The worship of God is our primary expression as a community of faith. Our liturgy is the only activity which embraces every single parishioner of HNJ. The liturgy is not only the starting point of the Christian life, as the source of our strength and the basis of our encounter with God, but is also the end-point of our Christian life, as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet where we will be united as One with God, forever and ever.

At HNJ, we recognize that, as St. Augustine said, the celebration of the Eucharist "Makes the Church."  Therefore, our Sunday worship is an expression of the best part of ourselves which we offer to God as a sacrificial gift, and as a means of engaging all elements of our community so that they may be transformed through God's power, felt in the communal experience of worship. We strive to make our liturgies more and more powerful, to make our worship space more and more a place of beauty and an encounter with the Transcendent, and to make our ministers more than volunteers.

Training is facilitated a few times a year for each of the following ministries.  If you would like further information on how you might become part of one, please contact Peggy Smith, 321-773-2783, x141 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Altar Care:  The Altar Care/Linen Care ministries involve caring for the altar linens, cloths, corporals, purificators, albs, chasubles, altar ornamentals, such as the candles and other such items and their inventory.

Altar Servers:  Server assists celebrant(s) and provides support to the sacristan during the liturgy. Also availability and willingness to serve for special liturgical celebrations outside of Sunday worship. Some training in accordance with the requirements of the presiding priests of the parish, dependability, neat appearance and basic knowledge of the liturgy is required.

Church Environment:  This ministry enhances the celebration of liturgies by decorating the church and altar to reflect the current liturgical season. Artistic, sewing or floral arrangement abilities are helpful but not required.

EMHC's:  A special minister of the Eucharist is a lay person commissioned for service to a particular community. Special ministers of the Eucharist are selected by the pastor with prayerful consideration of the needs of the community and the qualifications of the individual.  Preparation for the ministry included:

• Formal instruction through the Diocesan Office of Liturgy upon the recommendation of the pastor. 
• Parish instruction as to local customs and responsibilities.
• Formal commissioning at a parish liturgy, to distribute Eucharist from the altar only.

Hospitality (Ushers/Greeters):  Ministers of Hospitality welcome parishioners as they arrive at church, assist with seating, collect and present the community's offering and direct people to communion stations and select the gift presenters. Ushers and Greeters are present at their designated Saturday and Sunday Masses as well as special liturgies or functions that occur throughout the year.

Lectors:  The ministry of Lector is to proclaim the Word of God at Mass through readings taken from the Old and New Testaments. The initial training is provided by the ministry coordinator. Additional training and workshops are held periodically both at the parish and diocesan level. Public speaking and a desire to learn more about the Scriptures is helpful. The impact of God's messages reflects significantly the preparation, the delivery and the conviction of the Lector.

Sacristans:  Sacristans are Ministers who have accepted the additional responsibility of preparing the Sacred Vessels and unconsecrated elements prior to the celebration of the Mass (daily Masses, Sunday liturgies, funerals and weddiings). Additional responsibilities include purifying the Sacred Vessels upon completion of the Mass with the help of other Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. An apprenticeship with an experienced sacristan is required, including basic knowledge of liturgy and the vessles used.