Ministries

We have many different active ministries here at St. John the Evangelist Parish.

Click below to view our ministries!

Bereavement

-- St. John's Bereavement Ministry --

What does our Bereavement Ministry do for St. John's and our community? The answer to that is "many things".

Our Bereavement Ministry takes care of the following:

-- Meeting with the families who have lost a loved one and helping them plan the mass
-- Making all of the necessary arrangements for funerals
-- Contacting and coordinating with the funeral homes
-- Altar Attending/Serving for the funerals
-- Sacristan/Setting up the church or day chapel on the day of the funeral
-- Take care of and coordinate all luncheons that are requested by the families of our parish
-- Having our gathering space available for visitations if requested by the families and/or the funeral home

But, our Ministry doesn't end there --- we continue with support for those who are having a
difficult time with the loss of their loved one.

We have:
-- The "Companions On The Journey" Grief support group, which meets twice a month in our Hospitality Room. They are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. This group is here to reach out to those who have lost a spouse, a parent, a child, a relative, a friend, or anyone who has impacted their life in some way. If you would like some more information about this group, please contact Kathy McConnell at (513) 777-8329 or Tim Harmon at (513) 942-8078.
-- "The Stephen Ministry", which is a ministry that equips our lay parishioners, through 50 hours of training, to provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and surrounding community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. A Stephen Minister is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting - A caring Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, or if you have any questions about The Stephen Ministry, please contact Scott Steinke at 777-6433 ext. 115 or Marty McClain at 235-7478.

We have many volunteers in our parish that help make our Bereavement Ministry the best it can be!
If you are interested in knowing more about our ministry, or would like to know how you can become a volunteer and serve in some way, please contact Scott Steinke at (513) 777-6433 ext. 115.

May God's Blessings continue to shine on you each and every day!

Christ Renews His Parish

Christ Renews His Parish is an effective spiritual renewal process, which calls together the members of St. John to experience personal conversion and Christian community in the environment of our own parish. It is a personal rebirth and parish revitalization. The renewal weekend is separately structured for men and women.

WHAT ABOUT THE COST?

The renewal weekend is a GIFT from the parish and the giving team.
Members of previous teams help with meals, set-up and clean-up.

WHERE CAN I GET SOME INFORMATION?

You may call the parish office at 777-6433, and talk with Scott Steinke at ext. 115,
the Christ Renews His Parish staff coordinator.

THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY IF.......................

You need to deepen your faith.

You need space for your inner journey

Your life seems out of balance

You want to be more aware of the presence of God in your life

You would like the opportunity to become better acquainted with other members of our parish community

Women’s weekend is September 13-14, 2008.
Men’s weekend is January 24-25, 2009.

For more information contact Scott Steinke at 777-6433 ext. 115 or fill out the CRHP Interest Form

Liturgical Ministers

St. John the Evangelist Church Liturgical Ministers

Welcome to the St. John Liturgical Ministers web page.
This site has been designed for all of the following Liturgical Ministers:
--- Altar Attendants
--- Call to Worship Ministers
--- Extraordinary Ministers
--- Hospitalty Ministers
--- Lectors
--- Sacristans

From this web page you can do the following functions:
retrieve the current schedule
retrieve a roster of the liturgical ministers
Log on to your personal preference page

Note: BY LOGGING ON TO YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE PAGE, YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR MASS PREFERENCE
AND ALSO SUBMIT ANY DATES THAT YOU ARE UNAVAILABLE TO MINISTER.

To do these functions, click here.

TO REQUEST A SUB:
To request a sub for any liturgical position that you cannot attend, please send an email
at least one week in advance, if possible, to Billie Allan and Scott Steinke at msp@stjohnwc.org . When doing so, make sure to include the following information: Your name, then the Date, Mass time, and position needing filled.

How to Access and Utilize the Liturgical Ministries Web Page

The Liturgical Ministries Web Page is designed to provide a convenient and user-friendly way to manage your volunteer schedule.

1. Accessing the Ministry Web Page.

Go to http://postings.ministryscheduling.com/stjohnwc/Schedule_Dec_1_Feb_29_2008_web.htm, enter your user name and password.

The Saint John Liturgical Ministers Schedule will be displayed.

TIP: You can save time the next time you visit the Liturgical Ministers page by saving the address in your "Favorites" or "Bookmark" option.

