Administrative Volunteers   

Mission – To offer assistance to the parish support staff in order to maintain the smooth operation and preservation of our parish office.

  • Collection Counters, Receptionist, Office Volunteers, Special Events Coordinators, Parish Mailings

Altar Servers  

Mission – To assist at parish liturgies.  

  • Any interested boy or girl, fifth grade or older
  • Training is provided for all types of liturgies: Mass, Funerals, Weddings and Stations of the Cross

Baptism Ministry Team

Mission – To welcome and provide assistance to young families who are having their children baptized at Our Lady of Grace.

  • Volunteers (teams of two) are needed to assist with the Rite of Reception and Enrollment which takes place during the 9:30 A.M. and 11:30 A.M. masses on the third Sundays of the month.
  • Volunteers (teams of two) are needed to assist at the Baptism liturgy which take at 1:00 P.M. on the fourth and first Sundays of the month.

Bible Study -- Home and Parish

Mission – To provide the key element of Adult Faith Formation for a fuller understanding of the Word of God.  Bible Study offered seasonally on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings, and continually on Monday evenings.

  • Spiritually mature individuals dedicated to the reading and reflection of the Scripture.
  • Individuals trained to facilitate a group of 8-10 people.
  • Four people to assist with sign-up weekends; one person in Commons after each Mass  

Blood Drive

Mission – To assist the county, twice a year, in critically needed blood drives.  

  • Volunteers publicize events and organize/register blood drive participants.  

Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP)  

Mission – To provide a parish-based, spiritually enriched weekend retreat, once a year.  Separate retreats held for men and women.

  • Any adult parishioner (21 or older) interested in sharing and growing in his or her faith in a small group atmosphere.  

Click here to visit the http://www.olgcrhp.org or contact the men's or women's team..

Church Decorators

Mission – To provide assistance in the decorating of the church, commons and exterior of the church for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.  

  • Volunteers to water and care for plants  
  • Individuals with skills in decorating and arranging wreaths, flowers and other decorations  
  • Volunteers to help unwrap flowers and place on altar as directed

Community Caring for the Respect of Life 

Mission – To help any woman involved in a crisis pregnancy.  

  • Currently, to provide support for the Minnetonka Life Care Center in Hopkins.  

Eucharistic Adoration 

Mission – To maintain perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

  • Parishioners who are able to commit one hour per week.  

Eucharistic Ministers

Mission – To distribute Eucharist during Sunday and Holy Day Masses.  

  • Any interested adult parishioner; training provided

Familia (Family Life in America)  

Mission - FAMILIA’s programs are dedicated to fostering the development of religious, moral, psychological and social values in the family.  Specifically at OLG we offer a Mothers of Young Children Program which:

  • Helps mothers build self-confidence and an awareness of the faith.  
  • Cultivates the responsibility of mothers to develop themselves integrally. 
  • Motivates intelligent, balanced and responsible participation in building the family and thus improving society. This four-year program consists of 15 lessons per year beginning in September. Families Moving ForwardMission – To host homeless families, women and children, for 1 week, 4 times per year.  
  • 140 people to provide a host week through their gifts of time and food donations.
  • Setup: 18 volunteers, Takedown: 10 volunteers, Meal teams: 56 volunteers(8/day), Laundry: 6 volunteers,

Finance Committee

Mission – To foster the spirit of Christian stewardship of time, talent, and treasure and oversee parish financial vitality.  

  • Volunteers to work on sub-committees, fostering the various aspects of stewardship

Food Collection

Mission – To collect and transport OLG food donations to Catholic Charities, Branch I and VEAP.  

  • Weekly donors  
  • Transporters: 1 person every Tuesday  
  • VEAP: to assist with 3 major food collections per year

Lectors

Mission – To provide readers at all Sunday and Holy Day Masses.

  • Any interested parishioner; training provided

Parish Library

Mission – To provide parishioners with a collection of current books by predominantly Catholic authors, and periodicals, current audio-visual materials and videotapes with a family focus.

  • Maintain library appearance and availability of materials
  • Write periodical review of books, magazines or videos forbulletin, catalog materials, review and purchase material, assist with annual book sale, inventory all material as needed, sort and review donated materials.

Living Rosary Prayer Network

Mission – To pray the rosary for people in need. 

  • Anyone willing to pray a decade of the rosary each day for a list of intentions.

Loaves and Fishes

Mission – To provide an evening meal and hospitality to residents in the St. Stephen’s inner-city neighborhood of South Minneapolis on the second Wednesday of each month.  

  • 25-30 volunteers each month  
  • 1:00-4:00 pm: prepare the meal
  • 5:00-7:00 pm: greet and talk with guests, serve food and clean up.

Meals on Wheels

Mission – To deliver hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and shut-ins in our area.  

  • Drivers deliver meals once a month in the Edina area, approximately 1-1/2 hours per month.

Memorial Gardens

Mission – To plant, nurture and maintain flower gardens surrounding the church and administration buildings.  

Independent workers who are knowledgeable gardeners and will fulfill their commitment to:

  • 20 minutes every 2 weeks to maintain a specified area of the garden  
  • Plant annuals in spring and clean up.  
  • Plant bulbs in fall and clean up.  

Men's Club

Mission – To unite the men of OLG to promote spiritual and social interest, and to aid in the charitable work of the parish.  

  • All men of the parish.

Music Ministry

Mission – To provide inspirational and special music for parish liturgies on a weekly and as needed basis.  

