Every practicing Catholic woman age 18 or older who is registered at St. Joseph Parish is a member of the Altar Society. Membership is both an honor and an opportunity to serve our parish family through faith, fellowship, and charitable service.
One of our primary responsibilities is preparing and serving funeral dinners, offering comfort and hospitality to the families of deceased parishioners during their time of loss. At the request of the family, a Rosary may also be scheduled before funeral services for deceased female parishioners.
The Altar Society provides many of the essential items needed for the celebration of the liturgy, including altar wine and bread, altar linens, vestments and garments for the priest and altar servers, candles, and other necessary liturgical supplies.
Beyond our liturgical responsibilities, the Altar Society supports a variety of parish and community outreach efforts. For the past several years, we have proudly awarded scholarships to Ellinwood-area high school seniors. Our generous volunteers also help organize and support community events, including the Community Soup Supper and the Bloodmobile.
Not excluding the importance of donations, our primary source of income is the generosity of our members through their participation in our annual No-Work Fundraiser, which helps sustain our ministry and its many contributions to St. Joseph Parish and the surrounding community.
Through our service, we strive to live out our Catholic faith by caring for others, strengthening our parish family, and sharing Christ's love with those around us.
We look forward to supporting our Parish’s new five-year plan, especially by promoting awareness of the many opportunities St. Joseph offers for family prayer, faith formation, and service. We are called to encourage and support families in living Christ-centered lives as missionary disciples and to help equip parents in their vital role as the primary educators of their children in the faith. These goals align not only with the mission of the Altar Society but also with the personal faith commitments and shared desire to serve that unite our members.