index

Sunday Worship

Currently there is only one mass service every Sunday. The mass on Sunday starts at 12:00 noon prompt and ends at 2:00 PM. A high mass conducted in Latin is held on the first Sunday of every month, and on special occasions. During the mass, scriptural readings are done by lay readers who received the readings at least one week in advance. The lay readers follow the procession of priests, mass servers, and the choir at the befinning of the mass. The secretary of the church is responsible for organizing lay readers. Those who request mass are prayed for during the mass, as their names are mentioned in the beginning and middle of the mass.

Catechism And Confirmation

A reverend sister and two voluntary members of the congregation provide catechism classes. The church provides materials for catechism teachings. The candidates that pass the catechism classes receive first communion on Easter day. They must have attended at least twelve catechism sessions. Candidates for the sacrament of confirmation also follow a catechism process and are confirmed at any period when a bishop is available provided they passed the catechism classes.

Baptism

Any member of the church is free to have their children baptized. For the baptism of their children, members pay a token of €50 as contribution. The amount is applicable whether the baptism holds on sunday or any other day of the week. Non church members are allowed to baptize their children in the church. The baptism of the children of non members is only possible when the parents are proven to be full catholics worshipping in another community. They pay €100 for the baptism of their children. No baptism is allowed for people not belonging to the two groups mentioned above. The baptism of children and adults could hold at any time except during the period of lent.

Weddings

The sacrament of matrimony is celebrated in the church at any period of the year except in lent. As a precondition, the couple must be proven members of the parish for a minimum period of six months. Parishioners pay a €100 token for consecration of marriage. The non parishioners on the other hand pay €200 for church service during marriage consummation. There is a second collection for parishioners who announce their marriage bans in the church as a way of supporting them financially. The collection is done after a successful marriage.

Social Programs

To encourage a healthy body and mind the community also engages on some events in the course of every year. The church holds a sporting event once every summer. The event encourages competition in many areas of sport including athletics, volleyball, football, and so on. This popular event is a sort of picnic and has seen healthy competition between people of differnt ages and also between different parishes. A coordinator for sports leads an organizing group for such event. The church sponsors the sporting event by providing the venue, equipments, trophies, medical supply, and entertainment. Another interesting social function is the end of year party that is held every year in the month of December. The welfare Officer of the church council leads in organizing the party. He is also assisted by other church members. The church provides the music, food and drinks for the party. Moreover, Mothers' and Fathers' day celebration is also observed in the community. The church presents flowers to mothers and fathers during their respective day celebrations as a token of support and reminder of their responsibility to the christian family.

Communication

For effective communication in the community, certain structures have been put in place to enhance proper dessemination of information. The chuch publishes a monthly bulletin of news and event. It is run by a voluntary publishing team headed by an editor. There is a meeting between the church council and the board at least once every quarter to discuss matters relating to the community. A quarterly meeting called 'Meet the Council' is held between the congregation and the church board and council to exchange views and ideas on the welfare of the community. There are two opinion boxes installed in the church for the expressing of opinion by anyone on any issue. The conmments received via the opinion boxes is addressed in the board and or council meeting and feedback given as the case demands. There is a meeting between the council/board and representative of the SMA at least once a quarter.

Welfare

All parishioners are registered and issued a valid Annual Membership Card (AMC). All parishioners are registerd with proper contact details. Any member who falls sick should communicate to the parish priest or to the society he or she belongs, who will in turn inform the parish priest. The parish priest shall respond to their needs either with a visit or otherwise based on their proper registration as members of the community. The parish priest visits parishioners who are in the prisons. The parish priest can call on any parishioner to accompany him on such visits when convenient.

Charity

There is an independent Parish Charity Institution (PCI). The PCI links with the Diocese of Haarlem to obtain help for the needy members. The church supports the PCI with charity collection twice a year. The PCI has the right to deteimine who gets help and appropriates such help as it sees fit. They render account of their activities at the end of every year to the board and council.

Calendar

A church calendar is produced every year. A calendar committee comprising of people with technical knowledge is set up once every year. The calendar is sold at a flat rate after a formal launching. The photo contents include group photographs and photographs of church events but not individual photographs. The calendar committee is set up during the first quarter of every calendar year and dissolved after the calendar is produces and launched for that year.

Mass Requests

Special envelopes are accepted when people request mass, and such envelope is given to the priest. Mass requests are paid for. The amount is voluntary but compulsory. Mass intention is submitted to the priest. It is recommended that the mass intention should be acknowledged by the priest atleast 24 hours before the mass celebration. Any amount presented for mass request is entered in the church financial records.

Donations From Members

Members are encouraged to donate money for church development. At least two members of the finance committee collect and record such collections. The details are kept in the finance records of the church.

All Saints