  • SCHOLA CANTORUM:  Weekly 9:30 am liturgies from Labor Day to   Pentecost.  Meets weekly on Thursday from 7:30-9:30 pm. 
  • NEWSONG:   Contemporary music at weekly 11:00 am liturgies from Labor Day to Pentecost.  Meets weekly on Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 pm.  
  • CECILIANS:   Music for parish funerals.  This women’s choir meets weekly on Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 am.

New Member Hospitality

Mission – A welcoming outreach from OLG to new and prospective parishioners.  Committed to ensure that our community has a chance to meet and embrace new members, realizing our strength, vitality and longevity come from each one of us, both old and new.  

  • Callers to welcome and invite new members and volunteers to stewardship.  
  • Assist at new member hospitality gathering, offered twice a year.  

Nursery

Mission – To provide a comfortable, safe, caring and interesting environment for the youngest members of our parish community while their parents attend 9:30 or 11:00 am Masses or other functions.   

  • Nursery Supervisors – must be over 18 years old.  
  • Child Care Aides – 7th grade through high school.

Our Lady Quilters  

Mission – To provide warm, colorful and comfortable quilts for parishioners and non-parishioners in need.  

  • Individuals with hand and machine sewing skills to sew at OLG or at home.  
  • Individuals to donate material and/or funds.

Parent / School Organization  

Mission – To encourage active involvement of parents and teachers in support of Our Lady of Grace School.  

  •  Provide classroom support services.  
  • Work on fundraising committees.  
  • Individuals to donate materials or new supplies.

Parish Council

Mission – To provide a vehicle for parish members to express their ideas, concerns and priorities.  To foster a greater sense of community within the parish.  To act as an advisory board to the Pastor.  

  • Individuals elected to serve 3-year terms; 2-3 openings each year; elections held in spring.

Pastoral Ministry

Mission – Volunteers trained to provide a series of outreach ministries for people in need.  

  • Grief ministry  
  • Eucharist to homebound   
  • Stephen Minister – training provided  
  • Separated and Divorced Facilitators

Religious Education

Mission – To provide a comprehensive religious education program for parish children from Sunday school through Confirmation, including sacramental preparation.  

  • Positions needed: Individuals and team teachers, teacher’s aides, hall monitors, hospitality volunteers,     ~answer phones, assemble booklets, file documents , inventory supply. Click here to visit the OLGRE Website. Click here for information on volunteering for the Religious Education program. Religious Education

Child Faith Formation Board

Mission – To aide and advise in the development of religious education programs in accordance with directives of the Archdiocese, the Pastor, and the Parish Council.  

  • Goal setting  
  • Program planning and evaluating  
  • Event organizing  

St. John Neumann Guild

Mission – To provide receptions at the church following funeral services.  

  • Volunteer to call from your home, seeking volunteers to provide food  
  • Volunteers to provide food.  
  • Kitchen helpers to set up, serve and clean up (training provided)

School Board

Mission – To provide direction and establish policy relative to the K-8 school program at Our Lady of Grace.  The goal is to provide quality education in a nurturing, Christian environment.  

  • 9 representatives of the parish, elected on a rotating basis, to serve 3-year terms.

Social Action

Mission – To promote Christian awareness and social needs, within and outside the OLG community.  Some projects include: partnership with St. Anne’s parish; Families Moving Forward; Parish Food Drive; VEAP.  

  • Any interested parishioners.

Sunday School

Mission – To provide initial religious education for children ages 3 & 4 and kindergartners during 9:30 am Mass, September through May.  

  • Sunday school teachers.  
  • Teachers Aides – 5th – 9th graders.  
  • Volunteers who play a musical instrument to lead music.  

Ushers

Mission – To help provide an orderly atmosphere at liturgies.  Men and women for weekend Masses and Holy Days.

  • Greet and seat parishioners.  
  • Direct orderly procession to the altar for Communion and/or other activities.  
  • Take collections during Mass.  
  • Leave the worship area in orderly manner after each service.

Vacation Bible School

Mission – To provide hands on learning experience for children in grades 3-6 for one week during the summer.  

  • Teachers/team teachers for preschoolers and children in grades 1-6.  
  • Music/crafts/games/food helpers  
  • Teacher Aides – adults and youth  
  • Setup and take down help  

Web Site

Mission - To establish an OLG Internet web site and parish newsletter, for the purpose of educating and informing members about activities within the parish. 

  • Individuals with skills in writing, editing, layout, word-processing and web site development.

Women's Club

Mission – To unite the women of our parish, promote spiritual and social interests, and assist in charitable works of the parish.  

  • Women plan and assist with activities throughout the year (bake sale, couples event, faith-based speaker events, senior events, spring women’s event).

Youth Ministry Jr. High

Mission – To foster and maintain a safe and loving Catholic/Christian environment for junior high students to continue their faith formation through small group dynamics, large group activities, and active participation with community service projects.  

  • FNO: Friday Night Out-activity based program promoting community and friendship  
  • Club 87: Junior High Bible study
  • The Big Ski Trip and service projects

Sr. High

Mission – To create, foster and maintain a safe and loving Catholic/Christian environment, where high school students can seek their faith, strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.  

  • Journey: Senior High Youth Group (songs, activities, trust games, talks).  
  • Mission trips and summer camps.  
  • Ski trips and weekend retreats  
  • Service projects.

Youth Ministry -- Parent advisory Board

Mission – To guide and support the youth ministers and the pastor to represent the parents of children involved in the youth ministry programs.  

  • Volunteers for Junior and Senior High Parent Board.