2. Logging On

You must have your user name and password to log on.
In order to maintain access to the Ministry Web Page and to continue receiving ministry information via email, any changes made to this info must be submitted.
Enter your user name and password and click on "Log On"

Liturgical Ministers Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

About Liturgical Ministry Schedules
AND
How to Use the Liturgical Ministries Web Page

Q. Which Liturgical Ministries are scheduled by the Scheduler?
A. The following ministries are scheduled by Scheduler:

Altar Attendants
Hospitality
Sacristans
Lectors
Extraordinary Ministers

Q. What is the duration of each Schedule?
A. Each schedule covers 3 months.

Q. How often is a new Schedule generated?
A. A new schedule is generated four times per year.

Q. Does the schedule include daily and holiday masses?
A. No, the schedule only covers regular weekend Mass times. Ministry Coordinator will post signup sheets for holy days and seasonal Masses (Christmas, Lent and Holy Week).

Q. How do I obtain a copy of my schedule?
A. Schedules are posted on our Ministry Web Page. You may also obtain your schedule from your Ministry Coordinator.

Q. What else is available on the Web Page?
A. In addition to ministry schedules, ministry rosters, communication links, a sub request function and the ability to update contact information and submit dates of unavailability.

Q. What if I do not have access to the Internet or an email address?
A. If you do not have access to the internet or email, you may obtain a paper copy of your schedule from your ministry coordinator. Usually distributed in the gathering space once the schedule is published.

Q. How do I find the ministry web page and access my schedule and other information?
A. Simply follow the directions in the following section:

Marriage Ministry

Troubled Marriage?

There are many troubled marriages and unfortunately the number seems to be growing. Most everybody in this situation wants to improve their relationship, but it seems like such a huge job and they don’t know where to start. There are a number of programs out there, but that doesn’t make it any easier, and perhaps it makes it more difficult; there are several types of marriage encounters and there is the possibility of engaging the services of a professional marriage counselor. These may partially be covered later by your health insurance. It all looks so complicated that you just don’t know where to start.

I am very strongly committed to Retrouvaille because I’ve seen a great number of couples who had been very unhappy (or miserable) in their relationship and had decided to participate in the full program of Retrouvaille and had found that it enabled them to make the big change, so that they are really happily married now.

You are probably asking, “What makes Retrouvaille so effective?” I think the following are among the reasons:

Married couples whose relationship had very much fallen apart, (but have come together through Retrouvaille) make the presentations.
The couples don’t “preach at you” but they reveal very openly where they were at and what steps they had to take.
They are available to answer questions that you may have.
There is a priest on each weekend who is available for consultation or help, if you request it.
Since a marriage problem can’t be fully cured over a weekend, you are strongly urged to sign up for a follow up program that will take place with your same group every other Saturday afternoon for about 3 ½ hours. This follow up program will cover the next three months.
Hopefully by that time you will be comfortable as a couple. Or if you feel you need further help, additional special programs are provided.
No couple is kept away because of lack of money.

I’m sure you’re asking, “What is the catch?” Believe me there is no catch.

No one is going to force you to do anything
No one is ever kept out because of lack of money
Your participation is kept secret—we will never reveal your name unless you permit it.
It is not a fly-by-night-program. It started in Canada and came to the U.S.A. in 1984. I brought it to Cincinnati in 1987 and have worked with it ever since.

--Fr. Ray Favret

For more information about this ministry, please contact Jerry Barney at 777-6433, ext. 121.

Ministry to Returning Catholics

COME HOME!

This ministry is for people who have been away from the Church, alienated or hurt by the Church, or have simply drifted away. We want you to know that you are welcomed back at any time.

The Evangelization Committee will be glad to answer any questions that you may have by telephone, or in writing, if you prefer to do it that way. Please contact Jerry Barney at 777-6433, ext. 121.

Please do not hesitate to phone us for fear we will keep "bugging" you afterward. Will answer your questions, and if you want to follow up with us, that will be up to you. The process is flexible and hopes to meet the needs of the individuals that contact us.

Periodically during the year, the Evangelization Committee will schedule presentations with the purpose of answering questions about St. John Church, and the Church's attitudes toward divorce, second marriages, and other areas. The presentations are announced in the parish bulletin.

The Evangelization Committee strives to implement the document of the U.S. Bishops entitled "Go and Make Disciples".

A great web site with more information for Returning Catholics ... www.OnceCatholic.org.

Come Home Invitiation

Invite your family and friends to COME HOME!

