Volunteer

Nothing at St. Columba happens without volunteers — not Mass, not the pantry, not the picnic. Volunteering is also the fastest way to stop being a stranger in a big parish: serve beside people for a month and you will have friends. Start small; most roles ask for one or two hours a week or a few Saturdays a year.

Where we need help now

Ministry	Need	Time	Screening
Food pantry	Saturday sorters and packers; a driver with a van	Saturdays 9–12:30, monthly	Low risk
Out of the Cold	Overnight volunteers (in pairs); cooks	Wednesdays, Nov–Mar	Low risk
Lectors & ushers	Especially at 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Masses	One Mass a month	Low risk
Catechists	Six more for First Communion small groups	Two hours a month, Nov–May	High risk (police check)
Nursery & children's liturgy	Leaders and helpers at 11:00 AM	One Sunday a month	High risk
Youth ministry	Adult leaders for EDGE nights	Two Fridays a month	High risk
Drivers	Rides to Sunday Mass	One Sunday a month	High risk (driver's abstract)
Music	Tenors and basses; a pianist for 5:00 PM	Weekly rehearsal	Low risk
Communications	Someone to help the office with the website and social media	Two hours a week	Low risk
Livestream	Camera and sound at 11:00 AM	One Sunday a month	Low risk
Gardens & grounds	Spring and fall clean-up; summer watering	A few Saturdays	None
Counters	Count the weekend collection (in teams of three)	Monday mornings, monthly	High risk (money)

How it works

1. Tell us what interests you

   Use the form below, or speak to any priest or ministry leader. There is no wrong answer; "I don't know, what do you need?" is a fine start.

2. A conversation

   The ministry coordinator calls within two weeks to talk about the role, the commitment and your availability, and invites you to see the ministry in action.

3. Screening

   Every volunteer completes the Archdiocese's screening: a short form and orientation for low-risk roles; for high-risk roles (children, youth, the elderly, money, driving), also an interview, two references and a police vulnerable-sector check, which the parish arranges and pays for. It takes three to six weeks.

4. Training and start

   Training is specific to the role — from an hour for ushers to a course for catechists. You start alongside an experienced volunteer, and check in with the coordinator after a month.

Volunteer interest form

Leave this empty

Your name Email

Phone Age group Under 1818–3536–6465+

I'm interested in

Liturgy (lector, usher, server, sacristan, music) Outreach (pantry, Out of the Cold, refugees) Children, youth or young adults Seniors, visiting, driving Teaching and faith formation Hospitality and events Office, communications, finance Building and grounds

Availability (days, times, how often) Anything else — skills, languages, experience Create email

Your information is used only to connect you with a ministry.

Opens your email app so you can review and send your request.

How volunteers are supported

Every ministry has a coordinator you can call; expenses (mileage, supplies) are reimbursed; training and screening are free; and the parish says thank you properly — at the volunteer appreciation dinner each June, and at the Mass on the feast of St. Columba where volunteers are blessed. Volunteers who wish to step back for a season simply tell their coordinator; nobody is trapped.

I'm under 18.

Altar serving from Grade 3; children's choir from Grade 2; from Grade 9, lectoring, the livestream team, pantry Saturdays and youth leadership — with a parent's consent form. Service hours for school are signed by the coordinator.

I only have a few hours a year.

Then the picnic, the bazaar, the Christmas hampers and the spring garden day are yours. One-off help is real help.

Volunteer coordinator: Teresa Alvarez, Office Manager — ext. 21, volunteer@stcolumbatoronto.ca.