The life of our parish community continues to thrive through many organizations and societies. These groups enrich the parish family by providing opportunities get to know each other, to grow stronger in our faith, to use our talents in service to our parish community, and to convert our faith into action.
You are invited to join these communities – both official Mater Dei groups as well as independent organizations who meet at Mater Dei – in helping bring grace and charity to our parish.
- Liturgical / Church
- Devotional
- Care and Outreach
- Community Life – All
- Community Life – Men
- Community Life – Women
- Community Life – Youth & Young Adult
- Independent Homeschool Co-ops
* Independent, Non-parish based organizations
Liturgical / Church
Altar Boys
Contact: Carlos Valdivia – altarboys@materdeiparish
As Catholics, we treasure the “most beautiful thing this side of Heaven” and our altar boys helps us to preserve this sacred tradition. Altar boys assist the priest at the altar during the Sacrifice of the Mass and other liturgical events.
Altar Flowers
Contact: Valerie Graham – flowers@materdeiparish
Arrangement and upkeep of the flowers on the altars at Mater Dei. Even if you don’t know how to arrange flowers, you can participate by helping to prep the flowers for the arrangers or maintaining the arrangements during the week.
Chapel Society
Contact: The Parish Life Office – parishlife@materdeiparish
The Mater Dei Chapel Society is responsible for the cleanliness and appearance of the sacristy, confessionals, baptistery, and sanctuary. We operate as five teams, with one team working every Saturday morning of each month. Cleaning time is about 90 minutes.
Choral Ensembles
Contact: Michael C. Fowler, MM – musicdirector@materdeiparish
The Music Program of Mater Dei provides sacred music for all sung liturgies of the parish (Holy Mass & Divine Office). We have choirs for both adult and children.
Safety Team and Ushers
Contact: Abel Montes de Oca – safety@materdeiparish
The Safety Team are men of the parish who assist at the Sunday Masses to create a safe and friendly atmosphere by greeting and assisting visitors, directing parishioners to seats, taking up the collection, distributing the Sunday Bulletin, and helping out with safety as needed.
Devotional
Adoration Society
Contact: Scott Anderson – adoration@materdeiparish
The Mater Dei Adoration Society organizes parish-wide visitation hours during which the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration. The principle recurring adoration event is on the First Friday of every month.
Legion of Mary *
Contact: Luke Malain – sanctamariamaterdeilom@gmail
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church with well over three million active members in almost every country of the world. The purpose of the group is the sanctification of its members which is done by performing spiritual works of mercy under the patronage of Our Lady; it is a method of living out True Devotion to Mary.
Members are adults in which the duties of their state in life allow for the weekly attendance of our meeting (typically an hour long) and 2 hours of assigned work during the week. Works are approved by the Spiritual Director and assigned by the President. Works must be done in pairs (at least) and members must be Safe Environment cleared by Dallas Diocese before they can be assigned work.
Padre Pio Lay Group
Contact: Jaime Gogo – stpadrepiolaygroup@materdeiparish
The Padre Pio Lay Group is a prayer group that gathers faithful once a month in prayer for particular intention uniting it in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here we also learn some spiritual direction of Padre Pio to his spiritual children that we can also apply for the sanctification of ourselves. The group meets every 2nd Saturday of the month for 8:30 am Mass and at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Matthia’s room afterwards.
Seven Sisters Apostolate
Contact: Margaret Stender – sevensisters@materdeiparish
The Seven Sisters Apostolate is an international prayer apostolate composed of women who commit to pray for a particular priest from their parish for one hour on a distinct day each week. Women are set up in groups of at least seven to pray for a specific priest each day so that the priest is covered every day in prayer. There are no meetings for the group, but our group Anchoress does send out monthly emails from the international apostolate.
If you can commit to praying an hour each week, or if you are able to be on a list to serve as a substitute for someone else, please contact us.
Care and Outreach
St. Vincent de Paul Society *
Contact: SVDP Mater Dei Conference – Gregg Formella svdp.materdei@gmail
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference (SVdP) at Mater Dei ministers to those in need within our parish boundaries through donations from the parish and individuals, providing monetary assistance for rent, utilities, and other necessities.
