The Altar Servers assist the members of the liturgical assembly by presenting or arranging vessels and other items used in the celebrations and their reverent and efficient service enables other ministers to attend to their own roles while the liturgical actions unfold with calm, order and appropriate decorum. As members of the assembly who are often visible to all, the Altar Servers also model good liturgical participation. Adult Altar Servers must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

Children Altar Servers assist the members of the liturgical assembly under the supervision of an adult Altar Server. The children help with presenting or arranging vessels and other items used in the celebrations and their reverent and efficient service enables other ministers to attend to their own roles while the liturgical actions unfold with calm, order and appropriate decorum. As members of the assembly who are often visible to all, the children Altar Servers also model good liturgical participation. Child Altar Servers must be baptized Roman Catholics and also have received the sacraments of first reconciliation and first communion.

Baptism is our initiation into the Paschal Mystery and life in a community of faith. Members of the Baptism Preparation Team teach parents and godparents the theology and logistics of child baptism. Preparation classes are offered on the second Sunday of every second month during the year. Members of the ministry team normally also attend the actual baptisms, which are scheduled for the last Sunday afternoon of the same month in which the preparation has taken place. Baptism Preparation team members must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

Parent volunteers and other parishioners with training in teaching the Catholic faith to children are invited to become involved in the Children's Liturgy during the 10:30 a.m. mass on Sundays from October to May. Volunteers serve as escorts, assistant teachers, and teachers, for children ages from ages 3 to 12. Please note that anyone working with children is required to participate in the Parish Volunteer Screening program in order to provide a safe and secure environment for the children. Parents and volunteers should contact the Parish Office for further information from the Children's Liturgy Volunteer Coordinator. Parents interested in sacramental preparation for their children should go to our Sacraments of Initiation page for more information.

The role of the choir is to support the singing of the assembly, as well as to enhance the assembly’s prayer with other chants and musical settings fitting for liturgy. The St. Basil’s Choir sings for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist (September-June) and for major feasts of the Church year. The choir’s repertoire encompasses a broad spectrum of musical periods and styles, including Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and traditional and contemporary hymnody. A highlight of the choir season is its annual celebration of Advent Vespers on the First Sunday of Advent. Choir members commit to regular rehearsals on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m., as well as extraordinary rehearsals prior to Christmas and the Easter Triduum and other special occasions. For more information on the choir and music at St. Basil's, please click here.

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis. Inspired by gospel values, particularly "the preferential option for the poor," the goals of Development and Peace are to support initiatives by people in the Global South to take control of their lives and to educate Canadians about North-South issues. Our education, advocacy and fund-raising work here at home is carried out by Development and Peace members from coast to coast. The St. Basil's Delevopment and Peace team meet regularly and promote issues of global concern through panel discussions, Coffee Hours and other parish projects.

Extraordinary Ministers of Communion serve the Eucharistic life of the community. They are acknowledged by the bishop at the request of the Pastor to assist the celebrant and other Ordinary Ministers during theliturgy in sharing the Eucharistic body and blood of Christ. Previous experience is not necessary and training is provided. Eucharistic Ministers must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

Volunteers help collect donations of food for the Daily Bread Food Bank on the first Sunday of every month.

Members of the Flower Altar Guild help to decorate the church with flowers during the liturgical year. Duties involve assisting with setting up the displays and tending to the flowers on a regular basis.

The Lector serves the liturgical assembly by proclaiming Sacred Scripture during the Liturgy of the Word. Lectors should have strong, clear voices and the ability to read aloud, confidently, with the aid of a microphone, in a large worship space. Previous experience is not necessary and training is provided. Lectors must be baptized Christians.

The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholic Laity that serve the Church on a voluntary basis with spiritual and social welfare as their priority. Under the direction of the Legion of Mary Leader, the Legion of Mary Member participates in the life of the parish through visitation to those in need both in homes and institutions. Legion of Mary members must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

Ushers and Greeters welcome people to our Church at all of the Sunday masses, at the 5:00 p.m. Vigil mass on Saturday, at services/masses of the Easter Triduum and at Christmas. They also assist with various functions during the mass to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Previous experience is not necessary and training is provided.

At St. Basil's we have established a ministry for prayer for Marriage and Family Life. Each day of the month there is an individual, a couple, or a family who offers 15 minutes of prayer for the families in the parish (the "frist schools of love") and for the married couples who are the heart of the family. Married couples need the grace to "marry each other every day" and that grace comes most powerfully from the support they receive from their community of faith, their parish. If you are interested in becoming a part of this prayer ministry, which can be done in your own home at a time that is best for you, please contact the Parish Office.

