Cherie Harbaugh

About St. Dominic Mission

St. Dominic Mission is a Eucharistic community of faith in Rio Verde, Arizona, striving to build the Body of Christ through worship, education, and service. As a mission of Church of the Ascension in Fountain Hills, it shares pastoral and faith formation resources with that larger parish family while maintaining its own identity and ministries on the Community Church of the Verdes campus. The mission is led by Fr. Jilson Panakkal, supported by Parish Life Coordinator Joanne Wamer and Music Director Dr. Luis Rodriguez.

Devotions & Prayer Life

Beyond Sunday Mass, parishioners gather for two regular devotions during the high season (mid-October through mid-May): a Saturday morning Centering Prayer group rooted in the contemplative tradition of Fr. Thomas Keating's Contemplative Outreach, and Tuesday evening Rosary Devotions followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. A parish Prayer Chain of more than 50 intercessors lifts up the needs of the community, and the Centering Prayer group is explicitly ecumenical and welcoming to all.

• Centering Prayer — Saturdays 10:00 AM, October through mid-May, in the Chapel
• Rosary Devotions — Tuesdays 5:00 PM, mid-October through mid-May, followed by Chaplet of Divine Mercy
• Prayer Chain Ministry — coordinated by Judi Seguy

Liturgy & Music Ministry

The Liturgy & Music Ministry works to enhance the prayer, worship, and sacramental life of the community. Over forty parishioners serve in liturgical roles during the year. Music is led by Dr. Luis Rodriguez, a pianist with a doctorate from ASU and former Music Director at Holy Spirit in Tempe, who rehearses choir and cantors before Sunday Mass and directs the parish's music program.

• Eucharistic Ministry
• Lector Ministry
• Acolyte Ministry
• Announcer Ministry
• Sacristan Ministry
• Sound Assistance Ministry
• Arts & Environment Ministry
• Wedding Ministry
• Choir/Cantor program led by Dr. Luis Rodriguez ([email protected])

Ministers of Care

The Ministers of Care ensure that parishioners who are homebound, hospitalized, grieving, or in any kind of need remain connected to the parish family. Volunteers send get-well cards, visit parishioners, bring Holy Communion to the homebound, arrange anointings, help plan funeral and memorial Masses, and knit or crochet blessed lap robes for the ill and bereaved.

• Caring Connection visits and cards
• Communion to the Homebound
• Bereavement Ministry / funeral coordination
• Prayer Chain Ministry
• Medical Equipment Ministry
• VerdeCares
• Knitted Lap Robe Ministry (yarn and patterns provided; lap robes are blessed by a priest)

Faith Formation & Spirituality

Spiritual growth is supported through the Spirituality / Faith Formation Ministry, which discerns the educational needs of the community and provides opportunities across the dimensions of adult faith. Because St. Dominic is a mission of Church of the Ascension, parishioners are also invited to take part in Ascension's Adult Faith Formation programs and other formation events, with details published in the weekly bulletin.

• Spirituality Ministry / Faith Formation Ministry
• Joint Adult Faith Formation with Church of the Ascension, Fountain Hills
• Centering Prayer introduction and ongoing practice

Social & Welcoming, Outreach

A Social & Welcoming Ministry organizes after-Mass socials, potlucks, and brunches, and coordinates greeters for each Mass so that newcomers feel at home. The Outreach Ministry provides financial and volunteer support, on behalf of St. Dominic Mission, to organizations in need and sets criteria for recommending groups for the parish to support.

• After-Mass socials, potlucks, and brunches
• Greeters at Sunday Mass
• Outreach giving to local organizations

Sacraments

St. Dominic Mission prepares parishioners for and accompanies them through the major life sacraments. Weddings require a meeting with the pastor and approximately nine months of preparation, with a wedding coordinator guiding the couple through rehearsal and ceremony. The Ministers of Care arrange anointing of the sick, bring communion to the homebound, and assist families in planning memorial Masses.

• Anointing of the Sick — arranged through Joanne Wamer
• Communion to the Homebound
• Marriage Preparation — meeting with pastor, ~9 months preparation, wedding coordinator assigned
• Funeral / Memorial Mass coordination

Staff & Contacts

The mission is led by a small team of clergy and lay staff supported by many parish volunteers.

• Pastor: Fr. Jilson Panakkal — 480-837-1066 ext. 203
• Parish Life Coordinator: Joanne Wamer — 480-490-8955
• Director of Music: Dr. Luis Rodriguez — [email protected]
• Bookkeeper/Secretary: Position currently open (listing posted through Church of the Ascension on the Diocese of Phoenix employment page)
• Confession reservations: Josie Wamer — 480-490-8955
• Mass Intentions: Sandy Tonso — 719-849-3573 / [email protected]

Visit & Contact

St. Dominic Mission welcomes visitors and newcomers to its chapel on the Community Church of the Verdes campus. Sunday Mass is at 10:00 AM; confessions are heard after Mass when Fr. Jilson is the presider, and devotions, prayer groups, and ministry gatherings fill out the rest of the week during the high season.

• Address: 25603 N. Danny Lane, Suite 2, Rio Verde, AZ 85263
• Parish phone: 480-471-2112
• Website: https://www.stdominicmission.org/
• Diocese listing: https://dphx.org/parish/st-dominic-mission-rio-verde/
• Sister parish: Church of the Ascension, 12615 N Fountain Hills Blvd, Fountain Hills