Becoming Catholic Support Team 

The process of preparing to become Catholic, known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), is based on how Jesus formed His disciples. We walk alongside those adults who are seeking to receive the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion), reflecting together on the words of Christ, praying for one another, and serving our community. The Support Team is made up of individuals who are willing to journey with the candidates, either as a parish sponsor (who provides one-one-one support for a specific candidate), or a team member (who supports the whole group and helps out in various ways behind the scenes).

Confirmation Small Group Leader

Our confirmation program is a two-year program which begins with students who are in eighth grade and above. Volunteers are needed to lead biweekly group meetings, lead discussions, and build a relationship with their students. Biweekly small groups would be held in your home or another location as assigned. Volunteers must be VIRTUS trained.

UNITE Faith Formation Support Team

Once a month, we gather as a parish community to share a meal, to learn about Church teaching, and have a time of Eucharistic Adoration. The vision for our Unite Faith Formation gatherings is to provide a time for all ages to encounter and follow Christ. This model of Religious Education seeks to engage the whole family in faith and puts the emphasis on the home and the role of the domestic church in our formation as Catholics. Volunteers are needed to help with providing food for and serving the meal as well as set up and tear down of chairs and tables.

Youth Ministry Prayer

Team

Prayer for the youth of our parish is essential. In addition to regularly praying for our youth, you will be contacted with weekly reminders when events are held so that you can pray for the youth and leaders involved in the event.

Youth Ministry Small Group Leader

Adults who want to build relationships with teenagers to help them grow in their faith are needed to lead our small group sessions. Weekly small groups would be held in your home or another location as assigned. Volunteers must be VIRTUS trained.

Youth Ministry Support Team

Volunteers are needed to help with special events such as service opportunities, food donations, and chaperoning. You will be contacted by email when opportunities and needs arise. When the need arises for these one-time opportunities, we will contact you via email.

St. Mary's Food Kitchen

St. John Paul II partners with St. Paul Parish to provide lunch every fourth Friday of the month at the St. Mary’s Food Kitchen in KCK. Currently, we are providing a sack lunch. Donations of food items and/or people to prepare sandwiches are made through SignUpGenius. Volunteers to serve at the kitchen are not needed at this time. As soon as we are able to return to work in the kitchen and serve a hot meal, we will request help preparing food as well as serving lunches at the food kitchen site.

Monday Collection Counters

Collection Counters ensure our weekly collections are accurately counted & recorded for deposit. Counters use SignUpGenius to schedule themselves when it is convenient to count for them. We ask that you count at least once a month. Currently we are counting on Monday mornings from 7:50 A.M. until 8:30 A.M.

*Please note, if you also Usher at Mass, you will not be able to count collection on a Monday after you have served as an Usher.*

Financial Peace University Coordinator*

Financial Peace University (FPU) is a program to learn how to manage money and make sound financial decisions regarding spending, saving, insurance, debt reduction, and donating. An FPU coordinator will facilitate discussion and is a resource for participants on their way to a good financial path. Instructor materials are provided.

Eucharistic Adoration*

Come spend time with our Lord, present with us in the Holy Eucharist. We will begin the St. John Paul II “Year of the Eucharist” on St. John Paul II’s feast day, October 22, 2020 and end October 22, 2021. Adoration times will be on Sundays from 7:30A.M. to 8:00 A.M., and from 9:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., in Divine Mercy Parish Hall in Gardner. Adoration during the week will be available Tuesday through Friday, after the 7:00 A.M. Mass until 9:30 A.M. at Pathway Community Church. Weekday adoration times may be scheduled on the parish website or come on a drop-in basis.

Parish Events Volunteer

Parish events are varied and take many volunteers to make them successful. Please sign up if you would be willing to be on call for upcoming events when they are scheduled.

