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Parish Organization
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Overview
A Parish operates through Councils,
Committees, Working Groups and Ministries. The pastor tries to
bring all the groups into one harmonious unit; if he succeeds, he has
created a good parish! Groups focus on specific
tasks, but always with accountability. There are two
Councils--finance and pastoral--that together oversee, manage, and
sometimes direct all parish activity.
The
Finance Council oversees the financial assets and interests
of the parish in a professional manner. Its members are skilled in keeping
accounts and issuing reports in a professional manner. The annual reports
to the Parish and the Archdiocese become the test of how well the records
were kept. The OLHC Finance Council has six members, each serving for
a three year term, or as long as he or she is willing to serve. The chairperson
takes responsibility for calling meetings to review parish accounts. The
Accounting Team includes the Ushers who take up and secure the collections;
the team that counts and deposits the money; the person who pays the bills
and payroll taxes; and those who record contributions, revenues
and expenses. The Finance Council interacts with
St. Peter's School
on school
subsidy issues. OLHC also has one member who sits on the St. Peter's School
Board.
The Parish
Pastoral Council oversees all other functions of the parish. The Council
has 15 members, one third (i.e., five) being elected each year for a three-year
term. The Council operates under the leadership of a Chair, Vice-Chair,
Secretary, and four Commissioners. The role of the Commissioners is to keep
the members informed on the operations of the parish. Parish organizations
can be grouped into five categories (Commissions), i.e. Administration,
Liturgy,
Education, Christian Service, and
Community-Building. The parish organizations
are listed below under their respective Commissions. In order to function
effectively, Commissioners must be well informed on all parish activities
within their particular purview. A Commissioner may call together
a small committee to study the scope and quality of parish operation and
may also initiate new programs. An active Parish Council has a sense of
the whole parish and a sense of responsibility for its operation. However,
a good Pastoral Council is always learning.
The Parish Council meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm (September - June).
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Administration Commission
The administration of the parish is done through the individuals and groups that direct the
parish in an orderly and professional manner. The Finance Council oversees the fiscal affairs of the parish but there are many other individuals and groups contributing to parish administration. Our
Maintenance Committee
needs to be reactivated to oversee property maintenance. We have a few enthusiastic gardeners who volunteer their time and skills to keep our grounds in good shape. The new buildings have reduced our green areas but we would like our
grounds to be the showpiece of the Smallwood Village Center. Under the "Adopt a Road" program, we have agreed to clean St. Thomas & St. Ignatius Drives twice a year and to take an interest in ongoing upkeep. A successful parish
must have good communication and organization similar to a good family and development of those qualities never ends until Gabriel blows his trumpet. OLHC is moderately successful in those areas but there is a lot of journeying
ahead.
Committees under the Parish Administrative Commission:
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Property Manager - Mr. John Hoza
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Grounds Committee - This group tends to
the trees, shrubs and flowers around the church.
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Interior Committee
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Library Committee
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Quality Assurance Committee
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Prayer and Worship (Liturgy) Commission
The
Liturgy Committee is the organizing group for liturgical matters. The Altar
Guild, which has been very active, oversees the physical environment of
the liturgy, e.g., flowers, linens, vestments, etc. The members meet monthly
or when necessary. Other ministries that support the parish liturgy are
Music Ministers, Ushers, Lectors, Altar Servers and Extraordinary Ministers
of the Eucharist. Each ministry has a coordinator who makes the assignments,
arranges training of new members and schedules ongoing training. All of
the parish ministries welcome new members.
The many groups that support the Liturgy Committee include:
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Education Commission
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Christian Service Commission
St. James
in his Epistle (2:14) could be speaking to parish life when he asks, "What
good is it to profess faith without practicing it?" We hope that the OLHC
community has taken that admonition seriously. Members of the OLHC community
have an opportunity to be involved in a number of ministries that demonstrate
and strengthen their faith through various Christian Service activities. Throughout the year, parishioners donate clothing, winter outerwear, and
school supplies to the
Children's Aid Society of Charles County. Once each
month, OLHC families prepare a meal for the residents of the Angel's Watch
Shelter for homeless women and children in Hughesville. The parish also
has an active SHARE program, which provides quality food at a low cost to
anyone who completes a minimum of two hours of volunteer service monthly.
OLHC provides funding and volunteers to Health Partners, a free health and
dental clinic for the poor and uninsured. The parish was a founding member
of Interfaith Community Connection, a coalition of area churches that provide
financial assistance to the poor of the Waldorf and White Plains area. For
many years OLHC has also participated in the Christmas in April program,
donating money and a team of skilled and unskilled workers to renovate a
home for a person in need. In recent years the OLHC team has been large enough
and skilled enough as to complete a whole project without outside help.
Additionally, an important mission of the Catholic Church is to consider social justice
issues that affect all members of society, especially the poor. Catholics
are encouraged to examine and help bring about change to the core structures
within society that cause poverty and homelessness. Members of OLHC have
the opportunity to work with the Archdiocesan Legislative Network. The Legislative
Network coordinates the voices of citizens, to address policy makers, at
federal and local levels. Justice issues that have been addressed include
affordable housing for low-income families increased funding for the poor
and homeless health care for children and working poor, and the abolition
of capital punishment.
Committees that are part
of the Christian Service Commission:
Social Justice:
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Legislative Network
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Pro-Life Activities
Social Concerns:
Note: Linked
sites will open in a new browser window.
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Community-Building Commission
A
strong faith community is able to support its own members and even reaches
beyond to the broader community. Many of the activities at OLHC are designed
to build this type of community by bringing people together and promoting
a sense of belonging. The Stewardship Committee plays a large role in this
effort as it seeks ways to encourage and enable members to share time,
special talents and treasure in service to the parish and local region. A sense of community is also fostered through the Newcomers Welcoming committee
and the newly-formed Parish Life committee. The Ways and Means Committee
plans and organizes specific events such as bazaars, family dinners and an
annual Breakfast with St. Nick, to name a few. These activities, while generating
a small income, are primarily intended to build a spirit of community. The
activities of this Commission enrich the parish as members gather united
by the Holy Spirit.
Some of Our Lady Help of Christians' Community Building Committees:
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Newcomers Welcoming Committee
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Separated and Divorced Catholics
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Special Celebrations Committee
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Stewardship Committee
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Support Groups
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Ways and Means Committee
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