners? Join a Newman Small Faith Group! Leaders and participants for new Small Faith Groups are most welcome.
• NEWMAN CONNECT - Newman Connect builds relationships between UNC students and parishioners. Newman Connect volunteers participate in events such as the big, joyful Newman Connect Dinner for students and parishioners that kicks off the academic year, Reading Day Brunch that fills students with food, love, and prayers from the parish as final exams begin, and Dinners for Eight, where groups of four students and four parishioners share food and conversation in the smaller setting of a parishioner's home.

COMMUNITY SERVICE IN CHAPEL HILL/DURHAM

• DURHAM COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY - Newman holds Fall and Spring Trunk2Truck food drives for Catholic Charities' Durham Community Food Pantry.
• INTERFAITH COUNCIL (IFC) - Volunteer at the IFC's Community Kitchen when they serve hot meals to the community at no charge. Tasks include prepping, cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Newman serves on the second Wednesday and third Friday of every month from 4-7 PM. Newman also holds an ongoing food collection for the IFC's Community Food Pantry (a designated drop-off shelf is just outside the church kitchen).
• ORANGE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - Assist Habitat for Humanity's mission to provide adequate housing for those in need. Newman is part of a subgroup called Building Hope, which holds building days every Saturday.
  • BUILDING HOPE / LUNCH - Help provide lunch for groups of Newman volunteers (10-15 people) on Habitat for Humanity building days.
• ORANGE COUNTY JUSTICE UNITED - Justice United strives to build unity and equity within Orange County. Work with members to influence change in the social, economic, and political areas of our communities. This ministry includes attending multi-congregational assemblies and occasional leadership training.
• UNC COMMUNITY GARDEN - Help tend UNC's Community Garden, located behind Newman and the Nash lot. Each harvest helps provide fresh produce for low-income populations in Chapel Hill.

HOSPITALITY

• HOSPITALITY LEAD - Plan and assist other lead volunteers with executing monthly receptions after the Saturday 5:15 PM Mass, and the Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses. Oversee and assist crew members with the prep, set up, serving, and clean up on Hospitality Weekends.
• HOSPITALITY CREW MEMBER - Help prep, set up, serve, and clean up on Hospitality Weekends. Once a month volunteers for the 9:00 AM Hospitality Crew arrive early to set up tables, start the coffee, and make sure everything is ready which can include setting out baked goods, drinks, snacks, napkins, and condiments, and replacing or plating food to prepare for the 11:00 AM attendees. 11:00 AM crew members keep the tables stocked with food and drink and are responsible for cleanup. 
• FOOD PROVIDER - Volunteers periodically provide snacks (homemade or store-bought), beverages, or small monetary donations for Hospitality Weekends and other parish events.

LITURGICAL ENVIRONMENT

• COMMITTEE MEMBER - Ever noticed how somber the church looks during Lent, but then explodes into Spring during the Easter season? Did you wonder if Newman hires professional florists and decorators? Hard to believe but currently, the Liturgical Environment Committee is managed by one parishioner with the help of a few volunteers. The work is most intense during Holy Week and Advent/Christmas when assistance is needed to iron fabric, water plants, decorate Christmas trees, and arrange flowers.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS

• SACRISTAN - The Sacristan is the lead Mass volunteer who coordinates all other Mass volunteers, assists with the preparation of the altar and planning the distribution of Communion, and - along with a witness - bags, seals and secures the offertory collection. Also responsible for clean-up and securing the building after Mass.
• USHER/GREETER - This friendly person arrives about 25 minutes before Mass begins, greets people warmly, and distributes bulletins/song sheets. Our ushers help select two people to bring up the gifts (or defer to the sacristan for this) and help as needed after Mass to witness the bagging of the offertory and ensure doors are closed and lights are turned off.
• COMMENTATOR - Commentators read the Greeting/Announcements and the General Intercessions at Mass. Volunteers are trained as both Commentators and Lectors and may be scheduled for either role as needed.
• LECTOR - Lectors read the First and Second Readings at Sunday Mass. When our Deacon is assisting and reading the Intercessions, the lector will also read the Greeting and Announcements at the beginning of Mass. Volunteers are trained as both Commentators and Lectors and may be scheduled for either role as needed.
• EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER OF COMMUNION - Distribute the Holy Eucharist at Mass.
• VISITING EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS - Bring Holy Communion to homebound parishioners or parishioners in care or retirement facilities.

MUSIC

• CANTOR/PSALMIST - Do you enjoy singing? Would you like to get involved in helping to provide music and leading worship during Mass? Consider auditioning to become a cantor/psalmist!
• CHOIR MEMBER - Do you enjoy singing? Would you like to get involved in helping to provide music and lead worship during Mass? Consider joining the Newman Community Choir where you will assist in leading sung worship by singing at the choir’s scheduled masses, as well as build fellowship and liturgical understanding through weekly, Monday night rehearsals. No matter your experience or skill level, we have a place for everyone. All Are Welcome!
• INSTRUMENTALIST - Do you play an instrument? Would you like to get involved with helping to provide music and lead worship during Mass? Consider joining the Music Ministry where you will assist in the enrichment of musical worship at Mass by playing an instrument! No matter your experience or skill level, we have a place for everyone. All Are Welcome!
• SOUND/AUDIO-VISUAL TECHNICIAN - Assist in improving the sound in the church during Mass on a rotating basis. This includes checking different parts of the church for sound balance and adjusting the volume or muting mics as needed via the soundboard or iPad. Training provided.

PRAYER SHAWL/SQUARE MINISTRY

A multigenerational ministry, open to all men and women. If you are a “wannabe” knitter, this is the place for you to learn. In addition to knitting and crocheting, there are many other ways to contribute – come and pray with us as we work, help assemble the shawls and lapghans, contribute some of your yarn stash, or just plain cash to help us with yarn and needles.

RE-NEWMAN SQUAD

• SQUAD MEMBER - Volunteers attend periodic Re-Newman Squad workdays as available. Skill levels run from no previous experience to being very comfortable with tools. Newman has a long "to-do" list and volunteers work on what they feel most comfortable doing. Tasks often include painting, gardening, furniture repair, furniture assembly or moving, general organization, etc.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)

• RCIA TEAM MEMBER - The Newman RCIA team accompanies seekers for baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church as part of a weekly group.
• RCIA SPONSOR - Newman's RCIA sponsors accompany an individual seeking baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church.

ST. MICHAEL THE DEFENDER

• ST. MICHAEL THE DEFENDER LEAD - Are you trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) skills? Leads are ready to step in to initiate and support response efforts in the event of a medical emergency or other type of safety or security situation were to occur during Mass. CPR certification is required.
• ST. MICHAEL THE DEFENDER ASSISTANT - Are you trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) skills or are willing to be trained in BLS skills? Assistants are trained to support response efforts in the event of a medical emergency or other types of safety or security situation were to occur during Mass. CPR certification is recommended.

ST. VERONICA ALTAR LINENS

• ALTAR LINEN MINISTER - Linen Ministers are responsible for keeping the altar linens clean for use at Mass. Members of this dedicated and essential group take turns picking up the prior week’s linens, and then washing, drying, ironing, and returning them before the next weekend.

If you are interested in a ministry that is not listed here, or if you wish to start a new group in your community, contact Amy Randall, Pastoral Associate for Catechesis at [email protected].