Ministries

Boys and girls from grade 4 and above who assist the priest at the liturgy. 

To learn more, please contact Fr. Steven Caraher at 219-769-1755, ext. 310 or frsteven@qofm.org.

Volunteers who care for and beautify the grounds and church. Decor needs to be changed prior to every liturgical season (Advent, Christmas, ordinary time, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc), and for special occasions. It takes many volunteers to help arrange decor, water flowers, iron, etc. 

If you are interested in helping, contact the parish office at 219-769, 1755. 

Parents who would like to have their child baptized into the Catholic faith are required to take a Baptism preparation class. These classes are offered monthly on the third Wednesday from 6:30pm-8pm at the South Campus (8303 Taft St) 

Please call the parish office at 219-769-1755 to register for this free class. 

Baptisms will not be scheduled until the class has been taken and the proper paperwork submitted. You are welcome to attend the class while pregnant or with your little one. 

Learn more about Baptism here.

A catechist is someone who teaches the Catholic faith to others. Both the Faith Formation Program (FFP) and the Order of Christian Initiation for kids, are in need of people to share their faith. In the FFP program, catechists teach a specific grade level 1-2 times per month. 

Classroom aides are also needed for each grade, and do not necessarily teach, but might help get the classroom ready, and be there for support. Catechists for the Order of Christian Initiation get to help kids or teens prepare for the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation. All volunteers are required to take a one-time Safe Environment class, and undergo a background check. 

To discuss the possibility of sharing your faith with kids in our parish, contact Melissa or Marlene at 219-769-1755. 

Also referred to as CLOW, it is an extension of the liturgy. It is a worship experience geared especially for children ages 4-7 that will be offered at the 8:30am Mass at the North Campus at 10:00am Mass at the South Campus. 

During CLOW, teachers read an adaption of the readings, share a reflection, engage kids through gesture, responses, song, or various activities that relate to the readings. Kids then pray a simpler version of the Creed and intentions and return to Mass during the offertory song. This program lasts about 20 minutes during Mass & helps kids better participate in the liturgy. Training for leaders is offered and a safe environment class and background check are required prior to being able to volunteer with kids. 

To learn more or volunteer, contact Melissa Novak at 219-769-1755, ext 308.

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion who serve the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and to the sick and homebound. 

If you are interested in serving as a Eucharistic Minister, please contact Jenifer Schreiner at 219-769-1755 or by email at sacristan@qofm.org.

Volunteers are needed to bring Holy Communion to our homebound parishioners and those in Merrillville nursing homes. Ministers bring Holy Communion on a weekly basis to either one nursing home or 1-3 parishioners. Training is provided, and a safe environment class and background check are required.

If you are intersted contact Ruben Valdez at rmvaldez@aol.com or Melissa Novak at 219-769-1755, ext 308. 

Advises the Pastor on financial matters of the parish and school. The finance council meets several times per year. They are responsible for advising the pastor on large expenses, helping create and stay on track with a budget, and approving the annual budgets. 

If interested in joining the finance council, please contact the parish office at 219-769-1755.

The Fellowship Committee primarily hosts Fellowship Sunday on the second Sunday of the month after all Masses. The committee helps set up, serve donuts, coffee, and juice, and clean up. Volunteers are needed at both North & South campuses. 

If interested in helping once a month, contact Melissa at 219-769-1755, ext 308. 

The food pantry at the South campus needs volunteers to help assemble food bags for those in need. Food is given out once on the second Thursday of each month. 

If you are in need of assistance or would like to volunteer or donate items, please call 219-769-2177.

Phil's Friends is one facet of the Friends in Christ Outreach Ministry. It is a nonprofit founded by two-time cancer survivor Phil Zelke. The group works with the Crown Point Hope Center to provide support for cancer survivors.

This group meet every Tuesday from 9am to 11am in the Holy Family Room at the South Campus, where they tie fleece blankets, color Cards of Hope, and decorate Hope Boxes. 

Contributions are delivered to the Hope Center where they are filled with goodies for cancer survivors  and mailed out to recipients.

Phil's Friends is an example of the  corporal works of mercy. Please join us on Tuesdays. All are welcome! You can also volunteer at the Hope Center on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. 

For more information contact the parish office at 219-769-1755.

Parish volunteers who warmly welcome parishioners as they enter the church for Mass. We always appreciate volunteers. If you would like to help out, please contact Liz Bushemi at  (219) 793-1375 or by email at lbuhemi@gmail.com.

