·       Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA):  RCIA is for those who have not been baptized or have been baptized in another Christian tradition and seek full communion with the Catholic Church, or those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church but have not received First Eucharist or Confirmation. A team of parishioners supports the candidates on their journey of faith in a year-round process, with formal classes scheduled weekly from September to Pentecost. For information contact Anne DeMarco at (216) 421-2995.

·        Stewardship:   Being a “Steward of Providence” is recognizing our role as a manager or steward of all the gifts with which we have been entrusted by God. The spirit of Stewardship is the lens through which we view our material world and it defines how we relate to our Heavenly Father, the owner and author of all good gifts. This committee provides opportunities to teach the parish to embrace and sustain this spirit by guiding them in ways to commit their time, talent and treasures to serve their parish and to give glory to God. For details please contact Deacon Bruce Battista via e-mail at bbattista@dioceseofcleveland.org or by phone at (216) 486-7990.

Liturgy Commission:

·        Acolytes:  The mission of the acolyte is to assist the priest upon the altar with reverence and devotion according to the guidelines of the Church. Pope Paul VI once reminded a gathering of Italian acolytes that theirs is one of the few ministries actually listed in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy as a genuine liturgical function (vero ministerio liturgico).  Boys and girls must be ten years old and have received their First Communion to become an acolyte. Adult men and women are also invited to serve the parish in this role. Those interested in becoming acolytes should contact John Feighan at (216) 721-3344.

 ·        Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with distribution of communion at Mass and bring Eucharist to the sick and homebound of our Parish. If you feel you have a calling to this type of spirituality, please contact Father Philip Racco at the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

·        Greeters: The Greeters serve as a welcoming presence at Holy Rosary Church by meeting and greeting individuals at the door at all masses. Additionally, they are available to assist the disabled. At funerals they distribute the liturgical aids and provide hospitality and other direction as needed. If you are interested in becoming a greeter, please contact the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

·        Lectors: The Lector's Ministry at Holy Rosary is dedicated to the proclamation of the Holy Scriptures in the Liturgy of the Word. As lectors, we seek to ever deepen our understanding and devotion to scripture, both in our personal lives and in the ongoing life of the parish community. Through study of scripture and attention to mature and committed articulation of them, we seek to serve the People of God. If you are interested in serving as a lector, please contact the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

·        Liturgical Environment Ministry

This ministry contributes to a prayerful and seasonally appropriate environment in the church through use of greenery, floral décor and other symbolic items to complement  liturgical themes throughout the year.  For more information call the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

·        Music Ministry: We, as a Christian Community with musical traditions, express and respond to God’s love in our midst. Throughout the Church year, as Ministers of Music we commit our time and talents to enrich the celebration of the Liturgy. It is our prayer that through music we share, engage and inspire all people to a renewed and ever deepening awareness of our union with Christ and one another. We have several choirs that vary according to musical talent and the content of prayers to be sung. For more information contact Ulle Laido (216) 421-2995.

·        Ushers:  The ushers are men and women of the parish who assist at masses and other parish events. Ushers are a welcoming presence at all masses, and are responsible for taking up the collection and distributing the weekly bulletin. Additionally, they promote a sacred environment for the liturgy by directing people to their seats as appropriate, and refrain from causing distraction during times of reverence and worship. To become an usher, please contact the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

Marriage and Family Life Commission: 

·        Elizabeth Ministry

This ministry responds to the needs of women as they experience the joys and challenges of the childbearing years and beyond. Elizabeth Ministers are volunteer representatives from the parish who offer prayer support, mentoring and friendship. In sharing their time, presence, and faith, they hope to encourage another woman experiencing similar circumstances. The Elizabeth Ministry prays for women and families in the parish once a month, usually on the first Saturday, at 8:00 a.m. in the church. For more information on becoming an Elizabeth Minister, or to request prayer or other support, contact Tammy Moore at (216) 932-0953.

·        Family Ministry Social Events Committee: This ministry offers opportunities for families in our parish to join together in faith-filled fun.  A summer picnic, annual Christmas caroling, movie night, and other family-friendly events are scheduled throughout the year.  Families of all ages are welcome!  Please watch the bulletin for specific dates of events.  To join, please contact Tammy Moore at (216) 932-0953, or Fred Karboski at (216) 321-4596.

·        Natural Family Planning Instruction:  Engaged and married couples of child-bearing age are invited to attend a three-class series on the teachings of the Church regarding fertility awareness and incorporating Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to help build stronger marriages and families.  Please consult the bulletin for the dates of classes, or contact Fred and Margaret Karboski for more information at (216) 321-4596.

