Ministries

Many ministries are available at Christ Church Cathedral. Some require only minimal commitment, perhaps connected to a Sunday morning service. Others require a greater commitment, ranging from a one-time or occasional commitment to practicing a Rule of Life.

If you decide to participate more fully in service of the church, or if you would like more information on a ministry, you may speak to any of the clergy or contact the church office.

Outreach

Advent House is a ministry of spiritual direction for the Diocese of Louisiana. Clergy and parishioners can consult with one of several directors (clergy and lay) to deepen their spiritual lives, to have a touchstone against which they can measure their spiritual growth, to have a “spiritual mentor” to navigate a life in Christ.

Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative of New Orleans is an outreach ministry of Christ Church Cathedral. It is a neighborhood-based nonprofit homebuilder that provides families with healthy and energy-efficient affordable housing opportunities. Jericho Road partners with neighborhood residents organizations and businesses to create and maintain stable and thriving communities.

Serving at Christ Church

The Altar Guild tends to the altar, sacred vessels and linens. They prepare the sanctuary for all forms of worship including the Holy Eucharist. This includes readying the wine, water, and bread and putting them in place for the start of the service. They arrange the items needed for a service, and basically perform a little housekeeping before the Eucharist begins. Finally, they clean and store the holy materials after the service. This ministry takes about 30 minutes before and after services.

Altar Servers assist the clergy during liturgies by carrying crosses and torches, books, cruets of wine and water, etc. This ministry takes place during services.

Care teams provide meals to parishioners dealing with a major life event such as surgery, illness, childbirth, or death of a family member. This ministry is provided on an as-needed basis; time commitment is flexible.

The Choir provides music for Sunday services, seasonal Evensong, and other special services as needed. It comprises professionals and volunteers. This ministry requires commitment on Wednesday evenings for rehearsal and Sunday mornings before and during the 10am service. Other rehearsals and services are also scheduled throughout the year which will require additional time.

Daughters of the King is an order for women communicants of the Episcopal Church as well as Lutheran (ELCA), and Roman Catholic Churches. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service. Parishioners can look to them for love and for help in time of need, loneliness or strangeness. Daughters of the King does not raise funds or take on specific projects on their own. They serve as needed to support the Dean and the parish. Women who are interested in joining the order are asked to complete a discernment process. Time commitment includes monthly meetings, daily prayer, and help on occasional projects.

The Flower Guild provides beautiful flower arrangements for worship services in our Cathedral and Chapel each week.  Training is available for any one who would like to join. Time commitment for this ministry is flexible and only requires a few hours monthly.

If you have a green thumb, the Gardening group might be for you! This group meets several Saturdays per year to update the plantings on our extensive grounds.

Hospitality volunteers provide food for coffee hour and other social events hosted at the cathedral. Time commitment for this ministry is flexible; sign-up sheets offer all parishioners the opportunity to host.

Lay Readers read the first lesson and Epistle and lead the Prayers of the People during services. This ministry takes place during services.

Ushers/Greeters are the first smiles you see every Sunday morning while arriving for worship. Ushers welcome people at the door, and assist newcomers, visitors, and long-time parishioners alike. They hand out service leaflets, “direct traffic” at Communion, and tally attendance at Sunday services. Work in this ministry occurs immediately prior to, during and after Sunday services.