This committee reaches out and organizes parish events which assist and aid those in need with the local Coventry area and beyond.

Ministry of Caring: This group ministers to the sick, the elderly, and the homebound of our parish family. They bring the Eucharist, provide transportation and make home and hospital visits.

Parish Council: The St. Mary Parish Council attempts to provide an open forum of communication and dialogue among all members of the parish, maintain awareness of spiritual and temporal needs, and  provide service, guidance, direction, resources and encouragement in fulfilling the mission of the parish.   

Prayer Network: Many members of our Parish are asked to pray for "emergency and immediate" petitions of those who request release from some personal fear or anxiety, direction for some personal problem or circumstance, or bodily, mental, or spiritual healing. The network is done by a phone chain process.

Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Members of our parish who crochet and knit make shawls for our shut ins and those visited in the nursing homes.  They symbolize faith, hope love and Father, Son and Holy Spirit and reminds those of our love and concern for them.  Each shawl is blessed by a priest before it is given away.  The recipients are so appreciative of these shawls as they are cradled with hope, joy, love and peace.

Pro-Life Committee: This committee brings to our parish activities of the National Pro-Life Committee and other events happening in our Diocese and State regarding all aspects of life, born and unborn.

Haitian Ministry: This new ministry is to build relationships of mutual support, sharing, and prayer between Les Palmes, Haiti and our parish and to live out the missionary mandate of the gospel. This is being accomplished through contributions from friends, fund raisers, and parish awareness of their special needs. Each year our parishioners are invited on a trip to Haiti where they can meet, interact and share with the people of Haiti. This is done through the Diocesan Haitian Ministry. Click on the Haitian Ministry link for more information!

Faith Formation Committee:

Religious Education of Children:  The goal of the St. Mary Faith Formation program is to establish, promote and implement programs for all parish members to deepen the understanding of Jesus Christ and His teachings and to encourage recognition of Christ's presence in themselves and others. Please see the link for more information.

Baptism Preparation Team Couples: The team couples assist parents in the understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism and in understanding their important responsibilities.

Marriage Preparation Team Couples: The team couples help to prepare engaged couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony by their faith and commitment of unending love.

Bible Study:  We currently have two bible studies that are being held at St. Mary, Monday and Thursday mornings, please see the online bulletin for more information and weekly details.

Finance Committee:

The responsibility of the finance committee is to provide guidance to the Pastor and staff on financial issues relating to the parish.  This committee meets monthly.

Offertory Counting: Sunday mornings will find parish members counting the revenues from each weekend Mass. Each weekend teams of parishioners count and  prepare the deposit and accounting sheets for the bookkeeper.

Liturgy Committee:

The Liturgy Committee seeks to involve the entire parish in Mass and other liturgical celebrations.  The Liturgy Committee plans weekly and seasonal celebrations, special liturgies for children, and the music which enhances Mass and other services.  The Liturgy Committee oversees a number of ministries, including Music Ministry, Lectors, Greeters, Altar Servers, and Eucharistic Ministers.

Altar Servers: Boys and girls in grades 4 and up who have received First Communion, are invited to participate in this ministry. The children are trained to help the presider during Mass.

Song Leader/Choir/Musicians: Our choir meets weekly to rehearse for the Mass on Sunday. They also sing at all Christmas and Easter celebrations. Our organist rehearses with the choir, plays at all weekend Masses, other special celebrations, as well as funerals and weddings that are celebrated here. Our song leaders are members of our choir who are trained to lead the congregation in song at our celebrations. Some members of our parish have come forward to play an instrument with the choir during special celebrations.

Lector: This group of men and women proclaim the Word of God at liturgical celebrations. They are trained and receive Lector workbooks in which the readings are written in a way that they can better proclaim the Word. Confirmation students are also invited to participate.

Eucharistic Ministers (Special Ministers of the Eucharist): These ministers assist at liturgical celebrations by distributing the Eucharist under both species. They are offered training, scheduled at the Mass of their preference and are given a monthly schedule. Confirmation students are also invited to participate in this ministry.

Greeter: The greeters welcome and assist all who come to celebrate with our parish family. They receive the offertory collection, assist in preparing the offertory procession and hand out bulletins and additional material at the end of the Mass. They are trained, have specified stations where they stand, are scheduled to welcome at the Mass of their preference, and are given a monthly schedule.

Sacristans: Sacristans prepare the altar cloths and linens for liturgical services. They also clean and prepare the altar and sanctuary for liturgies.

Liturgical Appointments: These parishioners create and maintain floral arrangements, sew vestments, banners, and decorate the Church for various liturgical seasons.

Children's Liturgy of the Word:  Each week at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, parish children in grades 1 through 6 are invited into the church hall to hear the Word of God presented by catechists.

Parish members plan and conduct social events activities and life-enriching programs for all segments of our parish. They help parishioners get better acquainted through the Newcomers’ Welcome table, parish picnic, pot-luck suppers, and other parish get-togethers.

Boy Scouts – Troop 57: These scouts meet weekly in our hall. Activities include Scout badges, religious award work, preparations for campouts and parish service.

Couples Club: This club’s purpose is to promote growth between and among married couples of varying age groups in our parish through many social activities. They also help out with various Church activities. Their monthly activities have included a Game Night, A Progressive Dinner, weekend camping trips, Sweetheart Dance, canoeing/kayaking day, hiking, sleigh/hay ride, the Big race, a Bowling/Pizza Night, a Pool Party, and a Pot-luck Supper.

Over 50 Group: The purpose of this group is to provide support, fun and socializing opportunities for those over fifty years of age in the parish. They meet once a week in the Senior Center at Patriot's Park. Some activities include playing cards, walking, refreshments, chatting while knitting/crocheting and a yearly luncheon.

Hospitality/Coffee Hour: Members of our parish prepare the sign-up sheet on which other members can write their family’s name. Those families who have sign-up host our Coffee Hour following the 10AM Mass each Sunday by preparing the coffee and donuts, setting the tables, serving the coffee and donuts and cleaning up the kitchen.

Holiday Fair: The Fair serves as our major fund raiser and a community building event. . It is with the cooperation and coordination of many people that this Fair is so successful. It is usually held on the first Friday and Saturday in November. Workshops begin early in the year and continue all year long. All of the items are donated and many are hand-made by our parishioners. There are no outside crafters at our fair unlike the many fairs in Connecticut. Proceeds benefit capital improvements to our parish facilities.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) 

The RCIA is a process by which people become members of the Roman Catholic Church.  The process is a conversion journey into the believing with, the living with, the praying with and the serving with the Church community.  It is a gradual process that happens within the community of the faithful (the parish).  The primary minister of initiation is the parish community.  The parish community ritually celebrates the conversion at various points on the journey.

Rosary Making Guild: Several members of our parish family  make cord and chain Rosaries.   These Rosaries are sent to the missions throughout the United States and the world.  You will be serving our Lord and Blessed Mother by bringing more people to prayer and making it  possible to attain the peace promised at Fatima.