Rectory Upkeep

Our parish office and parish rectory comes with a lot of upkeep. Help is needed with lawn care, snow removal, light rectory cleaning/housekeeping, and general indoor/outdoor home maintenance. If you have a specific skill you'd like to offer (e.g., plumbing, electricity, yard work, etc.), please let us know and we'll keep a note as specific needs come up.

Parish Prayer Team

Are you looking for a way to support the parish, but your busy schedule or health concerns are holding you back? One of the most valuable things that we can do for each other is to pray. Sign up for this ministry and commit to regularly pray for our parish. We will also contact you to pray if any special events or needs arise in which special prayers are requested.

Vocations Ministry

The JP2 Vocations Ministry prays for and encourages vocations within our parish and community. The Vocations Crucifix travels between parish families each week. Families are asked to keep the crucifix in their home for one week and specifically pray for vocations each day. The case with the crucifix contains suggested prayers and reading materials.

Respect Life Committee

The JP2 Respect Life Committee exists “to foster a culture of LIFE over a culture of death through prayer, education, and services for those who are most vulnerable – especially mothers of unborn children and those who are chronically ill." Activities, awareness events, and fundraising events are held to support these pillars. Meetings are held once a month at varying locations.

Works of Mercy Charitable Drives

Each month St. John Paul II Parish holds a drive to benefit those in need. Much of what we do is through the Catholic Charities of NE Kansas. Sign up and we will contact you to let you know what our drive is for the month and the different opportunities for support.

Finance Council

Members of the Finance Council assist the pastor with proper financial management of the parish including review of the monthly financial statements, annual budget review, provide input and review the financial policies and controls, the capital campaign progress and other ad hoc financial issues. Finance Council meets once per month and additionally as needed. The council consists of 9 members, each serving a three-year term.

Special Event Meal Support

Our parish strives to include the sharing of a meal at funeral lunches and some of our larger parish events, such as UNITE Faith Formation. Side dishes, main dishes, and desserts are always needed. Both homemade and store -bought items are appreciated. At various times we also need servers for events. You will be contacted by email when opportunities arise.

Pastoral Council

Pastoral Council advises the pastor on present operations and future goals of the parish. Pastoral Council meets once per month and additionally as needed. The council consists of nine members. You are asked for a three-year commitment.

Special Event Bakers

JP2 Bakers are parishioners that want to share their baking talents. This group provides a variety of baked goods for sacramental celebrations and parish events. You will be contacted by email when opportunities arise.

Communications Committee

The ​Communication Committee​ is tasked with keeping the parish informed. We keep the parish in the know and work to archive our history.

Thank You Committee

The ​Thank You Committee​ is responsible for finding meaningful ways to offer thanks to each parishioner as they learn, discern, serve and give to the campaign. Activities include writing handwritten notes, preparing and delivering small tokens of appreciation and offering words of encouragement.

Prayer Committee

The Prayer Committee is committed to prayer. Every family at JP2 is being lifted up in prayer every week. Other prayer opportunities include praying the Memorare, Divine Mercy chaplet, and ongoing prayer events.

Hospitality Committee

The ​Hospitality Committee​ is committed to creating a welcoming atmosphere for each event of the campaign.

Ambassadors Committee

The ​Ambassador Committee​ is a team of people helping Fr. Andrew share the message of our future and the campaign. They communicate the campaign message to parishioners in a variety of settings.

Adult Choir*

Our choir is made up of individuals who feel called to share the faith, serve the community, and express the love of God and neighbor through music. The choir particularly serves to lead the assembly in singing the parts of the Mass, and thus meets regularly to reflect on the liturgy and train in the art of vocal music.

Alter Servers*

Altar Serving is a rewarding way for our youth to contribute at Mass. This ministry is open to those aged 12 and up, who have been baptized and received the sacrament of Holy Communion. Training is provided prior to serving, at which point servers will be scheduled on a rotating basis.

