Parish Council:
The Council collaborates with the Pastor for the good of the Parish.
The members help to identify the present needs of the parish, suggest practical ways to address these needs and they take on some responsibility to carry out these suggestions.

Liturgy Committee:
The Committee is responsible for reviewing various aspects of Sunday and Holy Day Masses and the liturgical seasons to enhance the quality of the liturgy in the Parish. Members meet with the Pastor once per month from September through May.

Hospitality/Special Events Committee:
The Committee coordinates various social events of the Parish including the Annual Parish Celebration, St. Joseph’s Feast Day, receptions for the Family Mass and for Welcoming New Parishioners.

Social Action
Parishioners participate in a number of social action projects that assist people who are in need in Yorkville and beyond. Two projects that take place annually are listed below:

• Annual Cardinal’s Appeal
  The Appeal requests donations from parishioners to help support the many charitable, spiritual and educational programs of the Archdiocese of New York. In March and April, volunteers assist with follow-up telephone calls to fellow parishioners who have not yet responded directly to the Cardinal’s Appeal mailings.



• Thanksgiving Dinners for the Homebound
  The project provides hundreds of dinners for people in need in our local community on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday of Thanksgiving week to sort donations of food and to assist in the preparation of the meals and the delivery of meals on Thanksgiving morning.

Eucharistic Ministers at Mass:
The Ministers distribute Holy Communion at Sunday and Holy Day Masses.

Lectors:
The Lectors proclaim the first and second readings from sacred scripture at Sunday and Holy Day Masses. They also read the petitions of the prayer of the faithful and the announcements at the end of Mass.

Family Mass:
Adults and children participate in the Mass at 9:45 am on the second Sunday of the month, September to June, by serving as altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Choir Members and Ministers of Hospitality.

Choir:
Members of the adult choir rehearse with the Director of Music on Wednesday evenings from September through June in preparation for singing at the 11:00 am Mass on Sundays and at Christmas and Easter Masses as well as Holy Week services and for other special performances.

Ushers:
Ushers welcome parishioners to the Church and take up the collections at Masses.

Altar Servers:
Boys and girls from age 9 onwards are invited to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist by becoming altar servers at Sunday Mass and at other Masses. Adults are invited to serve at Mass as well.

Adult Faith Formation:
This group assists with implementing the Parish vision and plan for adult faith formation.

Thanksgiving for the Homebound:
The project provides hundreds of dinners for people in need in our local community on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday of Thanksgiving week to sort donations of food and to assist in the preparation of the meals. On the morning of Thanksgiving Day, volunteers are needed to deliver meals.

Ladies of Charity:
The Ladies assist people who are poor, sick or aged by visiting or calling them, supplying them with food and clothing, reading aloud and providing prayer books, rosaries and reading material. The Ladies of Charity meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm.

Rosary Society:
During the months of May and October, members pray the Rosary in the church at 11:50 am on the second Tuesday of the month. They also care for the altar cloths and help decorate the church at Christmas and Easter.

Forty Plus:
Parishioners who are 40+ years of age come together for conversation about contemporary issues and to socialize.

Senior Citizens:
Members of this club meet after the 12:15 PM Mass Wednesdays, September through June, in the school conference room to socialize.

German Committee:
The Committee coordinates the monthly Parish Mass on the first Sunday of the month as well as Masses for special occasions in the German language. It also plans other spiritual and social events for the German-American community from time to time.

School Advisory Board:
The members of the Board meet quarterly and provide St. Joseph’s with a broad base of management assistance and support to encourage academic excellence and financial stability. The functions of the Board include fundraising and promotions, budgeting, financial management and improvement and maintenance of the physical plant and grounds of the school.

Young Adults Group:
Adults between the ages of 21 and 40 meet to foster a sense of community and a Catholic identity through socials, Christian service projects and discussions on contemporary topics. Meetings are held in the rectory after the 6:00 PM Mass on the first Sunday of every month, September through June.

Youth Group:
Children in grades 6-12 are welcome to attend a monthly Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and to participate in the service (choir, offertory, lectors). There is a get-together afterwards in the school auditorium to develop monthly community service projects and to socialize until 7:00 PM.

Catholic Book Club:
Parishioners meet about six times a year to discuss books of interest. A guest speaker usually makes a presentation and facilitates the discussion at the evening meetings.

New Parent Group
New parents of children aged birth to 12 months, meet for socialization and share experiences for support.

St. Joseph's School:
The School educates children from Pre-K3 through 8th grade. Volunteers are needed to:

• Assist the school librarian with entering data in the computer and cataloguing.
• Tutor in Math/Reading, etc. in the after-school program, 3:30-5:30 PM.
• Assist in supervising children in our morning care programs, 7:15-7:45 AM.
• Serve as morning doorbell keeper, 7:45 – 8:45 AM.
• Assist supervising children in grades 1 - 4 during lunch, 11:10 - 11:50 AM.
• Tutor in Reading or Math, etc., and/or serve as bathroom watchers/guides for grades 2-4, 9 – 11 AM, or 12:30-2:30 PM (able to walk upstairs).
• Assist supervising children in grades 1-2 during recess, 11:45 – 12:15 PM.
• Assist supervising children in the Pre-K3 program anytime between 9 AM – 2:30 PM. (Parents and/or relatives of the Pre-K3 students are excluded). Volunteers should be between the ages of 21-40.
• Assist the Drama Coordinator in supervising grades 3-5 students every Tuesday from 3:30 – 4:30 pm, or grades 6-8 students every Thursday from 3:30 – 5:00 pm.

Scouting:

• Boy Scouts, 11 years or older, meet Tuesdays at 7:00 PM from September through June.
• Brownie Girl Scouts are 6 - 8 years old (the 1st, 2nd or 3rd grades).They meet on Mondays from 4:30 – 6:00 PM from September through June.
• Junior Girls are 9 - 11 years old (4th, 5th or 6th grade). They meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. September through June.
• Cadettes are 12 - 14 years old (7th, 8th or 9th grade). They meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. September through June.
• Senior Girls are in high school and under the age of 18. They meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 –8:00 PM. September through June.