Hospitality goes deeper than greeting people at Mass (although that is an important component!). The Hospitality Team helps brainstorm, discern, plan and implement various ways that our parish can help foster encounters with the love of Christ at every turn. If you  would like to be a part of this ministry, contact Liz Bushemi at (219) 793-1375 or by email at lbuhemi@gmail.com

The Knights of Columbus is a worldwide Catholic men’s fraternal organization that brings Catholic men and their families together to put their faith in action. We do that through charitable works in the parishes we serve and through spiritual activities. We are men who work, and men who pray. We’ve helped sponsor family prayer nights, we pray the rosary together and we look for opportunities to help everyone strengthen their faith. For 140 years, the Knights of Columbus have been doing works of charity, building up the family, supporting our priests and defending life. If you are passionate in any of these areas, join us. If you’d like to see your husband/son/brother/uncle/ father strengthen any of these areas in their life, encourage them to join us.  If interested, contact Duane Forbes at 219-448-0621.

Lectors are readers who proclaim the first or second reading at Mass. If you would like to serve as a lector, please contact Jenifer Schreiner at 219-769-1755 or by email at sacristan@qofm.org.

Do you like to sing? We would love to have you join the Music Ministry! We will teach you and guide you in the path of Catholic music. If you are interested in the music ministry,  please contact Melinda Reinhart at reinhartmelinda@gmail.com.

A group that counts the funds collected at Mass each week. Each group volunteers about once a month. If interested contact Jacquie at the parish office, 219-769-1755. 

The Parish Pastoral Council meets monthly with the pastor to discuss concerns pertaining to the maintenance or mission of the parish. Council members are asked to reflect, discuss, and recommend solutions to the pastor. Another goal is to promote the parish mission to go and make disciples. If interested in joining the parish council, contact Fr. Ted at the parish office, 219-769-1755. 

The Order of Christian Initiation prepares adult candidates to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation). The OCIA Team meets weekly with candidates to pray, teach, discuss, and support them in their faith journey. If you are interested in celebrating your sacraments or being on the OCIA team, please contact the Director of Discipleship and Evangelization, Melissa Novak, at evangelization@qofm.org.

Duties include preparing the altar for Mass and cleaning the altar following Mass. To learn more about how you can serve as a sacristan, please contact Jenifer Schreiner at 219-769-1755 or by email at sacristan@qofm.org.

Ushers exercise the ministry of service and hospitality to help parishioners and guests. Ushers greet people as they arrive, hold the door open, help people find a seat, guide the congregation during the Communion procession, and distribute the bulletin after Mass. If you would like to serve as an usher, contact Liz Bushemi at (219) 793-1375 or by email at lbuhemi@gmail.com

The Stitching Sisters are a group of women that meet on the second and fourth Tuesday morning monthly. They sew, quilt, knit, crochet and needlework to benefit local organizations. Hats, scarves, baby blankets, hooded baby bath towels, lap robes for local nursing homes and prayer shawls are created as needed by the parish. Join us! For more info, contact the parish office at 219-769-1755. 

This ministry strives to foster a culture of vocations by working to provide:

1. Hospitality to all.
2. Respect and support of our Pastor and Associate Pastor.
3. Increased awareness of and information on vocations through display of vocation themed literature, postings on bulletin board, in bulletin and seminarian photo cards for parishioners.
4. Opportunities to pray for vocations using prayer cards, celebrating Vocation observances and coordinating the Vocation Cross. Parishioners may sign up to bring the Vocation Cross home for a week. During this week the parishioner prays daily for vocations using a booklet from the Diocese of Gary Office of Vocations.
5. Support to our seminarians with periodic card campaigns. Greeting cards are prepared and distributed to parishioners for sending to our seminarians.
6. Vocation Cross and prayer booklet to Director of Faith Formation and principal of Aquinas School for use in their respective classrooms.

For information on the Vocation Cross Ministry, to sign up to bring the Vocation Cross home, or if you would like to join this ministry, please contact Jean Collier at 219-677-1728.

The Women's Guild meets monthly to plan various social and charitable events. Two major events we host are a Christmas party and baby shower to benefit children in need. To learn more, contact Jacquie at the parish office at 219-769-1755.

All are welcome to join us for monthly gatherings on the second Monday of each month (September though June) at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center at the South Campus.