Here are our dedicated members of the group for 2018-19:
Susan King
Dottie Dreshler
Mark Dreshler
Pat Hackett
Paul Hackett
Maria Delagrave
Ana Lynch
Diana Raymond
Donna D'Agostino
Madison Derynioski
Brian Derynioski
Jacob Derynioski
Lori Esternia
Jerry Orfitelli
John Nelson
Barbara Camp
Larry Ryan
Brad Magrey
Elaine Magrey
Vicky Nardi
Rocky Aldi

Music Director and Organist: Emil Kopcha
Organist: Kathleen Kopcha



 

Altar Servers          Choir/Cantor/Music          Eucharistic&Homebound Ministry          Lay Ministry     

Lectors                    Liturgy Committee            Ushers

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord. (1 Cor 12:4 -5). One way to serve Saint Thomas Parish is through Liturgical Ministries. Please give prayerful consideration to participate as an Usher, Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, Altar Server, Greeter, Cantor, or Choir member. Brief descriptions of these ministries are described below. For further information please contact Heidi at 860-628-4713 (day) or email stchurch@snet.net or the contact person listed in the directory on the Ministries main page
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    Altar servers, both boys and girls, assist at the various religious ceremonies which take place throughout the year.
 
 Altar servers function at masses by carrying the cross and leading the procession and the recession at the beginning and the end of masses. They assist the priest by holding the book of prayers and leading the gift bearers to the altar at the offertory. They help in preparing the chalice for the consecration and assist in the preparation of the incense as needed. Altar servers work at the end of all masses and celebrations to return articles used during the service to their proper storage places. They play an especially important role during the major celebrations of the church including Christmas and the Easter Triduum.    A schedule of assigned masses is issued periodically.
 
     All those serving as altar servers are expected to set a high standard of personal behavior and to be a good Christian example for others to follow.

Looking for a way to give to your church without it costing anything?  Why not come and join the choir as we begin the new season?  Our choir sings a variety of styles and forms of music.  We sing at all liturgical celebrations during the year and weekly at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday masses.  You don’t need to know how to read music.  What we want are people who can carry a tune and commit to the weekly Thursday rehearsals that occur between September and June.  Anyone high school age and up are encouraged to come and join us. We have a dedicated and fun group of members, many who have been part of the St. Thomas Choir for several years.  Our rehearsals are Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the choir loft.  If you have any questions, please call or email our music director, Emil Kopcha at 860-621-0637 or ekopcha@cox.net.  Come take the musical plunge and try out being part of the St. Thomas Choir.
 

We have a new Resurrection Choir at St. Thomas that sings at funerals throughout the year.  The majority of music selected are standard hymns which everyone knows.  Review of the music occurs about 15 minutes prior to the funeral.  Anyone interested in being part of this ministry should contact Emil Kopcha at 860 621 0637 or ekopcha@cox.net.    Members of the Resurrection Choir come whenever they are able to during the year based on their schedule. Consider being part of this important ministry.


 

The Archdiocese of Hartford offers a Lay Ministry Program to enhance parish involvement by providing training in theology, spiritual development and pastoral skills as well as a parish internship and concentrated study in a particular ministry.  At the conclusion of this two-year program, the candidate is commissioned by the Archbishop as a Lay Minister of the Church.
The Lay Minister of our parish is Jean Moriarty with commissions in Liturgy and Business Management.


 

The word of God, proclaimed in the sacred Scripture, enlightens our minds and hearts. When the Scriptures are read in the liturgical assembly, God speaks to us and calls us to respond in faith and love. The ministry of the reader, then, is important to the life of the Church, for the reader proclaims God’s living word. We are looking for a few new lectors to add to our ministry team. If you are interested, please call Marc Ingriselli at 860-628-7429 for more information.
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The Liturgy Committee helps prepare the parish community to carry out the Church’s plan of worship, ready to put their knowledge and skills to work for the sake of others.
 
The Liturgy Committee gives shape to the liturgy and at the same time gives support to each committee member. These members study, pray, evaluate and work hard at celebrating well, providing a solid foundation for the liturgy as the most important work of the parish community.
 
The Vatican continues to release revised liturgical legislation requiring skilled members who will discover, read, embrace, and implement them to improve the experience of worship.
 
Members include: Fr. Joe Cronin, Deacon Angelo Coppola, Jean Moriarty, Emil Kopcha, Marc Ingriselli, Ronald Ingriselli, Deborah Montano, Paul Miano Marian Gannon, Marie Manchak, and Vincent Raby. Please feel free to contact any member with questions or comments.
 
 “It is very much the wish of the Church that all the faithful should be led to take that full, conscious, and active part in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy, and to which the Christian people, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people” (1 Peter 2:9, 4-5) have a right and to which they are bound by reason of their Baptism.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14)


 

This ministry is open to ALL! Ushers are responsible for greeting parishioners, taking up the collection, assisting people in need, and distributing the bulletins at the conclusion of Mass. This is an easy way to serve your parish, arriving 15 minutes prior to Mass, staying for a few minutes after Mass and you can serve at the Mass you normally attend. Please contact Ron Ingriselli at 860- 621-7460.