Altar Servers

This sacred ministry, open to boys and girls who have made their First Communion, goes back hundreds of years and is one of the most time-honored traditions of our faith.

Altar Servers assist the Priest Celebrant and the Deacon at Mass.

To participate in this ministry, the youth should have a love of God and a willingness to assist the parish community in worship. The need for supportive parents is also important to ensure punctuality.

Contact Deacon Bryce Timberlake at altarservers@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558 if you’re interested or have any questions.

Readers

Be a Reader and fulfill the liturgical ministry of proclaiming Scripture, the inspired word of God. Readers proclaim the Word at weekday and Sunday Mass and other liturgies throughout the year.

To participate in this ministry, we will provide you training is provided, then you will commit to one Mass approximately every month. Personal time is required in study and reflection on the Word in order to properly prepare for the Mass.

Contact Gary Penkala at lectors@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

Assistants

The Assistant Sacristans assist the Priest and Deacon in preparing for the Mass. The Assistants will maintain and prepare the vessels, vestments, and liturgical items for Mass. They will also ensure adequate coverage for other ministries (ushers, readers, etc.) and assist the Priest in preparing for the Mass.

Initial training will be provided, then you will be assigned to a particular Mass.

If you are interested in participating as an Assistant contact John Sherwood at sacristan@stjameswv.org or call (304) 728-0180.

Ushers & Greeters

Welcome parishioners and guests at Mass, assist in offertory and provide additional assistance as needed by being an usher or a greeter.

Ushers and greeters provide a warm welcome and help your fellow parishioners find a seat, help families carry gifts for offertory procession, pass baskets at collection time, ensure orderly flow at communion time, and provide assistance in emergencies.

Participants will have initial training, then do one Mass approximately every month.

Contact John Sherwood at ushers@stjameswv.org or call (304) 728-0180.

The Order of the Knights of Columbus is an organization of Catholic men 18 and older that is dedicated to spiritual growth and service to the Church based on its founding principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Founded by Venerable Fr. Michael McGivney in 1881, the Knights of Columbus offers one of the best-rated insurance programs to protect knights’ families, one of the original goals of Fr. McGivney. Note that full-time students and clergy who are knights pay no dues.

Saint James hosts the Mother Teresa Council # 12036 and the Pope John Paul II Assembly # 2931 (4th Degree)

Contact Information:

Mother Teresa Council: Go to Mother Teresa Council Web Site

Pope John Paul II Assembly:

The St. James Women’s Club gives praise and glory to God through service to others in our parish community. This group provides a healthy Catholic environment for women as they meet, exchange views, and support one another and our parish. We meet once a month on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. We welcome all who desire to share their time and talents to work for the entire St. James community and beyond.

We are the oldest ministry at St. James, having been established in 1943. We raise funds by our popular bake sales and dinners/silent auctions in order to support the other ministries by donating to Webster Springs, the St. Martha mosaic, Lenten soup luncheon, RCIA welcome breakfast, parish library, the St. Roch-a-thon, this summer’s St. James Jam, parking lot island garden, six homeless dinners each year for Jefferson County, among many other requests that come to us.

We welcome new members at every meeting – please join us! For more information, contact the current President, Anne Mercier at merciermob@hotmail.com or 703-869-0697.

St. James The Greater has two Praesidia of the Legion of Mary

Our Lady of Grace

Meets Thurs. 1PM @ Library

 Spiritual Director: Fr. Grassi

Our Lady of Good Help

Meets Thurs. 7PM @ Library

Spiritual Director: Deacon Bill Bronzi

Click Here For Ten Reasons to Join the Legion of Mary

WHAT IS THE LEGION OF MARY?

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.

WHAT DOES THE LEGION OF MARY DO?

Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting the newly baptized, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the pastor. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor.

HOW DOES THE LEGION OF MARY WORK?

Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then they do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director.

WHO CAN BELONG TO THE LEGION OF MARY?

The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics (& Orthodox) who:

Faithfully practice their religion.

Are animated by the desire to participate in the Church's apostolate through membership in the Legion;

Are prepared to fulfill each and every duty which active membership in the Legion involves

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFO?

• E-mail the Legion of Mary: legionofmary@stjameswv.org

Pope John Paul II to the Legion of Mary

(to a group of Italian legionaries on 30th October 1982)

1. My welcome is addressed to each and every one of you. It is reason for joy for me to see you in this hall in such great numbers from various regions of Italy, more so in that you are only a small part of that apostolic movement, that in the span of sixty years has rapidly spread in the world and today, two years from the death of its founder, Frank Duff, is present in so many dioceses in the universal Church.

