Programs & Ministries
Serving Every Stage of the Faith Journey
Our programs and ministries are designed to meet people where they are — in every season of life, every stage of faith, and every form of need. All are rooted in the Gospel and sustained by the grace of the sacraments.
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Our faith formation programs offer comprehensive Catholic education for parishioners of every age. We believe that growing as a disciple is a lifelong calling, and we provide structured, engaging, and theologically grounded formation for every stage of the journey.
Programs include:
- ✛ Children's Faith Formation (CCD) — Weekly classes preparing children in Grades 1–8 in the foundations of Catholic faith, preparing them for First Communion and Confirmation.
- ✛ Confirmation Preparation — A two-year program for young people preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, emphasizing personal faith commitment and service.
- ✛ RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation — A process for adults inquiring about the Catholic faith or seeking full communion with the Church.
- ✛ Adult Faith Formation — Seasonal Bible studies, theology discussions, retreat opportunities, and ongoing formation for adult parishioners.
Youth Ministry
Our youth ministry recognizes that young people are not the Church of tomorrow — they are the Church of today. We create spaces where youth and young adults can bring their questions, their energy, and their authentic selves to an encounter with the living God.
Our youth ministry is built on three pillars: encounter with Christ through prayer and the sacraments; community through genuine friendship and belonging; and mission through meaningful service to others.
Activities include faith-sharing groups, service projects, diocesan youth events, spiritual retreats, and seasonal celebrations. We are committed to walking alongside young people through the joys and challenges of this season of life.
Connect With Youth Ministry
Liturgical Ministries
The celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of our parish life. Our liturgical ministries allow parishioners to serve directly in the sacred liturgy, participating more fully in the worship of God.
Lectors
Trained parishioners who proclaim the Word of God at Mass — a ministry that requires preparation, prayerfulness, and a clear, reverent reading voice.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Parishioners who assist in the distribution of the Eucharist at Mass and who carry Communion to the homebound members of our community.
Altar Servers
Young men and women who assist the priest at the altar during Mass — a cherished tradition that builds reverence, discipline, and a love for the liturgy.
Choir & Music Ministry
Our parish choir leads the congregation in sacred song, elevating the worship of the community and giving voice to the prayer of God's people at every Mass.
Greeters & Ushers
The ministry of welcome — ensuring that every person who enters our church feels seen, greeted, and genuinely glad they came.
Sacristan
The ministry of preparation — ensuring the church and its sacred vessels are properly prepared for every liturgical celebration.
Senior Ministry & Pastoral Care
Our seniors have built this parish with their prayers, their labour, and their faithfulness across decades. We honour that gift by ensuring that our elder parishioners remain fully included in the life of the parish — even when illness, mobility challenges, or the distance of rural living makes regular attendance difficult.
Our Senior Ministry includes:
- ✛Regular pastoral visits to homebound parishioners
- ✛Home Communion delivered by trained ministers
- ✛Anointing of the Sick and pastoral rites
- ✛Senior fellowship and social gatherings
- ✛Bereavement support and grief ministry
Community Outreach & Service
Our faith compels us to look beyond our parish walls and to serve the needs of our wider community. Through organized outreach initiatives and the countless informal acts of charity offered by our parishioners every day, we strive to be the hands and heart of Christ in southeastern Manitoba.
Our outreach includes food assistance for families in need, support for local community organizations, visiting and assisting isolated rural residents, and participation in regional ecumenical and interfaith initiatives for the common good. We believe that authentic Christianity is always outward-facing — always asking what more we can give, not what more we can keep.
Learn About Our Community
Marriage & Family Ministry
Supporting families at every stage — from marriage preparation to parenting, from family enrichment to accompaniment through difficulty.
Marriage Preparation
Couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony receive thoughtful preparation through the parish, including theological instruction, relationship enrichment, and practical guidance for building a life of faith together.
Family Faith & Formation
Resources, programs, and support for parents who desire to be the primary educators of their children in the faith — recognizing the domestic church as the foundation of parish life.
Bereavement Ministry
Compassionate support for parishioners and families navigating grief and loss — through funeral ministry, grief groups, pastoral accompaniment, and ongoing pastoral care in the months and years following bereavement.
Parish Social Events
Regular social gatherings, seasonal celebrations, and shared meals that strengthen the bonds of community and provide occasions for joy, laughter, and the deepening of parish friendships.
Find Your Place in Our Ministries
There is a ministry at St. John the Baptist that needs your unique gifts. We invite you to discern where God is calling you to serve.