Do you know someone who has left the Church? Most of us do not have to look very far to find nonpracticing Catholics in our circle of family and friends. Many of us are concerned about these loved ones, but we do not know how to help them. Obviously, most of them are searching, but how can we help them find their way home?

As baptized, practicing Catholics, we have a precious gift of faith and love from the Lord that needs to be shared with our nonpracticing brothers and sisters. First, we need to pray for them. Next, we need to extend a personal invitation to return. Many mistakenly think they are excommunicated and are not welcome to return for a variety of reasons. Many nonpracticing Catholics carry with them a tremendous amount of guilt and misinformation about the Church and are afraid of approaching the church for fear of being rejected. You can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life simply by reaching out to them and telling them that we miss them and would like for them to come back home to our Church family.

Here at St. John we have a special ministry to help nonpracticing Catholics return to the Church entitled Catholics Returning Home. The program consists of a series of meetings. (future dates to be announce)

Please pass this information on to anyone who might be interested. For more information contact Jerry Barney at 777-6433, ext. 121.

Music Ministry

Hook & Hastings Pipe Organ The St. John Music Ministry exists to serve the liturgical prayer of the parish. Our princial choir is the assembly of thousands of believers who worship at our church on a weekly basis. The ministry consists of an adult choir, youth chorus, parish orchestra, handbell choir, cantor ministry, and contemporary ensemble. Our liturgies regularly feature the parish's 1898 Hook & Hastings organ and Steinway piano.

The ministry seeks to serve the parish with the best music of the Roman Catholic heritage, including Gregian Chant, polyphony and hymnody. We also explore contemporary currents of Catholic music, employing world music, jazz and other modern stylings.

The ministry has a wide variety of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. If you would like to join the ministry, please contact Michael Dailey at (513) 777-6433, ex. 128 or by e-mail at mdailey@stjohnwc.org.

Music Ministry Blog

Audio Downloads

Under Construction

Choirs

Choirs of St. John Church

We currently have three choirs that lead the music at our weekend Masses.

St. John Praise Team

St. John Choir

Youth Chorus

St. John Choir

The St. John Choir sings weekly for the 9:30 am Sunday Mass. The choir's repertoire spans the centuries, employing chant to the most contemporary choral works.

The choir rehearses on Wednesday from 7:30 - 9:00 pm. If you are interested in joining, please call Michael Dailey at (513) 777-6433, ex. 128.

St. John Praise Team

Under Construction

St. John Youth Chorus

Saint John Youth Chorus

The St. John Youth Chorus is open to children in the 2—8th grades.

Audition

Auditions for choristers are required so that the director will know where to place each chorister effectively.

Weekly Rehearsals

Monday evenings from 5:30—6:30 PM in the Church beginning in September and ending in May.

Feast day rehearsals

TBA. Usually 1 hour prior to the liturgy.

What do we sing for?

Youth Chorus sings for the 11:30 Mass once a month, for Breakfast in Bethlehem, for the Christmas 3 pm Mass, the Easter 11:30 Mass, and for other events throughout the year.

Materials

Choristers are provided a folder to carry music, a hymnal, and a light blue, dark blue, yellow, or red Voice for Life book.

Handbell Choir

Under Construction

Hook & Hastings Organ

On this page you will find information on the organ at St. John the Evangelist Church. The organ is a 2-manual, 28 rank instrument built in 1898 by Hook & Hastings and repaired and restored into a new instrument by David Wallace in 1999.

History

A History of the St. John Organ

by David E. Wallace

During the second half of the 19th Century and the first part of the 20th Century, the E. & G. G. Hook and later the Hook & Hastings Company delivered 21 pipe organs to the Greater Cincinnati area. The first was a 2 manual E & G. G. Hook Opus 234 in 1858 for the Central Presbyterian Church. The last was Hook and Hastings Opus 2569, a 3 manual organ delivered in 1929 to St. Joseph's RC Church. Perhaps the most notable was the 4 manual 90 rank E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings Opus 869 built for the Cincinnati Music Hall.

In 1996, nearly 70 years after the arrival of the last Hook organ, St John the Evangelist Church in West Chester was about to bring yet one more Hook and Hastings organ to the Cincinnati area when they purchased Opus 2173 from the Bangor, Maine Universalist Church. The organ was to be renovated and installed in the new St John Church. The façade of Opus 2173 was incorporated into the design of the new church and plans were made for the renovation.

