St. Joseph on the Rio Grande at 5901 St Joseph Drive NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 US - Overview

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Pastoral Ministerial Council deals with pastoral issues in the parish. It is composed of members elected at large and those appointed by reason of their ministries, and is guided by our pastor. Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month. Elections are held in December and terms are for two years. Any parishioner may attend meetings, although they cannot vote on issues before the council. Wayne Glazener is chairman.

Financial Council is separate from the Pastoral Council, and deals with financial matters of the parish. It meets monthly, led by chairman Steve Torres.

Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) is made up of two or three couples in the parish who are willing to facilitate and oversee the annual collection. The funds collected help to support the educational, pastoral and human service programs of our archdiocese. The ACA also helps advance the individual parishes with direct financial assistance and support services. To be part of this very worthwhile ministry, contact Nancy Holliday or Jolene.

Building Fund recommitment is a project begun in 2001 to finish paying for the new church, which has a mortgage of over $1.7 million.

Hospitality Ministries

Welcoming ministers are ready to greet worshippers as they arrive in the Gathering Space before Mass and will answer any questions about the parish. They can assist anyone wishing to register and strive to welcome each new parishioner upon joining the parish. Inez Peralta is the contact person.

Fellowship ministry, in the person of Jo Allen, maintains the coffee for Sunday Masses with the assistance of all other ministries.

The Ministry of Consolation, symbolizing the gift Jesus has given us of consolation of the living, shows care and concern to parish families grieving the loss of a loved one, by offering assistance, visiting, praying for the deceased and bereaved, attending services if possible, and offering a Mass for each family. Rosalie Vaccarello and her co-ministers will gladly welcome you into this ministry.

Social Activities ministry is an organization of parish members who create, plan and implement church-wide activities that facilitate fellowship, community building and Christian values for all who are involved. It meets on an as-needed basis on Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM. Christmas Eve luminarias at the church, Friday Lenten Fish fries, Easter Egg giveaway, and the church-wide Flea Market to benefit the ministries are recent activities sponsored by this ministry. Future plans include as all-Parish picnic, an Adult Prom, athletic teams and much more. Contact Mary Padilla to be involved in this active and exciting ministry.

Worship Ministries

The Assembly is the most important element of our worship of the father in union with Jesus, His Son. It is for the sake of the Assembly that all other ministers have a role, and the role of the Assembly is to participate, to join with the presider in the prayers of the Liturgy, to join with the choir in the singing, to listen with full attention to the readings of the Word of God, and to be in communion with one another (with the Body of Christ) in receiving the bread of Life and the Cup that saves us.

Ushers exercise a true liturgical ministry of hospitality that helps to build community. Ushers can effectively serve the worshipping assembly with joy, dependability, kindness and reverence, and thus prepare their brothers and sisters for joyous participation in the sacrament of unity. Anyone wishing to participate in the Usher Ministry may do so by contacting Wilfred Mendoza.

Lectors convey to the assembly their love for the Word of God when they read the scripture of the day during the Liturgy of the Word. They prepare by becoming familiar with the scriptures in general, and use a workbook to help in preparation to the specific reading they are assigned to do. There is annual training and assignments are sent to Lectors monthly. Contact Nancy Holliday to become a lector.

Eucharistic Ministers are instruments for nourishing the Body of Christ with the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. They distribute Holy Communion during Mass, carry communion to those who are sick, dying or confined to their homes, and preside at Communion services in the absence of the priest. Eucharistic Ministers distribute to others the consecrated bread and wine which have become the "Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity" of Jesus Christ, Son of God. If you wish to share the joy of being a Eucharistic Minister, please contact Shelda Mendoza.

The Ladera Ministry serves parish members living in the Ladera Nursing Home. They bring the eucharist, conduct communion Service, spend time with the residents and represent the loving care of the parish to them. If you would like to join this ministry, talk with Jim Holliday.

Altar Servers are called and committed to reverent service, humbly and responsibly helping our pastor, priests and deacons bring forth in dignified worship the Gifts of Our Lord Jesus Christ to all. The Altar Server Ministry is always looking for youth of our parish, who are dedicated and committed to being reverent servants of God. Candidates must be between the ages of 10 and 18. To learn more about the requirements, ask for Pattie Mitchell.

The Choirs are commissioned to lead and unite our assembly in the joyful praise of God through song. Each weekend Mass has a choir that seems suited to the special character of the assembly. For the Saturday and youth choirs, contact Dawn Wenzl; for the Sunday 10:00 choir, contact Karen Schindwolf; for the 12:00 Sunday choir, contact Dan Herrera; and for the Sunday 8:00 Spanish choir contact Hope Chavez.

The Sacristan makes sure the altar and its furnishings are ready for each Mass. Elizabeth Slimak prepares altar linens, purificators and sufficient hosts and wine before Mass.

The Altar Society takes responsibility for the general preparation of the worship space in accord with the season, and maintain plants and flowers. Talk to Kay Hietpas to join this ministry.