The Marriage Preparation Team consists of married couples from the Parish who teach the Archdiocesan marriage preparation program to engaged couples. The course runs for seven weeks on Monday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the autumn and again in the winter. Teaching couples are provided resources and support to teach in each program, and will normally teach one evening session of the series in each of the autumn and winter programs. Marriage Preparation Team members must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

The Miller Group provides simple, but nutritious, packed lunches for those in need. Members help to shop for supplies, prepare sandwiches and pack and distribute the lunches. Within each activity, members rotate on a scheduled basis. Most tend to work within one activity but some participate in two. Sandwiches are generally prepared on Thursday evenings or Sunday mornings (preferred). Lunches are packed and distributed on Sunday, between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Volunteers are always welcome to join on a regular or occasional basis.

The Parish Finance council is a consultative body of lay persons established to advise the Pastor in matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the parish. Within the Archdiocese of Toronto, Parish Finance Councils were mandated for all parishes by a decree (the “Decree”) dated March 1986. Members of the Finance Council should have expertise in accounting, finance, human resources, or property management. Members of the Finance Council are appointed by the Pastor.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body that works with the Pastor regarding all matters pertaining to the pastoral life of the parish. The Pastoral Council involves priests and people in common study and resolution of the pastoral needs of the parish in order to facilitate pastoral planning for the parish, in accord with the universal and particular law of the Church. Members of the Pastoral Council are appointed by the Pastor.

Sponsors are companions and witnesses to candidates in the R.C.I.A. program in their faith journey to baptism, confirmation and communion in the Roman Catholic church. The RCIA Sponsor helps, through personal presence, to connect the person with the whole parish and Church community. The sponsor is a witness to the person’s moral character, faith and intention. The R.C.I.A. program begins at the end of September and classes are held on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 9:00 pm, until the Easter weekend, with additional sessions once or twice a year for sponsors for spiritual retreat, planning, and evaluation. Sponsors must be fully initiated Roman Catholics but are not expected to have any formal training in theology.

The Social Committee helps to promote a welcoming, receptive and active social environment in the parish by planning and implementing various social events, celebrations and activities occurring at the parish, including our weekly Coffee Hour after the 10:30 am Sunday mass.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is to live the Gospel message by serving and ministering to all the poor with love, respect, justice and joy. The Mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul implies that we see Christ in anyone who suffers, regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender, or political opinion. We come together as a family and have personal contact with the poor and help in all possible ways. The St. Basil's St. Vincent de Paul group provides vital assistance to the poor in our local community through visits, the provision of food vouchers and assistance with clothing and furniture.

The Sunday Scripture Sharing Group was founded in 1995 and when it was called The Christian Support Group. Its mission was to assist parishioners in developing a deeper spiritual life as well as provide support. It was also an excellent opportunity to socialize with other parishioners. Over the years meetings gradually evolved into its present two-hour format:

• Invocation of the Holy Spirit and prayers for the Pope’s intention and for the faithful departed
• Meditation from The Word Among Us
• Sunday Mass homily
• Catena Legionis (Magnificat) in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Sharing of reflections and/or concerns
• Video tape on a current study topic
• Short discussion

On special occasions a liturgical celebration replaces the usual format. On Palm Sunday, the members prepare for Holy Week with a mini-retreat. Likewise, the group’s mission of developing a deeper spiritual life in its members now also includes a more formal structured study of Holy Scriptures and Christian doctrine (the Catholic Catechism, papal documents, Vatican documents, etc.) through taped programs from EWTN and Salt and Light television ministries. Thus, the members will not only deepen their spiritual life but will also enhance their Christian formation as Catholics are encouraged to do. We meet on Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Members of the Wedding Support Team provide support to the presiding priest and the wedding party in planning the wedding liturgy, conducting the wedding rehearsal, and setting up and clearing up both the church and the paperwork after the wedding. The wedding support minister will normally attend a planning meeting with the engaged couple and priest about six months ahead of the wedding, will attend the rehearsal, normally the week before the wedding, and will also attend the wedding. Training is provided in the Roman Catholic theology of marriage, protocols, paperwork, logistics, setting up the altar for mass or other form of wedding. Wedding Support Team members must be fully initiated Roman Catholics.

We conduct occasional social, charitable and spiritual events and inform those on our e-mail list of similar events in the area. Newcomers, and those looking to organize events, are especially welcome. There's no age limit, that's why we're the "Or So" Group!