·        Pre-Baptism: The Pre-Baptism class is a two-hour class for parents wishing to have their child baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. Attendance at this class is required only once before your first child is baptized. The Pre-Baptism class offers an opportunity to re-examine your commitment to your faith and to learn more about the Sacrament of Baptism. Classes are scheduled three times per year. For more information or to register for the class, please contact the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

 Social Concerns Commission:

·        Ministry of Martha’s Table: Reflecting on the Eucharistic Meal and with St. Martha of Bethany as their model, the parishioners of Holy Rosary Parish will serve to promote evangelization through hospitality and fellowship in the Body of Christ.  As St. Martha saw the need to prepare a meal for the Lord Jesus, so will the members of Martha’s table respond to the needs of the Parish. By their participation in welcoming and nurturing activities, the members of St. Martha’s Table will continue and strengthen the bonds of unity experienced in the celebration of the Eucharist in Holy Rosary Parish. For more information, please contact Anne DeMarco at (216) 421-2995.

·        Outreach:  Co-operative programs with the Little Italy Community Coalition, the residents of Abington Arms for Thanksgiving and Christmas, a neighborhood clean-up to assist our elderly residents with the care of their property, and monthly outreach through the Ozanam Center at Saint Philomena’s for a food and clothing distribution are a few of the service activities organized by the Social Concerns Commission.  Other events include an Advent Angel Tree to benefit an inner-city school in Cleveland, Justice for Immigrants campaign, and Food for the Poor. For specific dates and volunteer times, please consult the bulletin or contact Joe Scibana at (216) 862-9909. 

·        Prison Ministry: Visit the incarcerated monthly through the Friend-to-Friend Program at Grafton (men’s prison). For more information on the Friend-to-Friend Program see www.lutheranmetro.org\index.php\friend-to-friend\.  For information on visiting at the Northeast Pre-Release Center (women’s prison), contact Sue Andrews at (216) 397-3947. 

·        Respect Life Ministry:  Programs provide education on life issues and advocating for all human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. An annual fundraiser, “Change for Life,” involves the distribution of baby bottles to parishioners on Mother’s Day.  The bottles are used to collect coins to financially support local pro-life organizations. The bottles are collected on Father’s Day.  Contact Rebecca Knab at (216) 381-9160.

·        Stitch Ministry:   Volunteers knit, sew, and crochet handcrafted items for less-fortunate individuals. For more information or to join this ministry, please contact Maria Mastrandrea at (216) 374-4368. 

Spiritual Life Commission:

·        Community of Sant’Egidio:  The Community of Sant'Egidio is a movement of lay communities around the world that share a life of friendship, common prayer, and service to the poor. The Community began in Rome in 1968 and is officially recognized as a “public lay association” within the Catholic Church. Now present in more than 70 countries, the Community continues to serve the elderly, children, refugees and immigrants, the homeless, and persons with disabilities. At Holy Rosary, the community prays on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. For further information see www.santegidio.org and www.santegidiousa.org or contact Ursula Rossman at umrossman@juno.com.

·        Eucharistic Adoration:  Holy Rosary Church has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every First Friday of the month beginning after the 12:15 p.m. Mass until reposition at 1:45.

·        Holy Rosary Society:  The primary goal of the Holy Rosary Society is to enrich souls through the recitation of the Rosary. The May Crowning to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary is held annually. If a parishioner is sick, the Society will send a card. The Holy Rosary Society also serves a hospitality role by assisting with parish celebrations and other events. For more information, please contact Rosemarie Dottore at (216) 421-2995.

·        Men’s Ministry:  Men's ministry at Holy Rosary welcomes men of all ages and backgrounds. This ministry meets once a month for prayer, discussion on church related topics and fellowship. Recent topics of discussion include the Theology of the Body, themes in scripture, early church fathers, social justice and men's spirituality. We also support each other when someone is in need. Informal meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., and men of all ages are welcome to join us. For more information, please call Fred Karboski at (216) 321-4596.

·        Pastoral Visitation:   In addition to visiting parishioners who are homebound, in hospitals or in nursing homes, this ministry also serves all members of the parish. Visits include instruction on praying the Rosary or reading the Bible. For more information, please contact Sister Trina at the rectory at (216) 421-2995.

·        Saint Anthony’s Women’s Society: This organization is devoted to Saint Anthony, and annually celebrates the Feast of Saint Anthony with mass on June 13th . Additionally, a parish novena is held during the nine weeks prior to the Feast of Saint Anthony. There are two meetings per year. For more information, please contact Minnie Thomas at (440) 646-9017.

·        Women’s Ministry: The goal of Women's Ministry is to nurture the spiritual lives of women in the parish. We meet to talk, pray, learn about the Catholic faith and form friendships that support us in our walk as Catholic Christians. Women of all ages are welcome to come to our meetings. We share wisdom as mothers, grandmothers, daughters and friends. Our topics have included studies of women saints, papal encyclicals, parenting, book discussions, abortion healing, prison ministry and themes in scripture. Meetings are held once monthly, usually on the first Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the church hall. Please consult the bulletin for exact dates.  For more information, please contact Gay Eyerman at (216) 932-0717.