On Palm Sunday 1998, St John Parish turned the first soil for the construction of their new building. On that very same day, the parish of St Michael in the Lower Price Hill section of Cincinnati held their final service as that church was to be closed and combined with Holy Family. St. Michael's church held one of the remaining Hook and Hastings organs in Cincinnati. Opus 1782, installed in 1898, was about to join the forgotten ranks of many of the other fine Hook organs that once graced churches, private homes and the grand music hall in Cincinnati.

Word soon got around to Jim Pera, organist at St John that the old organ might be available. It was visited and while found to be a rough condition suffering the ravages of time, Mother Nature and misguided maintenance, it was deemed restorable. Despite having to gasp for breath and having lost an essential part of it's key action, it was still able to show the pallet of tonal colors that lay hidden beneath the grime and indicate to all that restoration to its former grandeur was indeed a possibility enabling a renewed life and the chance for the organ to remain in the Cincinnati area.

Opus 1782 was also purchased by St John's and plans were made to disassemble and move the organ to the shop of restorationist David Wallace & Company in Gorham, Maine. But, the grand façade Opus 2173 had already been well incorporated into the plans for the new St John Church. Since both organs had been built by the same company, the solution was to simply do a façade transplant! The elegant case of the Bangor organ was mated to the functional aspects of the St Michael organ. The result incorporated the historic St Michael's mechanical action organ with the handsome Victorian case from the Bangor organ.

The St Michael organ was in rough shape at the time it was removed from the church in August of 1998. The tower above the organ had leaked many times over the century the organ stood in the church causing considerable damage to the Great division windchest and pipes. The leather on the reservoir had most likely given out so the original wind reservoir and bellows were chopped up and discarded in favor of an under-sized supply house regulator. The pneumatic assist mechanisms that helped make the bottom two octaves of keys for each manual keyboard easier to play were also chopped out of the organ and replaced with cardboard patches and lengths of copper electrical wire. The keys at the low end of the keyboards were almost impossible to play. Soot, dust, dampness, and even urine in one corner of the organ left the poor old instrument with just enough life to make one glorious final presentation to St Michael's parishioners and friends on the day before it was taken down and shipped to Maine.

The estimated 15,000 or so pieces of the organ were given detailed attention. Each part was cleaned, if it was broken it was mended and the missing parts were replaced duplicating the originals. Every attempt was made where possible to use original Hook & Hastings parts. The missing key action pneumatics were copied from Opus 1801 in Taunton, Massachusetts which was built in the same year as St Michael's organ. The dimensions of the missing wind reservoir were plotted out from screw holes on the floor frame and from the positions of the wind trunks in the organ. The feeder bellows were also duplicated so that the organ could once again be hand pumped. The heavily worn down key ivories in the middle octave of each keyboard were replaced with the only available legal source of ivory today— 10,000 year old Mastadon tusk ivory from Siberia.

The pipes were all carefully cleaned and adjusted to play at the original pitch. The stoppers in the wooden pipes were releathered for a snug fit and the reed ranks were carefully cleaned so the brilliance and fire would again be present. The quarter sawn oak Bangor case was stripped and refinished to match the color scheme for St John's. The huge façade pipes were also repainted to match the decor.

The only change made to the organ was a "non-intrusive" addition of a 16' Trombone stop to the Pedal Division. The Pedal section has two very deep stops and one soft string stop. The Trombone was judiciously added to lend a range of harmonic color and support to the Pedal stops. The windchest, key action and stop action for the Trombone required no alteration of any of the existing parts of the St Michael organ to be added.

The Bangor organ along with the façade from the St Michael organ are in storage awaiting a new home. It could very well be that the pipe organ—equally as grand as the St Michael organ, could indeed become the 22nd Hook & Hastings organ in the greater Cincinnati area if the right church realizes the need!

Organ Repertoire

April 27

Prelude: O Filii et Filae (Jeanne Demessieux)

Postlude: Fanfare (John Cook)

May 4 - The Ascension of the Lord (celebrated on Sunday in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati)

Prelude: L'Ascension, Movt. IV (Olivier Messiaen)

Postlude: Incantation pour an Jour Saint (Jean Langlais)

May 9 @ 7:30 pm - Organ Concert: Matthew Phelps

Music by Ives, Bach, Buxtehude, Barber and others...

