Parish Pastoral Council
It is the role of the PPC to offer its wisdom to the Pastor. Further, what the PPC members see, hear and experience as parishioners will be brought to light at the meeting. Unlike a board of directors or a legislative body that makes binding decisions, the Catholic Church’s understanding of a PPC is that it is an advisory body for the pastor who makes the appointments to the body. A PPC member does not come with his or her own “agenda,” nor is a PPC member a representative of a particular constituency or ministry. Rather, as a result of prayerful discernment about the future and living as a disciple of Jesus in this community of Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, PPC members seek to offer their wisdom as to what would further the mission of the Church in her presence here in Westchester.
Click here for the latest meeting minutes.
Lectors
Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass. Lectors must be high school aged or older. Training is provided.
Ministers of Communion
Ministers of Communion distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at weekday and/or weekend Masses. Ministers must be a high school senior or older and be able to commit to a particular weekend Mass each week for one month at a time. Training is provided.
Ushers
Ushers welcome parishioners and visitors to the liturgies, take up the offertory and other collections, and direct and assist in seating. Both males and females are welcome to be ushers. Training is provided.
Music Ministry
Our Adult Choir opens up for newcomers at the beginning of each of the choir seasons. The two choir seasons are Advent/Christmas which begins in mid-October and ends at the end of the Christmas season and the Lent/Easter season which begins just before Ash Wednesday and extends through the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) which is usually sometime in June. The Adult Choir practices on Thursday nights at Divine Infant Church from 7:30 – 9:00 pm and alternates singing at Saturday anticipated and Sunday masses through the season. The only requirements to join this group are a blendable singing voice as well as the time and dedication to devote to regular weekly rehearsals (on Thursdays) and liturgies.
Now that we are mostly able to get back to our musical programs, we will work on reviving our Divine Choir (children grades 3-8). The group begins their school-year session right after school starts and they sing until Mother’s Day in May. The children, who can be from our School and Religious Education program, sing once a month at a Sunday mass. Practices will be determined shortly so stay tuned to our website and bulletin.
We hope to revive our Hand Chimes Ensemble as well to includes children from grades 5 – 8. This group learns to follow a music score to play hand chimes. Rehearsals will also be determined shortly. The group plays once a month at a parish liturgy.
The Strings of Faith are a contemporary music group of men who banded together over 20 years ago. Some have moved away from the parish but continue to dedicate their time to serving the parish with their music once a month at a parish liturgy. They are currently looking for more members. Cantors never take a break as a group. They rehearse and lead us in song year-round. We usually accept new membership to this group during the summer.
There is an open enrollment period for our groups in early fall and then another in January. Information on these enrollment periods may be found on the website and in the parish bulletin.
Altar Servers
Altar Server's are children in fourth to eighth grade who have received their First Holy Communion. Servers are trained to assist the Priest and/or Deacon at Mass or other special liturgies.
Adult Funeral Servers
Adult funeral servers directly assist the priest in the celebration of funeral Masses by managing objects used in liturgical functions such as the processional cross, water, wine, incense, etc. Training is provided.
Ministers of Care
Ministers of Care bring Holy Communion to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound parishioners of the parish as well as offering a monthly communion service at local nursing homes. Diocesan training and certification is required and provided by the parish.
Art & Environment
Art & Environment promotes and seeks creative ways to enhance the communal worship space of the parish through the artistic use of color, texture, and plants along with preparing the Penitential Rites and Intersessions for these celebrations.
Prayer and Faith
This committee is dedicated to continuing the works of Christ in many areas, including caring for those in need. Its support and efforts touch people in our parish, community, diocese, country, and world.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee supports the pastor in his stewardship of parish resources while being accountable to the parish. An active, well-formed Parish Finance Committee is a key element for promoting the financial health of a parish, assuring accountability and assisting the pastor with his temporal responsibilities.
Parish Garden Committee
The Garden Committee brings together people who share a passion for the beauty of God's creation by planning and caring for the parish grounds.
St. Vincent dePaul Society
The St. Vincent dePaul Society of Mary, Mother of Divine Grace helps supply families, church food pantries, and various other outlets throughout the Archdiocese with food. Used clothing is always accepted and can be placed in the large white bin in the church parking lot. Throughout the year the Society hosts many drives including a coat drive, warm clothing drive, and various food drives.
Women of Providence
The Women of Providence is a group of 12 quilters who, since 2004, have been stitching together adult lap sized quilts for home bound parishioners, and quilts for infant and children who are hospitalized.
New members are always welcome and donations of cotton material and thread are most appreciated.
Seniors Club
The Seniors Club is an organization designed to meet the social needs of the members of the parish aged 55 and older within a friendly atmosphere and environment.
Respect Life
The Respect Life committee by its ministry seeks to promote the sanctity of life from the moment of conception until natural death. In keeping with the teachings of Saint Pope John Paul II, the respect life committee believes that every human life is a gift from God, and the committee attempts to convert hearts and minds to embrace those teachings. Through its activities the committee emphasizes the value of life and that it should be protected, especially in cases of the most vulnerable. The committee focuses its efforts and activities on protection of the unborn, the elderly, and end of life issues.