Ministries and Groups at San Albino

Knights of the Altar

Altar servers, play an important role in the celebration of Holy Mass, and are a valuable asset to the priest and the parish community.

Love of the Liturgy – In committing to Altar Server duties, servers truly participate in the Eucharist. They learn the order of the Mass, the aspects of the sanctuary, and the various altar vessels used in the Mass.

Service to the Community – Through Altar Serving roles, servers contribute to the Body of Christ present in our parish. They learn that each area of ministry in the Mass is vital, from the greeters to the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. They see their role as essential and learn the importance of both commitment and of service to others.

Altar Serving - Altar servers have a close association to the sacrifice of the Mass. If they are called to a priestly vocation, Altar Serving will surely be a fundamental step in their journey. If they are called to family life, their experience as servers will help them to foster a love of our faith in their own children.

To be an altar server at the Basilica of San Albino Roman Catholic Church, you must have made your First Communion.

If you are interested in becoming an Altar Server please contact the office.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

EMHC are lay people who are in full communion with the Church who serve the community by helping the priest distribute the Body and Blood of Our Lord during the mass. It is important that all of us remember that none of us are worthy to handle the Body and Blood of Christ but out of necessity EMHC are called to help the priest. Please call the parish office for more information.

Lectors

Lectors are needed to help proclaim the readings during Mass. Lectors are expected to be in full communion with the Church and attend Mass regularly. Please call the office for more information.

Respect for Life

The Church calls us to have a Respect for Life. Respect for life involves many issues of human life. These include issues affecting pre-born human life (both in the womb and in the laboratory), individuals approaching the end of their lives, complications for those who may be incapable of making medical decisions for themselves, and individuals accused or convicted of capital crimes.

“It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop. A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized. Only respect for life can be the foundation and guarantee of the most precious and essential goods of society, such as democracy and peace.”

Gabriel Project

What is the Gabriel Project?

Gabriel Project – Please call the office for more information.

The Gabriel Project® is a parish based crisis pregnancy intervention within the Roman Catholic Church. It has also spread into many Protestant parishes and church communities.

A Sign of Life is placed in front of the church stating that the people of that parish community will provide help to pregnant women. All the new mother has to do is call the number on the sign and the process begins.

The Gabriel parish community has made a commitment to respond to the mother’s needs. The process is very flexible within each parish enabling unique local situations to be addressed. The mother’s needs are met with love, respect and confidentiality.

A trained mentor, called a Gabriel Angel, is responsible for on-going contact and as a liaison for assistance for the mother in crisis. Through the Angel, the Gabriel parish community accepts the expectant mother with unconditional love. Parish members fill the role of the Good Samaritan. They make sure the Mom receives love and care. Parishioners provide spiritual, emotional and material support as needed throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

Jesus taught, ”…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Mat 25:40). It is in this light that Gabriel parishioners love and assist women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. This love is a witness of the infinite and healing love of GOD.

The Holy Spirit works through the parishioners to evangelize and to educate the expectant Mom and/or her family.The Gabriel Project® is grounded in prayer. We realize that the most important gifts we have to offer the Mom are the gifts offered to all by Christ Our Lord. To quote Fr. Stephen Imbarrato who founded Project Defending Life in Albuquerque and introduced the Gabriel Project® in New Mexico, “The Gabriel Project® is about saving souls… one soul at a time.”

The Gabriel Project is committed to:

• Offering hope and support to mothers and fathers faced with a crisis pregnancy
• Provide assistance in a confidential and non-judgmental approach
• Strengthening families so children can grow in a nurturing home
• Providing an example demonstrating a Respect for Life
• A life affirming alternative to difficult, unplanned pregnancies

Rachel's Vineyard

What is Rachel's Vineyard?Rachel's Vineyard is an organization that conducts retreats to help women and men who suffer from the fact they have had; or, participated in an abortion. Parishioner's from the Basilica of San Albino proudly work beside others from the Diocese of Las Cruces to conduct these retreats in the area.

The following three paragraphs are from the Rachel's Vineyard web site and provide an introductory description of their retreats.

Rachel's Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.

Rachel's Vineyard can help you find your inner voice. It can help you experience God's love and compassion on a profound level. It creates a place where men and women can share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion. You are allowed to dismantle troubling secrets in an environment of emotional and spiritual safety.

Rachel's Vineyard is therapy for the soul. Participants, who have been trapped in anger toward themselves or others, experience forgiveness. Peace is found. Lives are restored. A sense of hope and meaning for the future is finally re-discovered.

Local Contact Kim at 575-636-9716.Or click here to send an email.