Liturgy

THE LITURGY

Liturgy lies at the very heart of life and ministry at St. Phillip the Apostle Church. The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states that 'the liturgy is the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the source from which all its power flows. we seek to make this statement come alive daily.

At St. Philip's we celebrate Mass and the sacraments in accord with the reforms and renewal called for the high point of the week. It is at our weekend liturgies that the parish community comes together to give worship and praise to our god, to thank him for his generous blessings on our lives, to implore his mercy for our sins, and to ask for what we need to serve him faithfully; Our liturgies involve a variety of lay ministers who serve as Readers, Extraordinary Minister of Communion, Altar Servers, Greeters and Ushers. Our program of liturgical music offers a variety of musical styles, including the Adult Choir, the Son-Rise Singers, Life-Teen Choir, Youth Choir and Youth Orchestra, Children's Choir and a number of smaller ensembles, cantors, pianists and other instrumentalists.

We celebrate the high seasons of the year with great festivity: Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. The high point of the year is always is always Holy Week, most especially the Easter Triduum climaxing in the Easter Vigil Service. Throughout the year we have numerous special liturgies, including Advent and Lenten Reconciliation Services, a celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick, and a  November Mass of Remembrance for all those who died over the previous year. We also celebrate the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) rituals throughout the year as those seeking to become Catholic advance through the process. Two of our Sunday morning Masses include RCIA dismissals where the catechumens and candidates leave the assembly to continue their reflections on the scripture readings in the parish hall.

St. Phillip's also has an active Art Environment Committee which, through the gifts, talents and skills of generous parishioners, utilizes art, fabric, symbols and other elements to enhance the sanctuary and church to help us focus our prayer and worship.

Spring sees the celebration of First Eucharist for the children who have spent two years preparing for the special moment. Confirmation for our teenage youth and adults is celebrated with the bishop, usually in early May. Marriages and Baptisms are celebrated throughout the year except during Advent and Lent. The parish also provides the Mass of Christian Burial for those who have returned to the Lord.

Our parish mission statement proclaims that we seek to be a welcoming community "enlivened by the Eucharists." That is not only our stated mission, that is what we seek to be and do with all our heart.