We minister to “friends in need” who have contacted SVdP through the Dallas area Help Line, which is the starting point for contact in our ministry. Using established protocols, we work one-on-one through phone calls to understand the full scope of the requested assistance. Our ministry uses group networking, a list of resources and other guidelines to determine the best assistance available.
We meet every Tuesday at 7pm; 3x/month via Zoom and once/month at the parish. We welcome those interested to attend a meeting, get to know us and join our ministry.
Respect Life Events
Individuals from the Mater Dei community participate with many other faithful throughout the diocese proclaiming the Gospel of Life through annual events such as 40 Days for Life, Life Chain, the North Texas March for Life, and the Lenten season Baby Banks.
There are several Dallas-area organizations that work year-around to raise awareness and funds, organize specific prayer events, and help women and men who are currently experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or in need of healing from a past abortion. Click on the link below for more information.
Recovery Group
Contact:
materdeirecovery@materdeiparish
Mater Dei Recovery Group is a General Recovery meeting of Catholic in Recovery. Anyone who is suffering from addictions, compulsions, or unhealthy attachments are free to attend.
We practice a twelve step program of recovery with Jesus Christ as our Higher Power and true to all the Doctrines, Dogmas, and Traditions of Holy Mother Church. We also have a chaplain available for spiritual guidance as we travel the path of recovery. Email us for more information.
Community Life – All
Promise 12 Rosary Makers
Contact: Angela Heiter – rosarymakers@materdeiparish
The Promise 12 Rosary Makers at Mater Dei are propagating devotion to the Most Holy Rosary, and hope to make available many Rosaries for our Parish use and also for the missions. All are welcome on the second Sunday to bring rosaries for repair, or assist making rosaries after all Masses in the St. Columban room, in the back of the classroom building.
Sunday Hospitality
Contact: parishlife@materdeiparish
Mater Dei is pleased to have a space for fellowship after Sunday Masses and our Hospitality teams make that time more enjoyable with provided food and drink, which is purchased both by the parish and through donations.
The Sunday Hospitality teams set-up, man and clean-up the weekly Hospitality tables that are available after Masses from 8-1pm.
There are five shifts per Sunday, and volunteers sign up for shifts as they are able – there are 2-3 people/shift and most volunteers work 1-2 shifts/month. This ministry is managed by the Parish Life office; please email us if you would like to join!
Sunday Welcome Table
Contact: parishlife@materdeiparish
The Sunday Welcome Team offers assistance with basic parish questions before and after Sunday morning Masses, especially for newcomers. They can also offer assistance with popular Catholic devotions. Adult volunteers are required to be a parishioner for at least one year and have a charitable and friendly disposition.
The table operates each Sunday from 8-1pm at a table under the pavilion and volunteers work 1-1.5 hour shifts once/month or more regularly if they wish. The shifts that regularly need volunteers are from 8-11, as the Legion of Mary covers the latter portion as part of their apostolate work.
Hildegard Project
Contact: Claire Galin – Sthildegardfair@materdeiparish
By integrating the teaching and faith of St Hildegard, Doctor of the Church, the Hildegard Project provides education on health and home life in order to restore tradition, foster trust in God’s creation and strengthen a thriving Catholic Community at Mater Dei.
We have a 3-person board who oversees the Project and sponsors the Hildegard Fairs, Saturday Summer Markets, and a Speaker Series. We welcome the participation of Mater Dei parishioners who have knowledge, skills and a desire to teach others in various traditional subjects including gardening, herbal healing, homesteading, and nutrition.
Community Life – Men
Knights of Columbus *
Contact: Joe Duchene – materdeiknights@gmail
The Knights of Columbus are an active group of men dedicated to providing community-building, material and spiritual support to the parish through a variety of activities throughout the year.
St. Joseph’s Guild
Contact: Nick Escalona – stjosephsguild@materdeiparish
The St. Joseph’s Guild serves to unite the men of Mater Dei around the worship of Christ and service to the Parish.
We sponsor fraternal gatherings on the first Tuesdays of September-June which include Compline, Benediction and a talk by Fr. Ramirez, followed by a brisket & wine social time.