Art and Environment

The Art & Environment Ministry takes special care to create a prayerful environment in which to celebrate Mass and the sacraments. A decorated environment engages the senses and reflects the seasons of our Catholic Liturgical Calendar. You are invited to help! Each liturgical season offers the people of St. John Paul II the opportunity to decorate our worship space. You will be contacted by email when opportunities arise.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion - Mass

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) have the privilege of distributing the Body & Blood of Christ at Mass. This ministry is open to all ages 16 years & up, who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion & Confirmation, and if married, were married (or had their marriage convalidated) in the Catholic Church. Training is provided prior to serving. Once trained, EMHCs are scheduled on a rotating basis. Due to the current safety guidelines, ministers must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while distributing the Body of Christ.

Greeters*

Greeters extend the welcome of Christ to all who join us at Mass. Individuals and families are invited to volunteer and are scheduled on a rotating basis. Currently parish staff is maintaining this role. We hope to have greeters scheduled again in the near future.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion - Homes and Hospitals*

The Homebound Ministry provides a social connection to individuals who would benefit from a visit from a fellow parishioner. Volunteers visit residences, hospitals, nursing facilities, and other home situations of parish members unable to attend Mass. Due to COVID-19, we are unable to send volunteers to bring the sacred body of Christ to homes and hospitals. When we are able, formal training will be given to all ministry volunteers to understand the guidelines and procedures for being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and volunteers will be scheduled.

Mass Set-up/Tear Down

Until we have a permanent church building of our own, we need assistance setting up and tearing down the facility for Mass on selected weekends. Individuals and families are welcome to help with this ministry and are scheduled on a rotating basis.

Reader*

Readers proclaim the Word of God to the assembly at Mass. This ministry is open to all ages 16 years and up, who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Training is provided. Following training, Readers are scheduled on a rotating basis.

Usher*

Ushers play a key role in helping our Mass to run smoothly and maintain a reverent atmosphere in mass. Ushers will be trained prior to serving and then scheduled on a rotating basis.

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary is a lay Catholic organization whose members are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis in almost every country. We are forming our Legion of Mary group now. Our first focus is to become a rosary prayer group. Once you join, we will email you regarding upcoming meetings and with additional information.

Book Club

St. John Paul II Book Club offers the opportunity to grow in relationship with others and in faith by reading selected books and meeting together once a month. The club selects books written by or about St. John Paul II and his initiatives, for example, ​Theology of the Body, Mary, Divine Mercy.​ After pondering the text and its application to our faith life, we gather to challenge and support one another in living out our Catholic faith. You will be contacted via email regarding our current book and meeting locations.

JP2MOMs

A group of women with children of all ages whose mission is to promote Catholic family values through a variety of social, service, and spiritual activities. Members are both biological and spiritual mothers who come together to share experiences, friendships, and meaningful activities.

For more info, join the JP2Moms Facebook page for current information and activities.

Knights of Columbus Council #16595

The Knights of Columbus Council is dedicated to our core values of charity, unity, and fraternity. We strive to be the ‘strong right arm of the Church’ by assisting the pastor in building a strong Catholic community. All Catholic men, 18 years and older, are encouraged to join!

Marian Mantel Prayer Group

The Marian Mantle Group offers hope, help, and positive action for hearts that carry a quiet sadness because a loved one is no longer a practicing Catholic. The Marian Mantle Group does not contact anyone who has left the faith; it reaches out to parents, grandparents, and others to help build peace while they wait for a prodigal loved one to return. Once you join, we will email you regarding upcoming meetings and with additional information.

Saturday Mornings Men's Gathering

Gather at 6:30 A.M. Saturday mornings for fellowship and prayer with other men. You will receive a weekly email with details regarding the gathering and events.

Woman's Bible Study

Join other women of the parish in reflecting more deeply on the Sacred Scripture. The sessions take place weekly on Wednesday nights, and are done virtually to accommodate busy schedules. Though hosted by JP2Moms, the study is for ​all women​. You can join anytime, even if you have missed previous sessions, through the JP2Moms Facebook group page.