Councils
The Parish Finance Council oversees the administration of the Parish and Parish property. Meetings are scheduled on the third Thursday of each month.
The Parish Pastoral Council serves as an advisory and planning body for the Parish. Meetings are scheduled the fourth Thursday of each month.
Community Services Commission:
Members of St. James are involved in programs to help those in need within our faith community and are also committed to reaching out a helping hand by being involved in various civic organizations including: Respect Life (Natural Family Planning, Prison ministry,and coordinating rallies), Habitat for Humanity, Hospital Visitation (parishioners visit members of the parish or other parishes while in the hospital), Christmas Care Tree Program (volunteers gather, sort , wrap and deliver donated items for families in our parish and in our community), Shepherd Center (for 55 and older adults whose mission is to help other older adults through volunteer services), Helping Hands (volunteering through this ecumenical service to people needing food and clothing) and Sanctuary Hospice House (volunteering at this rural hospice house that accommodates 16 people).
Communication Commision:
This commission oversees the way information is communicated within our parish, the community and the diocese. Committees include: Newcomers (hosting newcomers on a quarterly basis), Neighborhood Church Links ( a network of families close to your home through the use of greeters, host homes, emergency meal coordinators and transportation coordinators), College/Military Outreach and Church Directory (assisting with a new pictorial and address directory completed every 3 years.
Family Life Commission:
This commission coordinates groups that support parishioners in all life situations – marriage, families, singles, those who are grieving and those who are new to our parish.
Casserole Club
Frozen meals are prepared by parishioners and placed in the freezer in Bryan Hall or Shelton Hall. Meals are then delivered to families with newborns and those recovering from an illness or surgery or have other emergencies.
Happy Hearts
Happy Hearts, the seniors group at St. James, plans interesting day trips to locations in the surrounding area and coordinates other interesting events. There is no telling where you might spot members of Happy Hearts!
Nursery
A nursery is provided for children:
- -Birth to age 3 (during 10:30a Mass during the school year)
- -Birth to age 4 (during 10:30a Mass during the summer months)
- -Nursery services are also available for selected church functions and will be announced in the bulletin prior to event.
The nursery welcomes volunteers and young adults who do not have young children but have a desire to work in this ministry.
Adult and Youth Sports
Vocations Awareness Committee
Education Commission
Youth Faith Formation:
This ministry serves over 400 children from 3 years to 8th grade during the school year. Volunteers are always needed to lead these children in their faith formation. Volunteers are needed to:
- assist in classrooms (teenagers are also welcome)
- coordinate snacks in grades pre-K through 1st
- substitute teach
- hall monitoring on Wednesday nights
- assist with Summer Vacation Bible School which is held for one week in June
- Help keep our bulletin boards updated
Catholic Youth Organization (CYO):
Our youth ministry program is comprised of 3 categories: message, service, and community. The ‘message’ component contains programs and activities that enhances our youth’s relationship with God and increases their understanding of God’s message of love for each of them. The ‘service’ aspect provides programs and activities giving our youth an opportunity to reach out to others with Christ’s message. The ‘community’ facet is designed to develop our youth’s relationship with one another, their Parish and their community, thus strengthening their Catholic identity.
CYO is open to youth in grades 7th and 8th Graders, meets every Wednesday night during the school year and occasionally during the summer months.
Volunteers are needed to serve as youth advisors, chaperones, drivers, kitchen crew helpers and youth sport coaches.
Faith Formation and CYO Programs held at Shelton Hall (Catholic Life Center)
If you have a new child to register, please contact us at st_james_parish@comcast.net or you may call us at (662)-842-4881.
Adult Faith Formation
St. James has multiple Adult Faith Formation offerings during the year. Attendees study scripture from a distinctively Catholic perspective, discuss hot topics of the day and gain a deeper understanding of their faith. There are weekly opportunities available daytime/evening throughout the year. Please see the weekly bulletin for scheduled offerings.
Inquiry Class
This class meets for ten weeks beginning in January and is the first step in the Christian Initiation process.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is designed for adults, who after hearing the Mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and wish to enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. This class leads to full membership in the Catholic Church. The class meets on Tuesday nights starting September 14, 2021 until the Easter season.
Knights of Columbus:
This Catholic men’s fraternal organization is based on principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7pm in the Knights building adjacent to the gym. The KCs’ have a monthly prayer breakfast, help the elderly in the community, hold an annual weekend retreat, raise funds by sponsoring breakfasts or take-out lunches to support the diocesan Seminarian Fund and help other groups like the Children’s Mansion, Habitat for Humanity and Sav-A-Life.
An annual Tootsie Roll Drive is sponsored by the Knights and has collected over $100,000 for the McDougal Center, a learning facility for children with special needs.
Liturgy Commission:
Our most important witness of faith as a Catholic community is to come together in daily and weekly celebrations to hear the Word of God and to partake of the Eucharist. Our parish community is deeply dedicated to liturgies that enrich the life of the individual and of the community. Besides Sunday Eucharist and feast days, this includes the parish mission, devotions, and the recruitment and training of the liturgical ministers.
Training for Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Ushers is provided on an as needed basis. All members (with some age limitations) are invited to volunteer and newcomers who have served in a ministerial role in other parishes or wish to begin a new ministry at St. James are especially welcome. Please contact the parish office: 662.842.4881
Lector
Men and women who proclaim the Word during Liturgy and for special liturgical celebrations.
Ushers/Ministers of Hospitality
Gift Bearers
Altar Servers
Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
This ministry is appointed by the Pastor. Must have received all 3 Sacraments of Initiation.
Saint Martha's Guild
Music Ministry
Another way to participate in the Liturgy is through our music program.
The St. James adult choir is open to anyone who wants to join and there are no auditions. You do not need to read music to participate or have had any previous choral experience. Simply a willingness to sing is required.Please contact Lailah Valentine at Lbvalentine@hotmail.com
The Corpus Christi Choir is open to all young people from 8th grade -25 years of age. The Corpus Christi Choir sings at 5:00pm Mass weekly and during special announced events. Please contact Erin Bristow if you are interested in being part of the Corpus Christi Choir at seedtickroad@hotmail.com
- Adult and Youth Instrumentalists: There are times during the year when certain instrumentalists are needed to play at liturgies. If you read music, and are proficient on your instrument please consider being part of the Music Ministry.