My predecessors, beginning with Pius XI, have addressed words of appreciation to the Legion of Mary, and I myself on 10 May 1979, when receiving one of your first delegations, recalled with great pleasure the occasions I had previously had to come in contact with the Legion, in Paris, Belgium and Poland, and then, as Bishop of Rome, in the course of my pastoral visits to the parishes of the city.

Today, therefore, as I receive in audience the Italian pilgrimage of your movement, I would like to emphasize those aspects, which constitute the substance of your spirituality and your modus essential within the Church.

2. You are a movement of lay people who propose to make faith the aspiration of your life up to the achievement of personal sanctity. It is without doubt a lofty and difficult ideal. But today the Church, through the Council, calls all Christians of the Catholic laity to this ideal, inviting them to share in the kingly priesthood of Christ with the witness of a holy life, with mortification and charitable works; to be in the world, with the splendour of faith, hope and charity, what the soul is in the body (LG 10,38).

Your proper vocation as lay people, that is the vocation to be a leaven in the People of God, a Christian inspiration in the modern world, and to bring the priest to the people, is eminently ecclesial. The same Second Vatican Council exhorts all the laity to accept with ready generosity the call to be united ever more intimately to the Lord and, considering as one's own everything that is his, to share in the same salvific mission of the Church, to be its living instruments, above all where, because of particular conditions of modern society - a constant increase in population, a reduction in the numbers of priests, the appearance of new problems, the autonomy of many sectors of human life - it could be more difficult for the Church to be present and active (ibid. 33).

The area of the lay apostolate today is extraordinarily enlarged. And so the commitment of your typical vocation becomes more impelling, stimulating, live and relevant. The vitality of the Christian is the sign of the vitality of the Church. And the commitment of you legionaries becomes more urgent, considering on the one hand the needs of the Italian society and of the nations of ancient Christian tradition, and on the other hand the shining examples which have gone before you in your own movement. To give just some names: Edel Quinn, with her activity in Black Africa; Alfonso Lambe in the most emarginated areas of Latin America; and then the thousands of legionaries killed in Asia or ending up in work camps.

3. Yours is an eminently Marian spirituality, not only because the Legion glories in carrying Mary's name as its unfurled banner, but above all because it bases its method of spirituality and apostolate on the dynamic principle of union with Mary, on the truth of the intimate participation of the Virgin Mary in the plan of salvation.

In other words, you intend to render your service to every person, who is the image of Christ, with the spirit and the solicitude of Mary.

If our one and only Mediator is the man Jesus Christ, as the Council states, "Mary's motherly role towards men in no way dims or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ: on the contrary, it demonstrates its efficacy" (LG 60). So the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Perpetual Help, Mediatrix, Mother of the Church.

For its birth and growth, apostolic work looks to her who gave birth to Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit. Where the Mother is, there too is the Son. When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well. It is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularized society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother.

Your Legion forms a part of those movements that feel personally committed to the spread or the birth of that faith through the spread or the revival of devotion to Mary. It therefore will always be able to do its utmost that, through love for the Mother, the Son, Who is the way, the truth and the life of every person, will be more known and loved.

In this perspective of faith and love I impart the Apostolic Blessing to you from my heart.

The mission of the Pro-Life Ministry is to promote the pro-life ethic that we may honor and preserve life from the moment of conception until natural death.  The members are active in educating the public about prenatal development and end of life issues, science and medical information, and the truth about the deception and violence of abortion and euthanasia. We publicize information about bioethics and resources, and various resources available to those who have unplanned pregnancies, or those who have had an abortion and are suffering the long-term emotional and psychological damage as a result.

This ministry participates in many pro-life events, including the March for Life in Washington, Prayer Chains for Life, a Pro-Life booth at the Jefferson County Fair, and the International Dinner Fundraiser. We welcome students to participate in various programs and volunteer activities. 

The Pro-Life ministry also cooperates with Birthright and Gabriel Project.

If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact Deacon James Munuhe at life@stjameswv.org or Regina Smith at rayregsmith@frontiernet.net. Monthly meetings are on 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm at King’s New York Pizza in Kearneysville (near the DMV).

Resource links:

Are you pregnant and need help? Contact GabrielProject@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

Are you post-abortive and seeking healing? Visit hopeafterabortion.com or call 888-456-HOPE (4673)

Are you a student wanting to get involved? Contact Lori Cascio lcascio@studentsforlife.org or visit studentsforlife.org

To learn more about end of life issues visit the US Bishops website

For information on bioethics, life apologetics or consultation visit the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

The Martha Mary Ministry, working alongside the Saint James Servers, hosts receptions in the Social Hall or Saint James Library for grieving families after a funeral Mass or memorial service. Share your gift of food and love to families during a difficult time.

Members prepare an entrée, vegetable, or dessert for the reception or help to set up the reception and serve the meal. Please contact Beverley Johnson at MarthaMary@stjamewv.org or call (304) 229-4543 to help comfort the sorrowful.

