OUR MINISTRIES
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40
Mater Christi Food Pantry
“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” – Matt 25:40
Helping others isn't limited to mission trips or soup kitchens, you have brothers and sisters in your local community who are in need of assistance. Whether you have goods to donate or can give a helping hand, The Mater Christi food pantry is always working to serve Christ’s little ones in the 12208 area of Albany, NY.
For more information please contact the Food Pantry Director, John Matheson, at materchristioutreach@gmail.com.
Parish Garden Ministry
“The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it” - Genesis 2:15.
Do you have the desire to serve God by cultivating the fruits of the earth? Our parish gardeners work hard to grow fresh, organic produce tailored to serve those in need. The garden is always in need of people with engineering or technical savvy to help with the upkeep of its fencing, automated watering system, and other equipment. Whether you would like to glorify God by cultivating the beauty of a garden or want to feed his children. Reach out to the parish office at info@mcalbany.org
Family Promise of the Capital Region
The mission of Family Promise is "To affirm the humanity and dignity of homeless families and to engage our community in helping them achieve sustainable independence."
Family Promise achieves this through the work of thirteen worship communities in the Capital Region who provide homeless families with food and shelter while seeking jobs, permanent housing, children's education, and financial stability. Mater Christi Parish is one of these "host sites". The families in the program come to stay at Mater Christi 4 times throughout the year, taking residence at the Parish Office. It's a huge endeavor, and we are constantly in need of new volunteers. To join our team of dedicated volunteers, reach out to the parish office at materchristialbany@gmail.com
Homebound Ministries
We wish to ensure that no one feels left out from our community simply because they can no longer attend our parish in person. For that reason, we have a variety of ministries for our homebound parishioners.
Pastoral Visits: Parishioners provide pastoral visits to our homebound community members so they can receive communion and companionship.
Greeting Card Ministry: Parishioners send monthly greeting cards to the homebound to offer prayer, comfort, and a continued sense of belonging.
Flower Ministry: Twice yearly, volunteers bring flower arrangements to our homebound parishioners living in senior centers, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
If you would to help with these ministries, know someone who could benefit from them, or would like to receive them yourself, please reach out to the parish office at materchristialbany@gmail.com
Liturgical Ministries
Is the Lord calling you to serve at Mater Christi? There are plenty of opportunities for you to use your God-given gifts for his glory. They include:
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Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
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Proclaiming the scripture readings (Lector)
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Altar Serving
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Sacristan (preparing the vessels, linens, etc. for Mass)
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Altar Ministry (washing the altar linens)
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If you would like to serve in any of these ministries, please contact the parish office at 518-489-3204 info@mcalbany.org.
Music Ministry
Do you love to sing? Do you play an instrument? Consider joining our music ministry as a cantor, choir member, or instrumentalist! We have opportunities for both adults and children to offer their musical talents at Mass.
To learn more, contact , Director of Music, Justine Rodriguez at the parish office.
Funeral Ministry
Our parish has a team of volunteers experienced in helping families process the loss of a loved one. When a family requests a funeral at Mater Christi, these volunteers walk with families throughout the planning process. Our volunteers are trained to take on roles such as Sacristan, greeter, reader, candle bearer, and planners for the funeral mass.
If you’re interested in learning more about this ministry and how you may like to assist, contact the parish office at info@mcalbany.org
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry knit and/or crochet afghans and shawls that are distributed to our homebound parishioners as well as those who live in assisted living facilities. They also make pocket shawls that are given to families who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
The crafters also make several items for adults and children that are distributed to local nursing homes, hospitals and several local charities such as the Capital City Rescue Mission, Capital Region Hospice and Mary's Corner.
If you would like more information or would be interested in joining this Ministry, please contact the Parish Office at materchristialbany@gmail.com