St. Daniel the Prophet is the newest Catholic parish in the Wheaton community. It is supported by active laity that participate in a wide variety of educational, service, and social ministries. The following brief ministry descriptions are offered to peak your interest. For further information about a ministry that appeals to you, phone the parish offices of St. Daniel at 630-682-5003. You will be put in contact with a member of the parish staff, or a facilitator who will discuss the ministry in more detail with you.

Ministries

Altar Servers - Children who have made their First Communion assist Father at the table of our Lord at weekend liturgies, 2 to 4 per Mass. Each server is assigned approximately once a month. Training is provided.

Children's Liturgy of the Word - alternating Sundays of the school year during the 9:30 and 11:00 Masses, at least two lay leaders help children in grades 1-4 to understand the Word of God at their level. Leaders serve no more than twice a quarter.

 CORE (Christian Out Reach Effort) - St. Daniel the Prophet parish maintains a strong commitment to the social ministry of the church. CORE was established to reach out to those in need in our community by coordinating parish service projects, partnering with community organizations, providing financial contributions to community service organizations and providing advocacy/educational opportunities to the parish. We seek to make positive changes in the lives of the poor.

Eucharistic Ministers - Extra-ordinary ministers distribute the Body and Blood of Christ (bread and cup) at Masses throughout the year. Ministers must be 16-years of age, or older, and confirmed in the faith.  Ministers choose the preferred time of their Mass assignment.  Ministers serve 3-5 times during each quarterly schedule.  Eucharistic Ministers are commissioned through the diocese and training is required.

Greeters - Before each liturgy, our Greeters welcome God's people to mass and distribute missalettes.  In addition, they recruit a cross bearer and the bearers of the Offertory gifts, take up the collection, and following Mass, distribute bulletins while wishing departing parishioners well. Greeters serve  once or twice in each quarterly schedule.

Lectors - The Word of God is proclaimed by two lectors at each of our liturgies. Assignments are made quarterly, with 2-4 assignments (depending on Mass time preference).   Training is required and preparation materials are available.

Liturgy Coordinators - Help is needed at each of our masses with the coordination of all the ministers who serve at Mass.  Ideally, a Liturgy Coordinator gets to know ministers in our various Liturgical Ministries and helps to fill in open spaces of service (e.g., we need two more Eucharistic Ministers).  Coordinators are vital to helping our masses run smoothly.  Assignments are made 3-4 times on a quarterly schedule.

Pastoral Care Ministers - Persons trained and certified by the Diocese to visit the sick in their homes, nursing homes or hospitals, and bring them the Eucharist.

Refreshments - One of our community-building activities is sharing refreshments with each other after our weekend liturgies during the school year.  Families, couples, or pairs of singles take turns serving refreshments after mass. Duties include preparing coffee/lemonade and doughnuts/cookies before Mass and cleaning up afterward. The parish provides the refreshments.  Assignments are made once or twice on each quarterly schedule.

Sacristans - Before Mass begins, sacristans help to prepare the Eucharistic vessels and prayer books used during the liturgy. Sacristans also serve as Eucharistic Ministers and bring the reserved hosts from the Tabernacle to the altar for communion.  After Mass, they help straighten up the sacristy and clean the vessels.  Assignments are made approximately once per month on each quarterly schedule.

Music Ministries

St. Daniel Adult Choir - Adults who enjoy 4-part group singing are invited to join the choir. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7-9pm.  Music reading ability and previous choral experience is helpful, but not necessary.  The Adult Choir meets on Sunday morning at 9am and serves the 9:30am Mass community.  Our music is a mix of contemporary and traditional Catholic music.  Cantors for this mass come from within the choir.

The Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME) -  High School students and adults from our community meet for rehearsal on Saturday afternoons and lead music at the 4pm Mass.  The CME is made up of vocalists, guitarists, and wind players.  Our music focuses mostly on contemporary music styles.  Although, we have been known to sing traditional hymns.  Cantors for this Mass come from within the ensemble.

The Teen Music Ensemble (TME) - Teens from our community lead music at the 11am Mass and meet for a brief time of rehearsal at 10:30 on Sunday mornings.  High School students are welcome to be part of the orchestra/wind ensemble.  Music is available for any string instrument and C and B-flat woodwind instruments.  (Brass players are welcome at special times of the year.)  Middle School and High School Vocalists are welcome to take part in the singing aspect of our group.  Cantors for this Mass come from within the Teen ensemble.  Due to the lack of a week-night rehearsal, all members must arrive promptly at 10:30am to prepare for Mass.

Cantors - Leaders of song at our 8am Mass help the assembly sing praise to our God.  Due to the soloistic nature of this ministry, an audition is required.  Rehearsal preparation time is provided.

Instrumentalist - Experienced band and orchestra members form a wind ensemble for Christmas and Easter Liturgies.  Instruments are also used at different times of the year depending on the needs of the arrangements chosen by the Director of Music.