The St. Peter Docent Corps provides information to the public about the Historic Chapel of St. Peter and the significant role it played in the history of the Harpers Ferry, the Civil War, and western expansion of the new nation.

Members will welcome the public to visit the interior, have a moment of peace or prayer, take photos, ask questions or provide information about the Historic Chapel of St. Peter.

The group usually forms in April to train new members, however, new members are welcome to join at anytime. Training will be provided. Docents volunteers to cover uptown 5- three hour session (May – Oct). There is a lot of flexibility in covering dates. We also provide our service to the Chapel at Old Time Christmas in Harpers Ferry the first two weekends in December.

This ministry is an excellent way to share a love of history and to promote positive image of the Church. We avoid evangelizing, but if asked, we may answer questions about the Faith or the Church.

Docents need not talk much just our presence, demeanor, appearance, respect and attention is required. We have greeted visitors from as far as Australia, as remote as Uzbekistan, and as local as anywhere in the USA. For more information, contact the parish office or docents@stjameswv.org.

As a pro-life, pro-family parish, the St. James Gabriel Project responds to the parish community’s call to support life and to minister to those in need, specifically by reaching out with Christ’s love to our neighbors experiencing an untimely pregnancy. We provide immediate and practical support and aid to those in need during and after pregnancy so that human life is protected and God’s unfailing love proclaimed.

The Gabriel Project has a need of “Angels”, who answer calls on the Gabriel cell phone one week at a time, and provide assistance to the caller, and also “Sorters”, who collect and sort donations given to the project. Participants should have a strong pro-life approach and interest in helping others in need in a personal way. A basic training class is provided.

Starting in October meetings will be held on the 1st Saturday of every month at 9 A.M. – 11 P.M. and the third Thursday of every month at 5:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

For information email GabrielProject@stjameswv.org or call (304) 671-6106.

The mission of Helping Hands Ministry is to invite individuals to work together to use a portion of their time, talents, and treasures to help others in need. Attempt to accomplish this through handwork such as quilting, knitting, and crocheting clothing and commonly needed in the home. We also teach others so they may be able to meet their own needs. A special ongoing effort is to create items for St. Zita’s Cupboard and support for the Webster Springs outreach projects.

Members attend a monthly meeting to determine projects and activities for ministry members who may work at home or come together on meeting days to accomplish our goals. Donate items that are quilted, knitted, or crocheted to St. Zita’s Cupboard for sale to benefit the building fund. Support other ministries such as Webster Springs, Gabriel Project, Birthright, etc., as well as local needs as defined by our Pastor or Deacon.

Monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the library plus time spent at home working on projects for the ministry.

Contact the Helping Hands Coordinators at HelpingHands@stjameswv.org. You may also contact the Parish Office (304) 725-5558 and leave a message for the Ministry.

Trail Life Troop 0082 is sponsored by St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Charles Town, WV.

Trail Life USA was founded in the summer of 2013 by over 2,000 Eagle Scouts, Scouters, and scout parents.

Trailmen, ages 5-11, comprise the Woodlands Trail Unit of a Trail Life USA troop.  They are divided into the Fox, Hawk, and Mountain Lion patrols, according to age and grade. Their activities include Worthy Life faith and character formation, hands-on learning, games, and outdoor skills.

Middle school Trailmen belong to the Navigators Unit while High school Trailmen make up the Adventurer Unit. TLUSA believes in having boys experience a variety of exciting adventures where boys can be boys, while it challenges them in their journey to manhood to become true disciples. High school Trailmen are eligible to seek the Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the highest award a Trailman may earn and it signifies dedication, commitment, leadership, and a servant’s heart.

Troop WV 8:2 meets every Monday evening at 7:00 pm. The troop is open to any boy ages 5 to 17.

Troop 0082 is guided by trained adult volunteers, including an experienced Troopmaster, Assistant Troopmasters, and a Troop Committee. For more information about Trail Life USA see http://www.traillifeusa.com.

Contact Troopmaster Ray Smith at tlusawv82@gmail.com.

The mission of American Heritage Girls is to build women of integrity through to God, family, community, and country.

American Heritage Girls is the premier national character development organization for young women that embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement. In this process, girls live by a promise to be compassionate, helpful, honest, loyal, perseverant, pure, resourceful, respectful, responsible and reverent. The troop helps them by planning activities centered on the six frontiers of skill: Heritage, Family Living, Arts, Outdoor Skills, Personal Well-being, and Science and Technology. More information about American Heritage Girls can be found at www.americanheritagegirls.com.

AHG Troop WV0082 meets Monday evenings at 7:00pm. A schedule is provided at the beginning of the troop year. The troop is open to any girl ages 5 to 17.