Community Life – Women
Mater Dei Homeschool Group (MDHSG)
Contact: Jill Fernandes – homeschoolgroup@materdeiparish
A support group for Catholic homeschoolers who are Mater Dei parishioners or friends. We provide support through monthly Mom meetings, liturgical year festivities, fellowship and fun events, service work, field trips and resource and information sharing.
The Ladies’ Sodality of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Francis de Sales
Prefect/Contact: Jamie Pinkerton – sodality@materdeiparish
Father Director: Fr. David Ramirez, F.S.S.P.
The Sodality is a Roman Catholic Marian Society founded in 1563, which aims at fostering in its members an ardent devotion, reverence and filial love towards our Lord and our Lady.
Through this devotion and through the protection of so good a Mother, it seeks to make the faithful gathered together under her name into good Catholics sincerely bent on sanctifying themselves, each in her own state of life. It seeks to make them zealous, as far as possible, to save and sanctify their neighbor and to defend their Mother the Church.
Monthly Meetings are held every 3rd Tuesdays from 7-9pm, commencing in the chapel with Vespersof the BVM, an exhortation, and Benediction. The meeting then resumes in the hall for announcements, final prayers, and a social in honor of Our Lady.
Community Life – Youth & Young Adult
Little Flowers Girls Club
Contact: Lindsey Surratt – littleflowers@materdeiparish
Little Flowers Girls Club (LFGC) is an activity-based program for teaching virtues and studying saints through Scripture, saints’ biographies and the Catechism. Each month, one of our priests begins our meeting with a teaching to the entire group about the saint and virtue we are studying that month. The girls then break into either the Bluebonnet (ages 5-8) or Roses (ages 9-12) group to engage in age-appropriate activity. LFGC meets on the second Saturday of the month from 9:30a-11:30a.
Our Lady’s Fiat
Contact: Mrs. Debbie Malain – ourladysfiatgroup@materdeiparish
Our Lady’s Fiat Group is for young ladies, ages 13-18, who would like to grow spiritually, learn feminine skills, and develop good friendships with others who want to grow in virtue. We typically meet on the second Saturday of each month following the 8:30am mass with a tea party brunch, a spiritual talk by a priest, and an activity.
Troops of St. George *
The Troops of Saint George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys.
Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that of Holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage together to fulfill Christ’s desire for them to grow in virtue and in their Holy Catholic faith as they journey toward Heaven.
Contact: troop1ofsaintgeorge@gmail
Youth Group
Contact: youthgroup@materdeiparish
For youth ages 13-18, the youth group generally meets from September through May on 1st & 3rd Saturdays in the parish hall, from 4:00p-7:30pm. The evenings start with games and group activities, followed by a rosary in the chapel, a group dinner and an interactive talk/discussion led by a priest. Additionally, several times per year the group engages in charitable works inside and outside the parish. Email the above address to get added to the Flocknote group to receive notifications about meetings and activities.
Mater Dei Young Adults
Contact: youngadults@materdeiparish
The Young Adult group is focused on social outings and speaker events with the goal of fostering friendships grounded in the Catholic Faith. Regular events at the parish include First Friday dances, occasional game nights and an annual Lenten Retreat; off-site we host “Theology on tap” speaker evenings, karaoke nights and other social events
The group is based out of Mater Dei parish, but is open to all young adults in their 20’s and 30’s, from any parish or university, married or single; however, content is focused on the issues pertaining to early professionals and college students. To keep abreast of our current activity, please visit our “MD Young Adults” Facebook page.
Youth Summer Musical Camp
Contact: Sarah Simonitis – musical@materdeiparish
Children and youth grades 2nd – 12th (7 years old by September 1st) are invited to join the 2026 Mater Dei Summer Musical with rehearsals and performances June 1-7th.
Auditions to assign parts will be Sunday, May 17 from 2:30 – 4:30pm.
Rehearsals are Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 12:00pm, with two daily performances Friday-Sunday in the parish hall.
Since our inaugural year 2022, all musicals have been written and directed by Sarah Marion Simonitis (musical@materdeiparish.com).
To join the 2026 summer musical, click here to enroll.