May 11 - Pentecost

Prelude: Veni Creatur (Libby Larson)

Postlude: Toccata on Veni Creator Spiritus (Maurice Durufle)

May 18 - Trinity Sunday

Prelude: Prelude on NICEA (Johannes Michel)

Postlude: Heraldings (Robert Hebble)

Stoplist

Swell Organ (Under Expression)

16’ Bourdon

8’ Open Diapason

8’ Salicional

8’ Aeoline

8’ Stopped Diapason

4’ Flute Harmonique

4’ Violina

2’ Flautino

III Dolce Cornet

8’ Cornopean

8’ Oboe

Tremolo

Great Organ

16’ Open Diapason

8’ Open Diapason

4’ Octave

8’ Dulciana

8’ Viola da Gamba

8’ Doppel Flute

4’ Flute d’Amour

3’ Twelfth

2’ Fifteenth

III Mixture

8’ Trumpet

Swell to Great

Pedal Organ

16’ Trombone

16’ Open Diapason

16’ Bourdon

8’ Violincello

Great to Pedal

Swell to Pedal

Music at St. John's Series

Founded in 2003,the Music at St. John concert series has featured performers from the Cincinnati area, around the nation and around the world. Such performers have included organists Susan Ferré, Blake Callahan and Matthew Phelps, Catholic artist James Moore, the Athenaeum Chorale, Cincinnati Boychoir, Women in Song, and the Leonore and Cherubini string quartets.

Stay tuned for details about concerts in 2008 - 09!

Music Schedules

Music Ministers:

The schedules for summer Masses are now published.

8 and 9:30 Mass music is listed for the entire summer.

5 and 11:30 Masses are listed for one month each.

Each schedule is downloadable in .pdf format.

Remember these principles of organization:

Parish Cantors

St. John Cantors

Rehearsal: Wednesdays 6:30 - 7 pm

Cantors at St. John Church lead the psalms, hymns, and acclamations of the parish community

· At Mass and Communion services, liturgy of the hours, and parish prayer services

· Weddings

· Funerals

· Other services as needed

To become a cantor, you need

· A strong voice capable of leading a large assembly

· A pliant voice style

· The ability to learn music quickly

All cantors must audition with the Pastoral Musician.

Please call Michael Dailey at 777-6433, ex. 28 to audition.

Parish Orchestra

Under Construction

Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?
St. John's Stephen Ministry is a ministry that equips lay people to provide
one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community
who are experiencing difficulties and challenges in their lives.

Stephen Ministers Care For People Facing Tough Times:

We all experience challenges in life - times when we could
benefit from the support of a caring friend.
Stephen Ministers are ready to provide the emotional and
spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty,

such as:

Loss of a loved one
Hospitalization
Divorce or separation
Loneliness or discouragement
Spiritual cries
Unemployment or job crisis
A terminal illness
Incarceration
Aging
Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
A chronic illness
Relocation
Recovery after an accident or disaster
And many more

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry:
The identity of those receiving care and what takes
place in each caring relationship remains private.

How You Can Help:

If you or someone you know (whether it be a friend, a neighbor,
a co-worker, or a relative) is hurting in some way and could benefit
from the care of a Stephen Minister, tell them about this ministry.

Or if you are someone who is a good listener,
compassionate and prayerful, consider becoming a
Stephen Minister for our congregation.

"Love one another as I have loved you " Our current Stephen Leader Team:

John 13:34 Scott Steinke, Marty McClain, Louise Moyer

If you would like more information or feel the need to talk,
please call 777-6433 and ask for Scott Steinke, ext. 115.

Personal Witnesses

Notes from Stephen Ministry Care Receivers

"Divorce is a situation almost half of us experience in our lifetimes, either from our parents' lives or in our own. At best, it is a very sad and isolating experience. Even when you love the Lord and your church, you feel the stigma associated with it. Moving on is very difficult when your energy has been sapped.

My Stephen Minister has been a friend and Christian connection through my trials. She has heard me voice my most private thoughts and feelings. She has shared my tears and has quietly helped me prioritize things from a Christian perspective. Her prayers have strengthened me. She withholds judgement. Her suggestions have been wise and often very witty. She reminds me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be when I express impatience with myself. We pray together and share chocolate and ice cream. For me, she is a model of a courageous woman who has made good choices and is totally devoted to becoming more Christ-like in her service to others.

The world is a better place because she is in it, and I am better for her example.

Thanks be to God."