Music Ministry 2007- 2008

St. Bridget Church has instituted its Vision for Music Ministry that will (1) build on St. Bridget parish's great tradition of music; (2) increase participation in our music ministry; and (3) help all who participate in the music ministry to do so in ways that are more satisfying and meaningful to them.

Parish Choir
A non-auditioned mixed (four part) choir for adults (high school aged and older). Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sundays, from 10:00 a.m.to 10:30 a.m. This choir sings every Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, and for additional special liturgies throughout the year. An ability to read music is helpful but not necessary for singers in this choir.

Youth Choir
The Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass Contemporary Music Group is looking for people of all ages with a talent for singing and/or playing instruments. This exciting group is celebrating its third anniversary. The group currently consists of acoustic and bass guitars, flutes, alto saxophones, drums, other percussion and vocalists. We need more instrumentalists and singers! We also need a sound technician to operate our mixer and soundboard.

In addition to warm up and Sunday Mass, musicians need to be able to read music and to commit to a weekly hour practice. We request a brief and low key try-out period, generally by singing or playing with the group several times before playing at Mass. To learn more or sign up, contact Mike Casey at mpcaseyclu@msn.com.

Children’s Choir
This choir uses the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life program. This choir includes boys and girls Kindergarden aged and older. Rehearsals are on Thursday afternoons, beginning at 3:15 p.m. or 3:45 p.m., and last one hour (the two groups will overlap for one half hour session in the middle). The Voice for Life Program teaches basic vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory, and liturgy. The choir sings at the Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass once a month.

For more information on parish music opportunities, or to schedule an audtion, call Allen Bean at 282-9511 ext. 328, or email him at abean@stbridgets.org.

"....to challenge ourselves and others to witness to the Gospel of Christ, to reach out to those seeking the Lord, and to share our talents and resources with those in need....." Parish Mission Statement

Join Us!
You are invited to become part of the outreach ministries of the Parish. People make things happen and we need you to help us continue to reach out to assist individuals and organizations in our community. Volunteers are always needed.

Human Concerns Committee
Can you vision and plan ahead? As a Committee of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Human Concerns Committee gives form and direction to the Parish Mission Statement by addressing the pastoral needs of our parishioners, and by collaborating with other churches and agencies to meet the needs of our Community.

Outreach
Share food with the hungry! Give money for emergencies! Food is collected on the third Sunday of the month after all Masses and taken to Catholic Charities for distribution to the needy of our community through the HELP program. HELP is supported by several Catholic churches in the Richmond area, and requires volunteers from our parish to help meet with those in need and distribute food.

Door Ministry
Have you ever cooked a meal for 200 people? Twice a month, a group of parishioners plan and prepare a meal for the homeless. The fourth Tuesday of each month, a group goes to St. Peter's Church to prepare and serve the noon meal. On the first Tuesday of every month, the evening meal is prepared in the parish center kitchen and taken to Freedom House.

Haiti
Our sister parish is in Carissade Haiti, a very rural area in the center of the country. In partnership with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, and through the generosity of our parishioners, we support the parish school providing lunch to the children and salaries for the teachers. We are currently looking for French translators.

Hull Street Community Center
Located at 1201 Hull Street, this shelter is for people working toward self-sufficiency (getting job training, jobs, and saving money for rent). Parishioners provide meals once a month.

CARITAS
Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter (CARITAS) is a group of over 180 area churches working together to house Richmond's homeless. Each week, three churches provide shelter for thirty to fifity people. Our parishioners provide hospitality and food during St. Bridget Church's appointed week of shelter.

Legislative Advocacy
Want to tell your representatives what you really think about issues? Here is your chance! Issues of special interest to parishioners that come before the General Assembly are the focus of this group's support and advocacy. Lobbying takes the form of letter writing, telephone calls, and visits to representatives to express opinions.

Respect Life
Issues concerning life, from womb to natural death, are presented to the parish by this sub-committee. Prayer, witness, and education are the key elements of this ministry.

Community Connections
The parish sponsors and/or works with, or financially contributes to many community organizations including:

Sacred Heart Community Center - serves the children and families of the Bainbridge community through educational and recreational programs.

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy - group that monitors legislation and provides information on issues and the progress of bills in the General Assembly.

Henrico Community Housing Corporation - working to build an emergency housing facility for women and children.

Richmond Peace Education Center - works to find ways to respond to violence in our society. Provides educational programs and conflict resolution.

Cross-Over Health Ministry - provides health care and other supportive services to individuals of limited or no financial means.

Pastoral Care
Our faith in Jesus Christ is expressed and lived out in concern for each other. Jesus' ministry of reconciliation and healing is our ministry. We are committed by our baptism to reaching out to all who are in need. Clergy, staff, and volunteers visit those who are unable to participate in the active life of the parish. Please notify the Parish Office (282-9511) if you or someone you know enters hospital. We cannot visit unless we know you are there! Clergy and staff visit parishioners in any hospital in the metropolitan area. Catholic patients are visited in the hospitals and nursing homes in our parish.

Hospital Visitation
Can you spend a few hours each month visiting the sick? Parishioners visit Catholic patients at Henrico Doctors Hospital three times a week to share prayer and the Eucharist. Clergy and Staff visit regularly and for all emergencies.

Funeral Ministry
To help grieving families and friends experience a meaningful liturgical celebration, parishioners assist in preparing the altar for liturgy and serve as Greeters, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers at funerals.

Shut-Ins
Illness often brings isolation. People confined to home are visited regularly by parishioners and staff who help keep them connected to parish life by sharing news, prayer, and the Eucharist.

Nursing Homes
Two nursing homes within the parish boundaries are visited regularly. Volunteers may choose to befriend one resident. Others may go and share Eucharist with Catholic residents weekly or monthly.

St. Francis Home
Share something of yourself with a resident of this Catholic adult home. St. Francis needs continuing support from volunteers to care for its residents.

St. Mary's Hospital
Many parishioners volunteer as Eucharistic Ministers through the hospital Auxiliary. Volunteers are welcome to give time to the many aspects of care and concern for patients.

St. Joseph's Home
Run by Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph's Home for indigent elderly enjoys great support from the parish and welcomes many parishioners as volunteers in all areas of life at the home.