To contact Troop Coordinator Sharon Wheaton at 304-283-1224 or ahgwv82@gmail.com.

The Welcoming Committee provides an opportunity to open up Saint James doors to new parishioners. Every new parishioner, and their family, is introduced to the parish community by a member of the committee. The committee member helps the new parishioner navigate the new experience and allowing him/her to find their own place in the parish community. Saint James is a very active faith community and all should feel welcome. If you have questions about the Welcoming Committee, please send  an email to parsec@stjameswv.org.

Every January, the parish hosts a Mom’s Retreat at the Priest Field Pastoral Center in Kearneysville, WV. It is a weekend for moms to focus on their own spiritual needs and prepare themselves for a new year of family life. The setting also allows moms to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It is a perfect opportunity to experience the fellowship of other women in the same state in life. The retreat usually takes place on the first weekend of January. For more information, please call the Parish Office at 304-725-5558.

The Finance Council is a group of lay persons established to advise the Pastor in business and financial matters pertaining to parish operations. The Finance Council is required in the parish-based on Canon Law.

Members serve to provide oversight of parish business operations and processes and formulate recommendations to the Pastor concerning business and finance matters pertaining to the parish.

Appointment is by the Pastor for a 3-year term. The council meets on the fourth Monday of each month or as requested by the Pastor.

Contact Ron Shade at FinanceCouncil@stjameswv.org or call 304-725–5558.

The Pastoral Council is a consultative body that unites laity and clergy in a community of prayer, leadership, service, and pastoral planning.

The Council will plan, coordinate, and evaluate the ministries needed for the growth of a living parish community, and advise the Pastor. They hold one meeting each month, plus participation in retreats and faith formation.

Contact Brian Diaz at PastoralCouncil@stjameswv.org or call the Parish Office at 304-725-5558.

The Stewardship Council sets goals for the parish and then facilitates and sponsors parish events that foster and encourage an understanding of stewardship as a way of life … that all we have is a gift from God and that we are called to thank Him by sharing those gifts with others. The selection of members for this Council is determined by the Pastor.

This Council will identify, plan, and implement activities and programs that offer windows of opportunity for involvement in parish life, strengthen our faith community, and promote a deeper understanding of stewardship.

Contact Dcn. Dave Galvin at deacondave@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

Bless your fellow parishioners by helping decorate the church for liturgical seasons throughout the year.

Contact decorate@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

This group of men and women meets on a rotating basis to count the weekly offertory. Members will work in two teams of two parishioners. Each team consists of an “A” member who inputs data into the computer and runs reports and a “B” member who organizes the monies and verifies the reports. Members count and record all regular and special collections, enter data in ParishSoft software, extract data into spreadsheets for verification and record-keeping, and prepare bank deposits.

Work is done in a small, locked room. Must be able to feel comfortable working in such conditions and willing to forego perfumes/colognes, etc. since some may have allergies.

Contact Karla Gainey at crbusmgr@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

St, James Catholic Church is situated on an expansive 21+ acre site with a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Maintaining our parish’s grounds, which includes approximately 14 acres at our new Church facility, as well as the grounds of St. Peters Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry and the property located on South George Street in Charles Town, is a large undertaking. This committee serves by performing various maintenance and improvement tasks at our various properties – cutting and trimming the lawn, weeding and planting flower beds, and maintaining shrubbery, trees, etc. This committee also assists by providing landscaping expertise and contractual oversight for various commercial contracts.

Members include men, women, and youth or assist in planning, organizing, and carrying out grounds maintenance and improvements at our various parish properties.

Contact Carol Dindinger at landscaping@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

The Library Committee provides ongoing oversight and maintenance of our parish lending library. Members catalog books, maintain a computerized system of resources, assist parishioners in information searches, process books, and audio-visual materials, record materials checked out and returned, and keep bookshelves in order.

Contact Marie Nuar at library@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-6619.

Our parish (composed of a new 53,000 square foot Church facility, the 6,000 square foot St. Michael Hall, and four additional properties) cannot function with only a single property caretaker. This committee serves to assist and supplement that caretaker in maintaining our various properties by providing technical expertise, contractual oversight, and completing hands-on repair and maintenance tasks.

Skilled tradesmen and women plan, organize, and execute efforts for maintenance and repairs of our various parish properties.

Contact Deacon Dave Galvin at maintenance@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.

Office Assistants bring vital support and talent to the parish by independently handling routine office activities. This allows the parish staff to perform other needed tasks. Members should present a friendly and welcoming presence in the reception area of our parish office. Also, a willingness to answer telephones, send emails, field questions, and work on various projects as needed by the staff.

Contact Leader: Parish Secretary at OfficeAssistants@stjameswv.org or call (304) 725-5558.